5 Greatest French footballers of all time

Modified May 28, 2019 14:21 GMT

Some of football's greatest ever players come from France

#1. Michel Platini:

Platini is the greatest footballer France has ever produced, and also remains one of the finest no. 10s of all time. He epitomized elegance and excellence on a football pitch, and also won several accolades in his career.

Platini was a legend for Italian club Juventus, and won 3 consecutive Ballon d’Ors while playing for them. He also won the European Cup in 1985 and two Serie A titles with Juve. He also played for Saint-Etienne and Nancy, and finished with 209 goals in 358 matches in his club career.

Platini was France’s captain for quite a while, and made them one of the strongest footballing nations in the 1980s. He scored 9 goals in 5 matches to win the European Championship for France in 1984. He also took them to two consecutive semifinal appearances in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. However, France lost to West Germany on both the occasions.

Platini was a delight to watch, as he had great dribbling, passing and shooting skills. He also had a knack of scoring goals and creating goal-scoring moves. He scored 41 goals in 72 matches for the French National team, and remains the finest footballer to have played for Les Bleus.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Emeka Monyei