All-Time France National Team Best XI (Zidane, Platini, Henry, Mbappe)

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All-time France best XI – France national team is one of the best national football team in the Europe and the world overall. Throughout their history, France national team has won 2 FIFA World Cup trophy (1998, 2018), while also finished runner-up in 2 other occassions (2006, 2022).

In the continental region, France won 2 UEFA Euro (1984, 2000) and 1 UEFA Nations League (2021). In addition, they also won FIFA Confederations Cup (2001, 2003), CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (1986) and Olympic Games (1984).

As one of the best team in the world, France has produced many great footballers from past to present. In 50s, there are Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine who take French national team to 3rd place finish in World Cup for the first time.

France won Euro in 1984, their first major trophy, largely thanks to Michel Platini, who become tournament best player and top goalscorers. Others name like Jean Tigana, Manuel Amoros, Luis Fernandez and Alain Giresse.

Their first World Cup happened in 1998. France had one of the best defence in World Cup history, with Barthez as goalkeeper and the back-four consist of Thuram, Blanc, Desailly and Lizarazu. Don’t forget about Zidane who score 2 goals in final and won Ballon d’Or at that year.

In the modern era, France won their second World Cup (2018), while also reaching Euro final (2016) and another World Cup final (2022), also winning Nations League (2021). Some key players in this era are Antoine Griezmann, Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and football sensation Kylian Mbappe.

All-Time France Best XI

Of course it’s hard to select 11 of best French players of all time in each position. Below is our selection of all-time France national team best XI.

GOALKEEPER

1. Fabian Barthez

Date of birth : 28 June 1971
Position : Goalkeeper
Caps / goals : 87 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

  • 1990-1992 – Toulouse (France)
  • 1992-1995 – Marseille (France)
  • 1995-2000 – AS Monaco (France)
  • 2000-2004 – Manchester United (England)
  • 2004-2006 – Marseille (France)
  • 2006-2007 – Nantes (France)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1998, 2002, 2006
  • UEFA Euro 1996, 2000, 2004
  • FIFA Confederations Cup 2003

Substitutes :

  • Joel Bats (1983-1989), 50 caps
  • Hugo Lloris (2008-2022), 145 caps
  • Julien Darui (1939-1951), 25 caps
  • Bernard Lama (1993-2000), 44 caps

DEFENDER

2. Laurent Blanc

Date of birth : 19 November 1965
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 97 caps / 16 goals
Club career :

  • 1983-1991 – Montpellier (France)
  • 1991-1992 – Napoli (Italy)
  • 1992-1993 – Nimes (France)
  • 1993-1995 – Saint-Etienne (France)
  • 1995-1996 – Auxerre (France)
  • 1996-1997 – Barcelona (Spain)
  • 1997-1999 – Marseille (France)
  • 1999-2001 – Inter Milan (Italy)
  • 2001-2003 – Manchester United (England)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1998
  • UEFA Euro 1992, 1996, 2000

3. Marcel Desailly

Date of birth : 7 September 1968
Position : Center-back, defensive midfielder
Caps / goals : 116 caps / 3 goals
Club career :

  • 1986-1992 – Nantes (France)
  • 1992-1993 – Marseille (France)
  • 1993-1998 – AC Milan (Italy)
  • 1998-2004 – Chelsea (England)
  • 2004-2005 – Al-Gharafa (Qatar)
  • 2005-2006 – Qatar SC (Qatar)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1998, 2002
  • UEFA Euro 1996, 2000, 2004
  • FIFA Confederations Cup 2001, 2003

4. Lilian Thuram

Date of birth : 1 January 1972
Position : Right-back, center-back
Caps / goals : 142 caps / 2 goals
Club career :

  • 1991-1996 – AS Monaco (France)
  • 1996-2001 – Parma (Italy)
  • 2001-2006 – Juventus (Italy)
  • 2006-2008 – Barcelona (Spain)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1998, 2002, 2006
  • UEFA Euro 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
  • FIFA Confederations Cup 2003

5. Manuel Amoros

Date of birth : 1 February 1962
Position : Right-back, left-back
Caps / goals : 82 caps / 1 goals
Club career :

  • 1979-1989 – AS Monaco (France)
  • 1989-1993 – Marseille (France)
  • 1993-1995 – Lyon (France)
  • 1995-1996 – Marseille (France)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1982, 1986
  • UEFA Euro 1984, 1992

Substitutes :

  • Raphael Varane (2013-2022), 93 caps, 5 goals
  • Marius Tresor (1971-1983), 65 caps, 4 goals
  • Maxime Bossis (1976-1986), 76 caps, 1 goal
  • Eric Abidal (2004-2013), 67 caps, 0 goal
  • Robert Jonquet (1948-1960), 58 caps, 0 goal
  • William Gallas (2002-2010), 84 caps, 5 goals
  • Willy Sagnol (2000-2008), 58 caps, 0 goal
  • Patrice Evra (2004-2016), 81 caps, 0 goal
  • Bixente Lizarazu (1992-2004), 97 caps, 2 goals

MIDFIELDER

6. Jean Tigana

Date of birth : 23 June 1955
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 52 caps / 1 goal
Club career :

  • 1975-1978 – Toulon (France)
  • 1978-1981 – Lyon (France)
  • 1981-1989 – Bordeaux (France)
  • 1989-1991 – Marseille (France)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1982, 1986
  • UEFA Euro 1984

7. Zinedine Zidane

Date of birth : 23 June 1972
Position : Attacking midfielder
Caps / goals : 108 caps / 31 goals
Club career :

  • 1989-1992 – Cannes (France)
  • 1992-1996 – Bordeaux (France)
  • 1996-2001 – Juventus (Italy)
  • 2001-2006 – Real Madrid (Spain)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1998, 2002, 2006
  • UEFA Euro 1996, 2000, 2004

8. Michel Platini

Date of birth : 21 June 1955
Position : Attacking midfielder
Caps / goals : 72 caps / 41 goals
Club career :

  • 1972-1979 – Nancy (France)
  • 1979-1982 – Saint-Etienne (France)
  • 1982-1987 – Juventus (Italy)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1978, 1982, 1986
  • UEFA Euro 1984

Substitutes :

  • Claude Makelele (1995-2008), 71 caps, 0 goal
  • Didier Deschamps (1989-2000), 103 caps, 4 goals
  • Emmanuel Petit (1990-2003), 63 caps, 6 goals
  • N’Golo Kante (2016-sekarang), 53 caps, 2 goals
  • Patrick Vieira (1997-2009), 107 caps, 6 goals
  • Paul Pogba (2013-sekarang), 91 caps, 11 goals
  • Alain Giresse (1974-1986), 47 caps, 6 goals
  • Luis Fernandez (1982-1992), 60 caps, 6 goals
  • Robert Pires (1996-2004), 79 caps, 14 goals
  • Franck Ribery (2006-2014), 81 caps, 16 goals

FORWARD

9. Karim Benzema

Date of birth : 19 December 1987
Position : Forward
Caps / goals : 97 caps / 37 goals
Club career :

  • 2004-2009 – Lyon (France)
  • 2009-2023 – Real Madrid (Spain)
  • 2023-current – Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 2014, 2022
  • UEFA Euro 2008, 2012, 2020
  • UEFA Nations League 2021

10. Kylian Mbappe

Date of birth : 20 December 1998
Position : Forward, winger
Caps / goals : 70 caps / 40 goals
Club career :

  • 2015-2018 – AS Monaco (France)
  • 2018-current – PSG (France)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1978, 1982, 1986
  • UEFA Euro 1984
  • UEFA Nations League 2021

11. Thierry Henry

Date of birth : 17 August 1977
Position : Forward
Caps / goals : 123 caps / 51 goals
Club career :

  • 1994-1999 – AS Monaco (France)
  • 1999 – Juventus (Italy)
  • 1999-2007 – Arsenal (England)
  • 2007-2010 – Barcelona (Spain)
  • 2010-2014 – New York Red Bulls (USA)
  • 2012 – Arsenal (England) (loan)

Major tournament participations :

  • FIFA World Cup 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
  • UEFA Euro 2000, 2004, 2008
  • FIFA Confederations Cup 2003

Substitutes :

  • Raymond Kopa (1952-1962), 45 caps, 18 goals
  • Just Fontaine (1953-1960), 21 caps, 30 goals
  • Antoine Griezmann (2014-current), 117 caps, 42 goals
  • Jean-Pierre Papin (1986-1995), 54 caps, 30 goals
  • David Trezeguet (1998-2008), 71 caps, 34 goals
  • Olivier Giroud (2011-current), 120 caps, 53 goals
  • Eric Cantona (1987-1995), 45 caps, 20 goals
  • Nicolas Anelka (1998-2010), 69 caps, 14 goals
  • Youri Djorkaeff (1993-2002), 82 caps, 28 goals

France National Team All-Time Best XI

Barthez
Thuram – Desailly – Blanc – Amoros
Platini – Tigana – Platini
Mbappe – Benzema – Henry

That’s our pick for 11 of greatest French players of all time in each position. What do you think? Write down your pick in comment below.

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