Zidane, Henry, Cantona and the best French football players of all time

France has a rich football history filled with top level players on every position. The two-time world champion boasts countless football legends, but who are the best? Take a look at our list and discover for yourself.

Quite possible the best French football player ever and one the greatest in general, Zinédine Zidane is a Juventus, Real Madrid and Les Bleus legend and had the skills and technique to execute what he was thinking. Successful at club and international level, the 1998 Ballon d'Or still remains the favourite of many.

Another Juventus icon, Michel Platini was a unique talent and the leader of a successful generation of French footballers. The midfielder and three-time Ballon d'Or was a specialist of set-pieces, a skill he showcased on many occasions.

Ever since Arsène Wenger took over at Arsenal, the Gunners have had a strong link with France. One of the best French players to end up in London was Patrick Viera, the strong captain of the 'Invincibles'. Viera won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with the Gunners, while also earning 107 France caps.

One of the finest strikers in Premier League history, Thierry Henry was arguably the best player in the world in his prime. The four-time Premier League top scorer guided Arsenal to two league titles and triumphed at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

The most capped player for France until Hugo Lloris took his record, Lillian Thuram is a legend of French football. His most memorable moment for Les Bleus came in the 1998 FIFA World Cup semi-final, when he scored twice against Croatia to qualify France for the final.

A deadly striker in his time, Just Fontaine was a star of French side Stade Reims. The Marrakech-born only collected 21 caps for France, but that was enough to score 30 goals. An amazing feat.

Undeniably the best French player of his generation. A world champion at 19, Kylian Mbappé's best years have yet to come.

Didier Deschamps captained the French national team to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998. The midfielder also enjoyed a highly successful club career, winning the Champions League with Juventus and Olympique Marseille.

An excellent dribbler, Franck Ribéry spent the biggest part of his career at Bayern Munich, where he won nine (!) German titles. The Frenchman also earned 81 caps for France, scoring 16 goals.

Eric Cantona was known as an eccentric player, but a world-class one at that. The striker was magical at Manchester United, scoring 82 goals for the Red Devils and bagging four league titles along the way.

One of the best French strikers ever, Jean-Pierre Papin played for Club Brugge, Olympique Marseille, AC Milan and Bayern Munich. His trophy cabinet includes one Ballon d'Or (1991) and one Champions League (1993-94).

A strong, tall defender, Marcel Desailly was a key figure at Olympique Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea. With 116 France caps, he was also instrumental for Les Bleus.

Forcing a teenage breakthrough at Olympique Lyon, Karim Benzema would go on to become a Real Madrid legend, with more than 350 goals for Los Merengues.

Born almost a century ago, Raymond Kopa was a Stade Reims and Real Madrid star of the 50s and the 60s. The fearsome dribbler won three European Cups with the Spanish side, earning himself the 1958 Ballon d'Or.

David Trezeguet was the man who guided France to UEFA EURO 2000 glory, by scoring a golden goal in the final against Italy. Moreover, the clinical striker was a part of the French 1998 FIFA World Cup winning side and took home two leagues titles at AS Monaco and Juventus.

Another icon of the 1998 World Cup, Laurent Blanc was a strong defender who played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, such as FC Barcelona and Manchester United.

Youri Djorkaeff was a stylish player who played for AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale, amongst other clubs. 1998 was a highly successful year for the attacking midfielder, with UEFA Cup and World Cup glory.

Jean Tigana was one of the best French footballers of the 80s. He made 52 appearances for his country, including the final of the 1984 Euro's, a tournament which France won.

Known for his big smile and high work rate, N'Golo Kanté made a name for himself at Leicester City. After winning the Premier League with the Foxes, he was transferred to Chelsea, and after that, in 2018, he would crown himself a World Cup winner with France.

Last but not least Emmanuel Petit also deserves to be on this list. The long-haired midfielder was successful in the Premier League with Arsenal and in the Ligue 1 with AS Monaco. As for the French national team, Petit played an important role in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.