Ranker

Anime Underground

Button Mash

Graveyard Shift

Total Nerd

Unspeakable Times

Weird History

Weird Nature

Weirdly Interesting

Sports

Music

Entertainment

Living

Culture

Food

Makeup

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Holidays

Watchworthy

HBO Max

France's finest people, musicians, politicians, scientists, performers, etc.. as well as the top must-see tourist attractions in France. 

Soccer

Thierry Henry

Aside from Zizou (Zinedane Zidane), who else makes it onto the list of the best French soccer players? Plenty of French footballers, according to soccer fans. Below, you'll see a rank of the best footballers from France, spanning decades of history--with some star players from years past.&nbsp;Don't agree with the list? Vote for your favorite French football players and add any you feel should be in the discussion.This list of the best soccer players from France includes details on positions played along with photos when available. If you're searching for a particular famous French soccer player you can use the search box at the top of the list to find who you're looking for.&nbsp;Some generally agreed upon greats include Cyrille Pouget, Antar Yahia and Zinedine Zidane. In fact, Zidane is in the running for being one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players of all time</a>, regardless of country. But if you're wondering who are the best French footballers currently or who is the greatest French soccer player of all time, this list is for you.&nbsp;You can click on the names of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-footballer_s)/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular soccer players</a> of France in order to get more information about each one. If you're a soccer fan, then you can use this list of the best French soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might not know about.

List of notable or <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-fashion-designers-from-italy/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous fashion designers</a> from France, with bios and photos, including <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-influential-fashion-designers-in-history/samantha-dillinger?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the top fashion designers</a> born in France and even some popular fashion designers who immigrated to France. If you're trying to find out the names of famous French fashion designers then this list is the perfect resource for you. These fashion designers are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known fashion designer from France is included when available. List below includes Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint-Laurent and more people. This historic fashion designers from France list can help answer the questions &quot;Who are some French fashion designers of note?&quot; and &quot;Who are the most famous fashion designers from France?&quot; These <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-fashion-designers-from-united-states-of-america/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">prominent fashion designers</a> of France may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected French fashion designers.Use this list of renowned French fashion designers to discover some new fashion designers that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page.

French

A list of French TV channels. All <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/networks-with-the-best-programming/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular TV channels</a> in France have been included. In this day and age, virtually every country has its own set of television networks. TV originally evolved from radio, and up until the last few decades, virtually all television content was broadcast over the air. Today, cable and satellite providers directly broadcast much of what is watched.

Programming can be created both in house, or by a studio or other production facility that is sometimes directly affiliated with the station. Television shows can also be imported (and exported) to other countries, often through syndication. While satellite and cable currently take all the glory, over-the-air broadcasting is not being left behind as many countries are making the switch from analogue to digital broadcasts. Many French TV channels air European and British - even American shows - alongside their <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-french-tv-shows-2019/ranker-tv" target="_blank">French original series</a>.

What are French TV channels? Take a look at this list and you&#39;ll for yourself.

Alcohol

Annoeullin L'Angelus Bière de Froment

Here's a list of best French beers in the world is a compilation of all the greatest beers made in France. While the French are not one of the largest brewing countries in Europe, their contribution is still important. Top French beers are common in beer cafes and brew pubs across the nation. Some common and favorite French brewing companies include Castelain, La Coulette, Kronenbourg, and Jenlain. What are the French's brewing secrets?The greatest French beers are called biere de gardes, and are a unique specialty among beers. Very rare, and once in danger of disappearing forever, biere de gardes made a comeback in northern France, and in particular, regions such as Flanders, Picardy, Pas de Calais. Beer enthusiasts and beer connoisseurs around the world enjoy this strong, spicy, malty drink.Although France has these specialty French beers, it does not mean that it is France's best beer. So what truly makes a great French brew? And what types of French beers become global favorites? From the crispness of Kronenbourg 1664 to the simultaneously subtle and bold flavors of Castelain's brands, there is no shortage of amazing French beer to sample.What types of beer represent France's authentic and flavorful style? You can now be the judge. Which beer brewing company is the people's favorite? Which French drinks go well before continuing to a glass of wine? Add your favorite French beers that may have been forgotten, and let the grand French beer choice begin!

Here's an extensive list of notable or famous poets from France, with bios and photos, including the top poets born in France and even some popular poets who immigrated to France. If you're trying to find out the names of famous French poets then this list is the perfect resource for you. These poets are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known poet from France is included when available.<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-novelists-from-france/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Famous French writers</a> of poems on this list include Adam de la Ralle and Arthur Rimbaud.This historic poets from France list can help answer the questions &quot;Who are some French poets of note?&quot; and &quot;Who are the most famous poets from France?&quot; These prominent poets of France may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected French poets.Use this list of renowned French poets to discover some new poets that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page.&nbsp;

Historical Figures

A list of the best French WW1 Aces.  That is, World War I Aces from France with the most victories.  Photos are included wherever possible.  While one may be considered an Ace with only 5 victories, these WWI Aces have shot down twenty planes or more!  World War 1 Aces were arguably the bravest and boldest of all fighter pilots as their planes were so rudimentary.  That said, the Fokker Dr. I and the Sopwith Camel were airplanes that got the job done.  For the Aces of World War 1, flight jackets weren't yet items of prestige; they were tools of necessity as flying in an open cockpit meant pilots could freeze.  The planes were made of cloth, metal tubes, and wood unlike the armored cockpits of today that protect their flyboys from machine-gun fire. Suffice to say, this list of Aces of WW1 contains all of the best.

List of notable or famous comedians from France, with bios and photos, including the top comedians born in France and even some popular comedians who immigrated to France. If you're trying to find out the names of famous French comedians then this list is the perfect resource for you. These comedians are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known comedian from France is included when available. The list you're viewing is made up of people like Gad Elmaleh and Laurent Ruquier. This historic comedians from France list can help answer the questions &quot;Who are some French comedians of note?&quot; and &quot;Who are the most famous comedians from France?&quot; These prominent comedians of France may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected French comedians.Use this list of renowned French comedians to discover some new comedians that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page.&nbsp;

List of notable or famous dancers from France, with bios and photos, including the top dancers born in France and even some popular dancers who immigrated to France. If you're trying to find out the names of famous French dancers then this list is the perfect resource for you. These dancers are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known dancer from France is included when available. These people, like Josephine Baker and Leslie Caron include images when available. Featuring ballerinas, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballerinas/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular ballet dancers</a>, and more, this list has it all.&nbsp;This historic dancers from France list can help answer the questions &quot;Who are some French dancers of note?&quot; and &quot;Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-dancer_s)/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most famous dancers</a> from France?&quot; These prominent dancers of France may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected French dancers.Use this list of renowned French dancers to discover some new dancers that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page.&nbsp;

Attractions

Musée d'Orsay

List of best things to do in France. What are the top attractions in France? From the Eiffel Tower to the French Riviera, there are many famous tourist attractions in France. From wine and cheese to beauty and art, tourists flock to France every year to experience the French way of life where bonjour is heard as you enter a small cafe or boutique, a flower shop or newsstand. Visiting France for the first time? You're not alone. France is the most visited country in the world with 83 million tourists every year. It might be the beautiful French language that allures most visitors or the je ne sais quoi of the French way of life that people admire. Though most people think of Paris as the top destination in France, the country offers beaches, ski resorts, sea ports, and rural country life. So while many people plan their trip to France to visit Paris, many people also visit the French Riviera located in the southeast of France. From the famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre in Paris to the breathtaking castles in the Loire Valley, taking a trip to France can be the trip of a lifetime full of some of the world's top places to visit in France. Just be sure to grab a baguette and a bottle of wine before you head under the Eiffel Tower to watch the sunset in Paris and fall in love like millions of other visitors have with the region of romance.&nbsp;If you're planning a trip to France, use this list as a guide of must-see places in France. Vote up the best French places to see.

List of notable or famous philosophers from France, with bios and photos, including the top philosophers born in France and even some popular philosophers who immigrated to France. If you're trying to find out the names of famous French philosophers then this list is the perfect resource for you. These philosophers are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known philosopher from France is included when available. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-people-who-died-in-france/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Famous French people</a> of philosophy here include everything from Michel Foucault to Simone de Beauvoir. This historic philosophers from France list can help answer the questions &quot;Who are some French philosophers of note?&quot; and &quot;Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-philosophers-from-england/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most famous philosophers</a> from France?&quot; These prominent philosophers of France may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected French philosophers.Use this list of renowned French philosophers to discover some new philosophers that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page.

Bands/Musicians

List <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/france-bands-and-musical-artists-from-here/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous French bands</a> and solo musicians, listed by popularity with photos when available. These popular bands from France come from a number of different musical genres, including rock, pop, metal, electronic, jam, punk and acoustic. These might not necessarily be the best French bands, but this list contains a majority of the greatest bands from France. Music lovers who are looking for new music to listen to can use this list of talented French musicians to discover some great new bands and artists.Amélie-les-crayons and Arletty are a great starting point for your to rank your favorites on this listThis list answers the questions, "Which bands are from France?" and "Which bands are popular in France?"

List of notable or famous mathematicians from France, with bios and photos, including the top mathematicians born in France and even some popular mathematicians who immigrated to France. If you're trying to find out the names of famous French mathematicians then this list is the perfect resource for you. These mathematicians are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known mathematician from France is included when available. List people include Benoit Mandelbrot, Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet and many more. This historic mathematicians from France list can help answer the questions "Who are some French mathematicians of note?" and "Who are the most famous mathematicians from France?" These prominent mathematicians of France may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected French mathematicians.Use this list of renowned French mathematicians to discover some new mathematicians that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. {#nodes}

Athletes

List of popular female <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-athletes-from-france/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">athletes from France</a>, listed alphabetically with photos when available. France has a rich history of competing in sports, and these are the famous females that make that competition so exciting. Some of the best French female athletes in the world are listed below, some of who have represented France in the Olympics. You can click on the names of these talented female athletes of France in order to get more information about each one, such as the birthplace of the athlete and when they were born.List features Élodie Thomis, Alena Popchanka and more. This list answers the questions, "What <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-influential-female-athletes/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous female athletes</a> are from France?" and "Who are the greatest female French athletes?"

List of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-pop-artists-2019/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular artists</a> from France, listed alphabetically with photos when available. For centuries artists have been among the world's most important people, helping chronicle history and keep us entertained with one of the earliest forms of entertainment. Whether they're known for painting, sculpting, etching or drawing, the famous French artists on this list have kept that tradition alive by creating renowned pieces of art that have been praised around the world. You can find useful information below about these notable French artists, such as when they were born and where their place of birth was.This list has a variety of artists in it, from Pauline Auzou to Jacques Monory.This list answers the questions, "Which famous artists are from France?" and "Who are the most well-known French artists?" For further information on these historic French artists, click on their names. If you're a fine art lover use this list of celebrated French artists to discover some new paintings that you will enjoy.

Vacations

Visiting a French winery should be a top-priority when planning your next trip to France. The best wineries in France include lovely places such as Loire and Rh&ocirc;ne Valleys, and &nbsp;the Champagne and Burgundy regions.&nbsp;France is known for having many varieties of grapes, including merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, pinot noir, and more. The most popular wine region in France is Bordeaux, a primarily <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-wine-brands/ranker-shopping?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">red wine</a> region most noted for its cabernets and merlots. Other French wine regions include Burgundy, Provence, Loire, and Rh&ocirc;ne. Each of these regions are noted for particular grape varieties. The Rh&ocirc;ne Valley is a primarily red wine region located along the Rh&ocirc;ne River while Provence produces ros&eacute; wines and Champagne is known for its sparkling white wines.&nbsp;In France, food is prepared to be accompanied by wine, and is a major part of French culture. Cheese and wine are two essential components to a French meal, often served a baguette. Not only is wine an essential beverage during meals, wine is also used for cooking and is used in pasta, meat, poultry, and other French cuisines. A popular French dish is &quot;coq au vin.&quot; Chefs will use wine to marinate the chicken, and slowly simmer it on the stove to produce a tender cut.&nbsp;What are the top wineries to visit in France? Rank up the best French wineries and vineyards using this list. &nbsp;If we've forgotten one, please feel free to add it.&nbsp;

List of French <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-punk-bands-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">punk rock bands</a>, listed by popularity with photos when available. This list includes more than just bands, as punk rock solo artists from France are included as well. It's always interesting to see where famous bands got their starts, so use this list to discover some great French music that you've never heard before. The punk rock bands and artists below have played their music all over the world, but they all were formed in France. If you think the best French punk rock band is missing from the list, then feel free to add it <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-found-at-the-bottom-of-lakes/christopher-shultz?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">at the bottom</a> so it's included with these other great acts. You can rank all of these bands, from Manu Chao to Noir Désir.If you want to answer the questions, "Who are popular punk rock bands from France?" and "Which punk rock bands started in France?" then this list will answer your questions.

Reggae

List of French reggae bands, listed by popularity with photos when available. This list includes more than just bands, as reggae solo artists from France are included as well. It's always interesting to see where famous bands got their starts, so use this list to discover some great French music that you've never heard before. The reggae bands and artists below have played their music all over the world, but they all were formed in France. If you think the best French reggae band is missing from the list, then feel free to add it <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-found-at-the-bottom-of-lakes/christopher-shultz?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">at the bottom</a> so it's included with these other great acts. The list you're viewing is made up of a variety of different bands, including Manu Chao and Serge Gainsbourg.If you want to answer the questions, "Who are <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/reggae-bands-and-musicians/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular reggae bands</a> from France?" and "Which reggae bands started in France?" then this list will answer your questions.

Famous Olympians from France have achieved some of the highest honors in sports and Olympic history, as even being chosen to represent your country at the Olympics is something that most athletes will never get to experience. Olympians that played for Team France competed in sports like skiing, figure skating, baseball, basketball, and more. France has a long, proud history of competing in the Olympic games. Without these fierce athletes, they never would have won any medals. From legends like Auguste Daumain to new athletes like Perrine Laffont, you'll find it all here.&nbsp;Who are the most famous <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-olympic-athletes-from-france/voteable?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">French Olympic athletes</a>? Read this list to find out.&nbsp;

Cuisine

Aligot

List of the best French food, as ranked by professional chefs, natives of France, and food enthusiasts. When people think of France, monuments like the Eiffel Tower and French art museums may come to mind, but no part of French culture is more rewarding and memorable than their food. The food in France is a fragile mix between rich and complicated, sometimes taking scientific-like steps to make, making it all the more satisfying to eat. &nbsp;Ingredients often include bread, eggs, and cheese, mixed a way so unique that each ingredient tastes like never before.That’s one of the beauties of French cuisine: it’s always a special experience to try.The French foods on this list of top foods from France include dishes that you can find on menus all over the world, regardless of ethnicity, like quiche and cr&egrave;me brulee. Meanwhile, other dishes are very exclusive to French restaurants, such as escargots and quenelle.What are your favorite French foods? Whether you’re a fan of sweet French desserts like macaroons and pain au chocolate or singular eating experiences like sharing a pot of fondue, French food has a special place in the heart of food lovers across the globe. If you don't see your favorite foods from France on the list of greatest French foods, make sure to add them.

List of notable or famous physicists from France, with bios and photos, including the top physicists born in France and even some popular physicists who immigrated to France. If you're trying to find out the names of famous French physicists then this list is the perfect resource for you. These physicists are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known physicist from France is included when available. The list you're viewing is made up of people like Marie Curie and François Arago. This historic physicists from France list can help answer the questions "Who are some French physicists of note?" and "Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-physicists-from-united-states-of-america/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most famous physicists</a> from France?" These prominent physicists of France may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected French physicists.Use this list of renowned French physicists to discover some new physicists that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. {#nodes}

Bienvenue en France!

pageType

unsafe_grapeshot

unsafe_grapeshot_death_injury

edit_update_annually

exclude_RLblocks

ticker_exclude

site_wide_RL_exclude

longtail_search

non_votable_list_of_all

link_value_only

scale_cleanup

cb_bienvenue-en-france-

srch

no_amp

List of popular male <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/france-olympic-athletes/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">athletes from France</a>, listed alphabetically with photos when available. France has a rich history of competing in sports, and these are the famous males that make that competition so exciting. Some of the best French male athletes in the world are listed below, some of who have represented France in the Olympics. You can click on the names of these talented male athletes of France in order to get more information about each one, such as the birthplace of the athlete and when they were born.List features Nicolas Jalabert, Gilbert Gérintès and more. This list answers the questions, "What famous male athletes are from France?" and "Who are the greatest male French athletes?"

Famous Male Athletes from France | List of France Male Athletes

Famous Male Athletes from France

Athlete

Best Rankings of Sports Teams and Players, Interesting Sports Facts, and Moments in Sports

sports

Reference

Gender

Age 30 and over

Gen Xers

Age under 50

Region

American

West Coast US

Us States

Cheick Kongo

Cheick Guillaume Ouedraogo (born May 17, 1975), more commonly known as Cheick Kongo, is a French heavyweight mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who fights in Bellator MMA. A professional MMA competitor since 2001, he has also competed for the UFC. As of April 21, 2019, he is #11 in the world rankings by Sherdog, and by fightmatrix (at 44 years old).

Jim Thorpe

James Francis Thorpe (May 22 or 28, 1887 – March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe became the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States. Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon, and played American football (collegiate and professional), professional baseball, and basketball. He lost his Olympic titles after it was found he had been paid for playing two seasons of semi-professional baseball before competing in the Olympics, thus violating the amateurism rules that were then in place.  In 1983, 30 years after his death, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) restored his Olympic medals.

Thorpe grew up in the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma, and attended Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he was a two-time All-American for the school's football team. After his Olympic success in 1912, which included a record score in the decathlon, he added a victory in the All-Around Championship of the Amateur Athletic Union. In 1913, Thorpe signed with the New York Giants, and he played six seasons in Major League Baseball between 1913 and 1919. Thorpe joined the Canton Bulldogs American football team in 1915, helping them win three professional championships; he later played for six teams in the National Football League (NFL). He played as part of several all-American Indian teams throughout his career, and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of American Indians.
From 1920 to 1921, Thorpe was nominally the first president of the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which became the NFL in 1922. He played professional sports until age 41, the end of his sports career coinciding with the start of the Great Depression.  He struggled to earn a living after that, working several odd jobs. He suffered from alcoholism, and lived his last years in failing health and poverty. He was married three times and had eight children, before suffering from heart failure and dying in 1953.
Thorpe has received various accolades for his athletic accomplishments. The Associated Press named him the "greatest athlete" from the first 50 years of the 20th century, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted him as part of its inaugural class in 1963. A Pennsylvania town was named in his honor and a monument site there is the site of his remains, which were the subject of legal action. Thorpe appeared in several films and was portrayed by Burt Lancaster in the 1951 film Jim Thorpe – All-American.

Joakim Noah

Joakim Simon Noah ( JOH-ə-kim; born February 25, 1985) is a former professional basketball player who played for the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in New York City to a Swedish mother and a French father, he holds American, Swedish and French citizenship. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators, winning back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007. The Chicago Bulls selected Noah with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Noah is a two-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2014 when he also was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Didier Drogba

Didier Yves Drogba Tébily  (French pronunciation: ​[didje dʁɔɡba]; born 11 March 1978) is an Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is currently the club's fourth highest goal scorer of all time. He was named African Footballer of the Year twice, winning the accolade in 2006 and 2009.
After playing in youth teams, Drogba made his professional debut aged 18 for Ligue 2 club Le Mans, and signed his first professional contract aged 21. After finishing the 2002–03 season with 17 goals in 34 appearances for Ligue 1 side Guingamp, he moved to Olympique de Marseille, where he finished as the third highest scorer in the 2003–04 season with 19 goals and helped the club reach the 2004 UEFA Cup Final.
In July 2004, Drogba moved to Premier League club Chelsea for a club record £24 million fee, making him the most expensive Ivorian player in history. In his debut season he helped the club win their first league title in 50 years, and a year later he won another Premier League title. His displays saw him named in the FIFA World XI for 2007. In March 2012, he became the first African player to score 100 Premier League goals. Just two months later, he scored in Chelsea's 2012 FA Cup Final win over Liverpool to become the first (and as of 2017, the only) player to score in four separate FA Cup finals. He also played in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, in which he scored an 88th-minute equaliser and the winning penalty in the deciding shoot-out against Bayern Munich. After spending 6 months with Shanghai Shenhua in China, and one and a half seasons with Turkish club Galatasaray where he scored the winning goal in the final of the 2013 Turkish Super Cup, Drogba returned to Chelsea in July 2014. With a career record of scoring 10 goals in 10 finals winning 10 trophies at club level, Drogba has been referred to as the "ultimate big game player." He joined Canadian club Montreal Impact in 2015 as a Designated Player and played 41 matches over two seasons, scoring 23 goals. Drogba became a player–owner for Phoenix Rising of the United Soccer League in 2017, and retired a year later at the age of 40.
An Ivory Coast international between 2002 and 2014, Drogba captained the national team from 2006 until his retirement from the Ivory Coast team and is the nation's all-time top goalscorer with 65 goals from 105 appearances. He led the Ivory Coast to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, their first appearance in the tournament, and also scored their first goal. He later captained the Ivory Coast at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. He was part of the Ivory Coast teams that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2012, but were beaten on penalties on both occasions. On 8 August 2014, he announced his retirement from international football. In 2018, Drogba retired from professional football at the age of 40. Afterwards, on 11 December, he became Vice President of the international organization Peace and Sport.

Eric Cantona

Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona (French pronunciation: ​[eʁik kɑ̃tona]; born 24 May 1966) is a French actor and former professional footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his career at Manchester United where he won four Premier League titles in five years and two League and FA Cup Doubles. He won the league championship in seven of his last eight full seasons as a professional. At international level, he played for the France national team.
A large, physically strong, hard-working, and tenacious forward, who combined technical skill and creativity with power and goalscoring ability, Cantona is often regarded as having played a key role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing force in the 1990s and having an iconic status at the club. He wore the number 7 shirt at Manchester United with his distinctive upturned collar. Cantona is affectionately nicknamed by Manchester United fans as "King Eric", and was voted as Manchester United's greatest ever player by Inside United magazine. Set against his achievements in football was a poor disciplinary record for much of his career, including a 1995 conviction for an assault on a fan for which he received an eight-month suspension.Following his retirement from football in 1997, he took up a career in cinema and had a role in the 1998 film Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, the 2008 film French Film, and the 2009 film Looking for Eric. In 2010, he debuted as a stage actor in Face au Paradis, a play directed by his wife, Rachida Brakni. Cantona also took an interest in the sport of beach soccer, and as player-manager of the French national team, he won the 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.Charismatic and outspoken, Cantona was an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. The museum states: "The enigmatic Frenchman was one of the Premier League's most controversial players ever". At the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards in 2003 Cantona was voted the Overseas Player of the Decade. In 2004 he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

Alain Bernard

Alain Bernard (French pronunciation: ​[alɛ̃ bɛʁnaʁ]; born 1 May 1983) is a former French swimmer from Aubagne, Bouches-du-Rhône.
Bernard won a total of four medals (two golds, one silver, and one bronze) at two Olympic Games (2008 and 2012). He also won numerous medals at the World Championships (short course and long course) and European Championships (short course and long course). Bernard formerly held the world record for the 50 metres freestyle (long course) and the 100 metres freestyle (long course and short course).
Bernard has a shark tattoo on his right hip.

Bob Cousy

Robert Joseph Cousy (, born August 9, 1928) is an American retired professional basketball player. Cousy played point guard with the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963, and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969–70 season. Making his high school varsity squad as a junior, he went on to earn a scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross, where he led the Crusaders to berths in the 1948 NCAA Tournament and 1950 NCAA Tournament, and won NCAA All-American honors for three seasons. 
Cousy was initially drafted by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks as the third overall pick in the first round of the 1950 NBA draft, but after he refused to report, he was picked up by Boston. He had an exceptionally successful career with the Celtics, leading the league an unprecedented 8 straight years in assists, playing on six NBA championship teams, and being voted into 13 NBA All-Star Games in his 13 full NBA seasons. He was also named to 12 All-NBA First and Second Teams and won the 1957 NBA Most Valuable Player Award.En route to his assist streak that was unmatched either in number of crowns or consecutive years, Cousy introduced a new blend of ball-handling and passing skills to the NBA that earned him the nickname "The Houdini of the Hardwood". Also known as "Cooz", he was regularly introduced at Boston Garden as "Mr. Basketball". After his playing career, he coached the Royals for several years, capped by a seven-game cameo comeback for them at age 41. 
Cousy then became a broadcaster for Celtics games. Upon his election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 the Celtics retired his No. 14 jersey and hung it in the rafters of the Garden. Cousy was named to the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971, the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1981, and the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996, making him one of only four players that were selected to each of those teams. He was also the first president of National Basketball Players Association. On August 22, 2019, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.

Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira (born 23 June 1976) is a French professional football head coach and former player. He is the manager of Nice.
Considered one of the best players of his generation, Vieira began his career at Cannes in 1994, where several standout performances in his debut season garnered him a move to Serie A club Milan a year later. His single season in Italy was marred due to limited playing time, and he featured mainly for the reserve team. This allowed him to relocate to England, in order to join countryman Arsène Wenger at Arsenal, for a fee of £3.5 million in 1996.
During his nine-year stint in the Premier League, Vieira established himself as a dominating box-to-box midfielder, noted for his aggressive and highly competitive style of play, an attitude that also helped him excel as captain of the club from 2002 until his departure in 2005. He helped Arsenal achieve a sustained period of success during his time at the club, where he lifted three FA Cups and three league titles, including one unbeaten. He then returned to Italy, playing for Juventus, but quickly departed after the club sustained relegation for their part in a match-fixing scandal. He then signed for Inter Milan, where he won three league titles, before featuring for Manchester City, where he won another FA Cup before retiring in 2011.Vieira featured at senior level for much of his international career, representing France over a period of 12 years, where he also spent some part as captain. He played in the final in his nation's victorious campaign at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and featured heavily as the team also won Euro 2000. Despite also playing a key role in the side that finished runners-up in the 2006 World Cup, Vieira was used sparingly by France in the latter stages of his career, and he retired from international competition in 2010, after amassing 107 appearances for the side.
Following retirement, Vieira transitioned into coaching, where he took charge of the academy at Manchester City in 2013. He would depart two years later, after signing for sister club New York City. His arrival in Major League Soccer (MLS) saw the team adopt a free-flowing, attacking, press-based system, which gained him many plaudits, and garnered him a move back to his homeland to manage Ligue 1 club Nice in 2018, marking his first managerial role in Europe.

Thierry Daniel Henry (French pronunciation: ​[tjɛʁi ɑ̃ʁi]; born 17 August 1977) is a French professional football coach and former player who was most recently the manager of Ligue 1 club Monaco.
Considered one of the best strikers of all-time, Henry made his professional debut with Monaco in 1994, where good form led to an international call-up in 1998, after which he signed for defending Serie A champions Juventus. Limited playing time at Juve where he was played out of position on the wing allowed him to sign for Premier League club Arsenal for £11 million in 1999.
It was at Arsenal that Henry made his name as a world-class player. Under long-time mentor and coach Arsène Wenger, Henry became a prolific striker and Arsenal's all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. He won two FA Cups and two league titles at the club, including one unbeaten. In 2003 and 2004, Henry was the runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year. He was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice, and the FWA Footballer of the Year three times, and has been named in the UEFA Team of the Year five times. Henry spent his final two seasons with Arsenal as club captain, leading them to the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final.
In June 2007, after eight years with Arsenal, he transferred to Barcelona for a fee of €24 million. In 2009, he was an integral part of the club's historic treble when they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League. He went on to achieve an unprecedented sextuple by also winning the Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. In 2010, he joined New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS), where he won the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2013. He also returned to Arsenal on loan for two months in 2012, before retiring in 2014.
Henry enjoyed sustained success with France, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000 and 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. In October 2007, he became his country's record goalscorer. After amassing 123 appearances and 51 goals, Henry retired from international football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Henry was also one of the top commercially marketed footballers; he was ranked ninth in the world in 2006.

After retiring, Henry transitioned into coaching, and was appointed as an assistant coach at Belgium in 2016, before assuming the role as the head coach at Monaco in 2018. He was relieved of his duties at Monaco in January 2019.

Robert Pirès

Robert Emmanuel Pires (born 29 October 1973) is a French football coach and former professional player.Pires played for French clubs Metz and Marseille prior to his time with Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups and two Premier League titles including the club's unbeaten season of 2003–04. A former France international, Pires earned 79 caps between 1996 and 2004 for his country, including winning both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000. He has been included in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, was the Player of the Tournament for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, FWA Player of the Year for the 2001–02 season, Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for the 1995–96 season, and was included in the FIFA 100 by Pelé. He was also voted by Arsenal fans as the 6th greatest player in the club's history.Pires played the majority of his career as a left winger, but could also play all across the midfield or in a position to support the forward line. Pires is currently coaching at Arsenal.

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Barclay Beckett (; 13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator. A resident of Paris for most of his adult life, he wrote in both English and French.
Beckett's work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human existence, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humor, and became increasingly minimalist in his later career. He is considered one of the last modernist writers, and one of the key figures in what Martin Esslin called the "Theatre of the Absurd."Beckett was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his writing, which—in new forms for the novel and drama—in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation." He was elected Saoi of Aosdána in 1984.

Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Sébastien Anelka (French pronunciation: ​[nikɔla anɛlka]; born 14 March 1979) is a French football manager and former player who played as a forward. As a player, he regularly featured in his country's national team, often scoring at crucial moments. Known for his ability to both score and assist goals, he has been described as a classy and quick player, with good aerial ability, technique, shooting, and movement off the ball, and was capable of playing both as a main striker and as a second striker.Anelka began his career at Paris Saint-Germain, but soon moved to Arsenal. He became a first team regular and won the PFA Young Player of the Year Award the following season. He moved to Real Madrid for £22.3 million in 1999, but did not settle in well and returned to PSG in a £20 million deal. Despite regular first team football in Paris, Anelka set his eyes upon the Premier League once more, moving on loan to Liverpool in January 2002, but joining Manchester City for £13 million at the start of the 2002–03 season.
After three seasons in Manchester, he moved to Fenerbahçe for two seasons, before returning to England to join Bolton Wanderers in deals worth £7 million and £8 million respectively. He was then transferred to Chelsea from Bolton for a reported £15 million in January 2008. In 2009, he won the Premier League Golden Boot award as the league's top goalscorer. During his transfers over the years, he has built an aggregate transfer cost of just under £90 million. On 12 December 2011, Shanghai Shenhua announced that they had reached an agreement with Anelka to join the team in the winter transfer window. After one season there, Anelka joined Italian side Juventus on a six-month loan deal in 2013, after which he was released from Shanghai and signed for West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer. Following his dismissal by West Brom, he signed for Mumbai City FC as a marquee player and was named player-manager in 2015.
Anelka played 69 times at international level and won his first international honours with France at UEFA Euro 2000, and won the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup the following year. His failure to settle at club level limited his international appearances, but he returned to the national team for Euro 2008. On 19 June 2010, he was excluded by the French Football Federation (FFF) from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa for "comments directed against the national coach, Raymond Domenech, unacceptable to the FFF, French football, and the principles they uphold". Two months later, having failed to turn up to his disciplinary hearing, he was banned for France's next 18 matches by the FFF, effectively ending his international career. Anelka later claimed to be "dying with laughter" at the 18-match ban, as he had already decided to retire from international play.

Jérémy Roy

Jeremy Roy may refer to:

Jérémy Roy (cyclist) (born 1983), French road bicycle racer
Jérémy Roy (ice hockey) (born 1997), Canadian ice hockey defenceman

Thierry Dusautoir

Thierry Dusautoir ([tjɛ.ʁi dy.so.twaʁ]; born 18 November 1981) is a French former rugby union player who last played for France at international level and Toulouse in the French Top 14 club competition. Dusautoir was considered as a strong ball carrier with good speed and possessing the strength to break tackles.
He first played for Bordeaux-Bègles before moving to US Colomiers for one season, and then signed with Biarritz. He played in the final of the 2005-06 Heineken Cup at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, which Biarritz lost to Irish team Munster 23–19. Despite losing the Heineken Cup, Biarritz did manage to win the final of the 2005-06 Top 14 40–13 against Toulouse.
Dusautoir was the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2011, the second French player to win the award. He also owns the record of most tackles in a rugby game (38 tackles against New Zealand in 2007).

Sébastien Chabal

Sébastien Chabal (born 8 December 1977) is a French former rugby union player. He played number eight and lock for Bourgoin (1998–2004), Sale Sharks (2004–2009), Racing Métro 92 Paris (2009–February 2012), and for the French national team. 
Chabal played professionally for 16 years and won the English Premiership with Sale, and the 2007 Six Nations Championship with France. He also finished in fourth place at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He earned his first international cap on 4 March 2000 against Scotland, and represented France in 62 games.
He is known for his full beard, long hair and ferocious tackling, leading the French rugby fans to nickname him l'Homme des Cavernes— the Caveman. With this look, he has a number of lucrative commercial contracts. He was one of the most popular sportsmen in France, so much that local journalists wrote about Chabalmania.

Émile Ntamack

Émile "Milou" Ntamack (born 25 June 1970) is a former French rugby union footballer. 
He played professionally for Stade Toulousain and France, winning 46 caps. He made his French debut against Wales during the 1994 Five Nations Championship. Ntamack was part of the Grand Slam winning sides in 1997. He was in the 1995 and 1999 World Cup squads. In 2003, he stopped his professional rugby union career due to a facial injury. His younger brother, Francis Ntamack was also capped by France. Ntamack coached the Espoirs team of the Stade Toulousain and the French U21 team which was the first Northern Hemisphere side to win the World Championships in this age category, held in Auvergne in 2006.Ntamack was the first man to lift the Heineken Cup, winning it in Cardiff Arms Park in 1995. He captained the Toulouse team to victory on the day against Cardiff. Toulouse won 21-18
As of 2007 he has been backs coach for the international French team.



Fabien Pelous

Fabien Pelous (born 7 December 1973) is a retired French rugby union footballer. A lock who also occasionally played as a number eight and flanker, he played the bulk of his professional career for Stade Toulousain, and is the all-time leader in appearances for the French national team. He retired as the most-capped lock for any nation in rugby history, with 100 of his 118 France appearances at that position, a record later broken by South Africa's Victor Matfield. Pelous was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017.

Yannick Jauzion

Yannick Jauzion (born 28 July 1978 in Castres) is a French former rugby union footballer.
Raised in Vénès, Tarn he played at centre for Stade Toulousain and the French national team.
Jauzion was a member of the Toulouse team that reached the Heineken Cup final in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He was named as the man of the match in the 2005 Heineken Cup Final as Toulouse defeated Stade Français. He earned his first national cap on 16 June 2001 against South Africa. He played in France's Grand Slam winning teams of 2002 and 2004, but was ruled out of the 2006 Six Nations Championship through injury as France emerge as champions. He played all the matches during the 2007 Six Nations Championship that France won. He also scored the winning try in the 2007 World Cup quarterfinal against New Zealand that France won 20–18. In the 2009–2010 season, he played a central role as Toulouse won the Heineken Cup, with Jauzion collecting his third winners medal.
He retired on 26 June 2013.
Jauzion graduates École d'ingénieurs de Purpan

Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Yazid Zidane (French pronunciation: ​[zinedin jazid zidan]; born 23 June 1972), nicknamed "Zizou" (pronounced [zizu]), is a French former professional football player and current manager of Real Madrid. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Zidane was an elite playmaker, renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control and technique, and played as an attacking midfielder for Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid. At club level, Zidane won two Serie A league titles with Juventus, before he moved to Real Madrid for a world record fee of €77.5 million in 2001, which remained unmatched for the next eight years. In Spain, Zidane won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League, with his left-foot volleyed winner in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final considered to be one of the greatest goals in the competition's history. Zidane also won an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup with both teams.
Capped 108 times by France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final and being named to the All-Star Team, while also winning UEFA Euro 2000, being named Player of the Tournament. The World Cup triumph made him a national hero in France, and he received the Légion d'honneur in 1998. He also received the Golden Ball for player of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup, despite his infamous sending off in the final against Italy for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest. He retired as the fourth-most capped player in France history.
Zidane received many individual accolades as a player, including being named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and winning the 1998 Ballon d'Or. He was Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 1996, Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2001, and La Liga Best Foreign Player in 2002. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players compiled by Pelé, and in the same year was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. Zidane is one of eight players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or, and was the ambassador for Qatar's successful bid to stage the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first Arab country to host the tournament.After retiring as a player, Zidane transitioned into coaching, and began as his head coaching career at Real Madrid Castilla. He remained in the position for two years before taking the helm of the first team in January 2016. In his two and a half seasons with Madrid, Zidane won the UEFA Champions League an unprecedented three times consecutively, a La Liga title, a Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice each. His success saw him named Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017, but he resigned in May 2018. Following poor results by Real Madrid in the subsequent months, Zidane returned to the club as manager in March 2019.

Martin Djetou

Martin Okelo Djetou (born 15 December 1974) is a French former footballer who played as a defender.

Vincent Defrasne

Vincent Defrasne (born 9 March 1977) is a former French biathlete. He won a gold medal in the 12.5 km pursuit at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and a bronze medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
He was also a member of the winning Biathlon World Championship relay team in 2001, and the 2004 team which won bronze. At the Biathlon World Championship 2007 in Antholz, Defrasne earned a bronze medal, in the 12.5 km pursuit and a silver medal in the Mixed Relay event. In 2009 at the World Championships in Pyeongchang, Defrasne was part of the victorious mixed relay team.
Defrasne served as the flagbearer for France at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
He retired from the sport after the 2009–10 season.

Lorik Cana

Lorik Agim Cana (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈlɔɾik ˈtsana]; born 27 July 1983) is an Albanian former professional footballer. He is currently the Grassroots ambassador for children's football in Albania, named by the Albanian Football Association on 26 October 2017.
Cana played in the top divisions of France, England, Italy and Turkey, representing Paris Saint-Germain, Sunderland, Galatasaray, Lazio, FC Nantes and Olympique de Marseille as well as the Albanian national team for which he held the appearance record for Albania's most capped player of all time, with 93 caps since he made his debut in 2003 until his retirement in 2016. He used to play primarily as a defensive and central midfielder but later switched to centre-back. He participated in the first major international competition for Albania, the UEFA Euro 2016 held in France.
At the age of 16, Cana was invited to Arsenal for a trial, but failed to attend because he was denied a British visa. He began his senior club career playing for Paris Saint-Germain, before signing with rivals Olympique de Marseille in 2004 whom he went on to captain. In 2009, Cana made his league debut for Sunderland becoming the first player of Albanian origin to play in the Premier League. Later he joined Galatasaray, the most successful Turkish football club. Two years later, Cana signed for Italian Serie A club Lazio where he spent four years. In 2015, Cana returned to France, where he started his career, signing a two-year contract with Nantes.
Cana was eligible to play for either Albania, Switzerland or France, as he held all three passports. He chose Albania and made his international debut in June 2003, at the age of 19. Cana is Albania's most capped player of all time with 92 caps where he was named captain in 2011. After the end of the UEFA Euro 2016 Cana announced his retirement from football.

Nikola Karabatić

Nikola Karabatić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Карабатић; born 11 April 1984) is a male French handball player for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team.With the French national handball team, he has won two Olympic gold medals (Summer Olympics of 2008 and 2012), four World Championship gold medals (2009, 2011, 2015 and 2017) as well as three gold medals in the European Championship (2006, 2010 and 2014). He also won L'Équipe Champion of Champions in 2011. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in handball history, and he was IHF World Player of the Year for a record-tying three times, in 2007, 2014, and 2016.

Hocine Ragued

Hocine Ragued (born  11 February 1983 in Paris) is a French born Tunisian footballer.

Frédérick Bousquet

Frédérick Bousquet (French pronunciation: ​[fʁe.de.ʁik bu.skɛ], born 8 April 1981 in Perpignan) is a freestyle and butterfly swimmer from France. He was the holder of the world record in the 50 m freestyle in a time of 20.94 in long course, set on 26 April 2009 at the final of the French Championships. Since the record was swum in a banned, performance-enhancing suit it remained in limbo whether the record stood until FINA approved it in July following a modification of his suit. He is the first swimmer to go under the 21-second mark in this distance. He previously held the record in the 50 m short course in a time of 21.10, set in 2004 at the Men's NCAA Division One Swimming and Diving Championships, for over two years. At the 2009 World Championships in Rome Bousquet competed in the 50 and 100 free, capturing a silver in the 50 and bronze in the 100.
Bousquet did not qualify for the 2012 Olympics but his ex-partner Laure Manaudou and his brother-in-law Florent Manaudou did.

List of popular male athletes from France, listed alphabetically with photos when available. France has a rich history of competing in sports, and these are ...