00:09Welcome to the FIFA World Cup on WatchMojo and today we're picking an all-time starting
00:1511 for the France national side. Be sure to stick around for the full lineup because at
00:20the end of the video we'll rapid-fire through the very best players to watch out for in the
00:25late 2026 tournament specifically.
00:32Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez
00:34Fearless and unconventional as they come, Fabien Barthez played a central role in France's
00:401998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs. He wasn't just a rock between the posts, he
00:54was a powerful and charismatic figure on the pitch, a huge personality in the French dressing
00:59room. At club level, he did his best work in Ligue 1 in the 1990s before moving to Manchester
01:06United where he won two Premier League titles. Considered one of the most eccentric players
01:11of his time, Barthez, in his prime, was as reliable a big-game player as they came and one of
01:17the most
01:18popular footballing figures his country produced in the last few decades.
01:26Right-back Lillian Thuram
01:28As one of the most dependable and versatile defenders of his era, Lillian Thuram was equally potent at
01:35club and international level. He was effective as both a centre-back and right-back, proving his elite
01:46status in both positions. His prime years were spent acting as the backbone of Parma and Juventus'
01:52defences. His defining moment on the international stage, though, was his crucial role in helping
01:58France move past Croatia in the 1998 World Cup semi-final, scoring his team's only two goals.
02:05He was, at one point, the most capped player in French history, until he was eventually
02:10surpassed by veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
02:19Centre-back Laurent Blanc
02:21If you're looking for the prototypical ball-playing defender, the elegant and highly-skilled
02:27Laurent Blanc is a great pick. Now regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time,
02:33Blanc earned the nickname Le Président for his incredible leadership skills.
02:38He was a staple of the international team in the 1990s and had his two biggest successes
02:43at the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 Euros. His ability to kickstart offensive play from the
02:50depths of defence was uncanny and his overall footballing intelligence made his transition
02:55to club and international management a smooth one. Overall, his influence on modern-day centre-backs
03:02cannot be understated. Centre-back Marcel Desailles As the perfect mix of physical power and technical
03:10brilliance, Marcel Desailles was another key member of the French squad in the 1990s and early 2000s.
03:22He wasn't just successful at international level either. He won Champions League medals with both
03:27Marseille and AC Milan before then proving his talent in the Premier League with Chelsea.
03:33The fans gave him the nickname The Rock and it's pretty easy to see why. He was a bully to
03:39opposition
03:40attackers, a leader to his fellow defenders and a hard worker for every second of the 90 minutes he was
03:46on
03:46the pitch. One of the all-time great defenders that's for sure. Left-back Bichonté Lizarrazu
04:03No list of the greatest left-backs of the last 30 years would be complete without a mention for Bichonté
04:10Lizarrazu. He was a perfectly balanced attacker and defender, a true workhorse with a seemingly
04:16unlimited supply of stamina. His role in the golden generation of French footballers at the turn of
04:22the century saw him truly make the left-back position his own, earning 97 international caps.
04:28At the club level, he truly hit his stride when he joined German giants Bayern Munich, winning the
04:34domestic league six times and a Champions League medal in 2001. As reliable a fullback as the game
04:41has ever known. Centre midfield Patrick Vieira There might not have been a more complete central
04:48midfielder than a prime Patrick Vieira, at least within his own era. A dominant figure who combined
04:54technical savvy and elite athleticism, Vieira was a key player for Arsenal and the French national team
05:01during two especially successful periods. He was tenacious and aggressive, but also gifted with
05:07fantastic vision and composure. In other words, this box-to-box midfielder was exactly the type of
05:14leader you would want in the heart of your team's line-up. He could basically do it all, and over
05:19the
05:19course of his international career, he made a grand total of 107 appearances. Centre midfield Michel Platini
05:27You don't win three consecutive Ballon d'Ors without having some truly remarkable talents and the results
05:33to back it up. In fact, Lionel Messi is the only other male player to do it. If that doesn't
05:42give you
05:43a sense of where Platini's legacy lies, nothing will. He was a creative master and a technical marvel,
05:49a player who was truly ahead of his time. His dominance with Juventus in the 1980s was the stuff
05:55of legend, but it was his role in leading France to their first major title at the 1984 Euros that
06:02really solidified his legend. Centre midfield Zinedine Zidane
06:06There's an argument to be made that Zinedine Zidane is the single most technically impressive player
06:11to ever do it. He's certainly on the Mount Rushmore at the very least. He played an integral part in
06:18France's back-to-back major trophy wins in 1998 and 2000, before nearly bagging them another World Cup
06:25in 2006. Sure, his final moment in a French jersey, his infamous headbutting of Marco Madarazzi,
06:32was a shame, but Zizou remains one of the most iconic footballers to ever lace up boots.
06:38He retired as the fourth most capped player in French international history.
06:46Right-Winger Robert Perez
06:48Okay, we're cheating a little bit with this one. France's habit of producing a truly huge amount
06:54of talented left-wingers has forced us to get a little creative.
06:58And then there's the most powerful moment for me personally,
07:02which is when Didier Deschamps lifted the World Cup. Because at that moment,
07:07I realized a childhood dream. Though primarily a left-sided player,
07:12for our starting eleven, the famously elegant Arsenal legend Robert Perez will be called on to do
07:17a job on the right-wing. Known for his remarkable ball control and creativity,
07:23Perez played a crucial role in one of the most impressive periods in Arsenal's history.
07:32He also made 78 appearances for his national side during their golden era. In a time when France was
07:39producing some of the most technically electric players ever, Perez was a trailblazing force,
07:45revolutionizing the role of the winger. Left-Winger Kylian Mbappe
07:49Kylian Mbappe's 2018 World Cup win for France was a glimpse of a once-in-a-generation talent.
07:56At just 19, he had already reached football's pinnacle and he was only getting started. In the 2022 final,
08:04he scored a hat-trick against Argentina, narrowly missing back-to-back World Cups. With blistering speed,
08:10elite dribble and clinical finishing, few players in the post-Merci Ronaldo era can match him. In addition,
08:18his knack for scoring big goals in the moments that matter most makes him the obvious choice for
08:24France's starting eleven. Striker Thierry Henry
08:27There was just something different about Thierry Henry. Widely considered to be France's greatest
08:42ever attacker, he was the perfect mix of elite athleticism and technical mastery. A devastating
08:48goalscorer from a wide range of scenarios, Henry's peak years with Arsenal and his national team saw
08:55him redefine the modern-day forward. As stylish as they came, depending on who you ask, Henry could
09:01well be considered the greatest Premier League player of all time. He also became France's record
09:15goalscorer in 2007 after finding the net 51 times in 123 games, before being surpassed by Olivier Giroud.
09:24Subs bench. Hugo Lloris, the most-kept player in the history of the national team.
09:30Being involved with the national team is the best feeling that you can have as a football player.
09:35Marius Trezor, France's defensive anchor in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
09:41Raphael Varane, 2018 World Cup winner and error-defining centre-back.
09:55Claude Makaleli, an innovator of the defensive midfield position. Didier Deschamps, the captain who led
10:03France to the 1998 World Cup trophy. Antoine Griezmann, a stylish attacker and a
10:17key figure in 2018's World Cup triumph. Karim Benzema, the winner of multiple Champions
10:23leagues and the 2022 Ballon d'Or. Eric Cantona, the charismatic star better known for his club
10:33career. Jean-Pierre Papin, French football icon who won the 1991 Ballon d'Or. So, those are the
10:41greatest of all time, but how about right now? Who are the players you need to know before World Cup
10:472026 kicks off in America, Mexico and Canada? Michael Olysee. For the rising star Michael Olysee,
10:55this World Cup represents his first chance to truly impact the legacy of his nation.
11:09Though he only made his debut in 2024, he will be expected to play a key role in
11:15Didier Deschamps' plans in this tournament.
11:17At 24 years old, this will almost certainly not be his final World Cup appearance, but do not be
11:23surprised if it's a real breakout for him at the international level.
11:282. Ousmane Dembele
11:29The pain of failing at the final hurdle at the 2022 World Cup will no doubt still be in the
11:34mind of starting right winger Ousmane Dembele. This time, at 28 years old, he will bring experience
11:41and a more hardened pedigree to the squad, along with all the pressure that comes with his reputation.
11:47After winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or, there's a real chance that he could single himself out as the
11:53player of the tournament. Mike Mignon
11:56This AC Milan shot-stopper was on the fringes of international selection during the 2022 World Cup,
12:02but was injured for the tournament. Now, he will be expected to fill the boots of retired keeper
12:12Hugo Lloris and make his own impact. As an acclaimed shot-stopper with electric reflexes,
12:19Mignon will be judged by his composure and confidence in big, singular moments,
12:24giving him an opportunity to truly make the position his own.
12:281. William Saliba As one of the standout young defenders in all of Europe,
12:33William Saliba has been a rock in the heart of the Arsenal defence this year.
12:37Saliba tries to get back, he makes the challenge. No wonder he celebrates, he had to make that,
12:44Ramsey was in. Though he did make a minor
12:46appearance in the 2022 World Cup this year, he will be given far more responsibility and judged
12:51to a much higher standard. Alongside Deo Upamecano, he will have a chance to add his name to the long
12:58list of legendary French centre-back partnerships. So, what's your prediction for France at the World
13:04Cup? Who's your favourite player from now or from history? Let us know in those comments below!
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