GK: Grégory Coupet
Having risen to prominence with Saint-Étienne, it was at Lyon that Coupet rose to greatness. His shot-stopping helped Lyon to dominate the early 2000s, winning seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles between 2001/02 through to 2007/08. Donnarumma came close, but Coupet couldn’t be overlooked.
RB: Lilian Thuram
His prime may have come during his time in Serie A, but Thuram’s formative years at Monaco were still impressive enough to warrant selection in this all-time XI. The Frenchman’s physicality and game intelligence were a rare combination, making him the perfect fit for the right side of this defence. Should Hakimi continue performing for PSG, he’ll mount a serious claim of being the best right-back to grace the French league, but for now, that accolade rests with Thuram.
CB: Marcel Desailly
It’s easy to forget just how much of a defensive powerhouse Marcel Desailly was in his prime. During his one season at Marseille, he was part of the Champions League winning side in 1993, before moving to AC Milan and winning it again the following year. Similar to Thuram, Desailly’s peak years may have been spent elsewhere, but his inclusion is undeniable.
CB: Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva was one of the most intelligent centre-backs of the 21st century. When he signed for PSG in 2012 – for a then world record fee for a defender – PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi declared him the best defender in the world, a bold but justifiable claim. Silva went on to win seven league titles, as well as countless other domestic trophies.
LB: Bixente Lizarazu
Nuno Mendes will feel hard done by, but Lizarazu remains the best left-back in Ligue 1 history – for now at least. Small in stature but absolutely rapid, Lizarazu was the template for the modern attacking full-back. His trophies came during his time at Bayern Munich, but his class was first evident during his time with Bordeaux.
CM: Zinedine Zidane
Zidane also features in our all-time Serie A and La Liga XIs, a testament to the impact he had in the three leagues. Having made his professional debut for Cannes, Zidane moved to Bordeaux where he flourished, winning best young player in 1994, followed by Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 1996. His performances earned the Frenchman a move to Champions League winners Juventus, where he cemented his legacy as one of the greatest midfielders of all time.
CM: Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélélé, like Zidane, made his mark in the top leagues across Europe, notably during his time with Real Madrid and Chelsea. Within Ligue 1, he played for Nantes and Marseille early in his career, before ending his career with PSG. Makélélé is widely regarded as redefining the defensive midfield role, bringing a combative and aggressive presence in front of the defence, whilst still possessing the finesse to act as a deep-lying playmaker.
CM: Michel Platini
Three time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini was among the first names on this teamsheet, he was that good. To this day, few attacking midfielders possess Platini’s goalscoring ability or record. Despite spending a decade in Ligue 1, Platini only won the league once – with AS Saint-Étienne in 1980/81.
FW: Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé burst onto the scene at Monaco, earning comparisons with the late great Pelé. His explosive speed, close control and clinical finishing put him on the trajectory to becoming the best player in the world at present. By the time Mbappé left to join Real Madrid, he’d won seven league titles having scored 191 goals in 246 games. A modern great.
FW: Zlatan Ibrahimović
The enigmatic Zlatan was instrumental in PSG’s transformation into the footballing powerhouse they are today. He arrived with a big reputation – and even bigger ego – but certainly lived up to the hype. He combined strength, skill and audacity to dominate Ligue 1, where he won four league titles.
FW: Jean-Pierre Papin
One of the most clinical finishers of all time, Papin won the Ballon d’Or during his time with Marseille. Papin’s intelligence in movement, timing, and finishing rounds out a fearsome front three in this all-time XI.
