The French men’s football team has had some very dominating and incredible teams throughout history. France is known for its involvement in football and is one of the most successful nations in football history. In their history, France has won two FIFA World Cup trophies, two UEFA European Championships, and one UEFA Nations League title. This article talks about the history of the top scorers in France’s men’s football teams.
Credit: CNN
Jean-Pierre Papin is a French forward who represented the France men’s football team from 1986 to 1995. He scored 30 goals for his country in 54 games, finishing with a goals-per-game ratio of 0.56. Papin represented a variety of clubs throughout his career, but the majority of his club career was spent playing for the French football club Olympique de Marseille.
Just Fontaine established himself as one of the best strikers in the world during his peak, representing the French national team from 1953 to 1960. He made 21 appearances for his country, scoring 30 goals in the process at an incredible goals-per-game ratio of 1.43. The French star played for a variety of clubs like USM Casablanca, OGC Nice, and Stade de Reims and ended his career as one of France’s top goal-scorers despite having made just 21 appearances for them.
The only player who made football look simple. Simply Zidane✍🏽💙 #Zidane #Zizou #France #football pic.twitter.com/IPixuvUMtZ
— Football analysis⚽ (@mukabarros) November 27, 2024
Zinedine Zidane is a French star who played for a variety of clubs like Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid. The midfielder is regarded as one of the best players of all time and led his country to victory in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He guided them to another final in the 2006 World Cup, but they ended up losing to Italy. Zidane represented his country from 1994 to 2006, scoring 31 goals for them in 108 appearances, making his goals-per-game ratio 0.29.
David Trezeguet is a French legend who played as a striker during his playing career. He represented his country from 1998 to 2008, making 71 appearances for them while scoring 34 goals at a goals-per-game ratio of 0.48. This makes him one of the highest goal-scorers in France’s history. The French striker represented a plethora of teams throughout his career, but he spent the majority of his career representing Juventus.
Karim Benzema is a French striker who played for the French men’s football team from 2007 to 2022. While Benzema faced quite some issues with the national team, including getting exiled in 2015, he ended up playing in 97 games for his nation and scoring 37 goals for them at a goals-per-game ratio of 0.38. The striker spent the majority of his club career playing for Real Madrid, establishing himself as one of the biggest legends at the club.
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Michel Platini is a French striker who represented his nation between 1976 and 1987. He scored 41 goals in 72 appearances, ending his international career with a goals-per-game ratio of 0.57. The attacking midfielder played for just three clubs during his career, which included Nancy, Saint-Etienne, and Juventus. This makes Platini the fifth-highest goal scorer in France’s history, and it looks like he will remain there for quite some time to come.
Antoine Griezmann – France Goal Catalogue@AntoGriezmann 🕺
pic.twitter.com/zgv5hx2IVq— 𝓢𝓮𝓷𝓪 (@fcbsena_) October 2, 2024
Antoine Griezmann established himself as an incredible striker and was one of the best during his peak. The striker played for his national team from 2014 to 2024 and only recently retired from international duty. He played 137 games for them while scoring 44 goals at a goals-per-game ratio of 0.32. Griezmann played for three teams throughout his domestic career, namely Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappe is the third-highest goal scorer in France’s men’s football team’s history. The striker is the only player on this list who is still active. He has 48 goals for his nation in just 86 games, which puts his goal-per-game ratio at 0.56. Kylian Mbappe is just 26 years old but has already won the FIFA World Cup with his country. Given his current trajectory, Mbappe will surely end his career as France’s top scorer.
Thierry Henry is a French striker who played for the France national football team from 1997 to 2010. He scored 51 goals in 123 appearances, with a goals-per-game ratio of 0.41. The French star played for a plethora of teams in his career, but the four teams that stood out during his playing career were Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona, and New York Red Bulls. Henry is not just France’s second-highest scorer but is also regarded as one of the country’s best players in history.
OLIVIER GIROUD RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL DUTY 🥹🇫🇷
France national side pay tribute to Beard Daddy as he hangs up his crown having scored 57 goals in 137 games & playing huge role in 2018 WC win. Many faces, still the same handsome man. ❤️pic.twitter.com/Un024g8qi7
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 15, 2024
Olivier Giroud is France’s men’s football team’s highest goal scorer in history. Giroud is one of the best strikers of all time but is often looked past and is severely underrated. The fact that he is France’s top goal scorer of all time just shows how good a striker he is. Giroud represented France from 2011 to 2024 and only just retired from international duty. He made a total of 137 appearances for them while scoring 57 goals at a goals-per-game-ratio of 0.42.
For more news and updates on the France football team, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.
Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.
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