ARTICLE AD
You will have noticed that the French football team was completely eclipsed last year by the numerous heroic performances of French athletes during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games from July 26 to August 14. Especially since, at the start of the summer, Didier Deschamps’ Blues did not shine during their journey to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 in Germany. They only scored one goal in the game (Randal Kolo Muani’s opener in the semi-finals against Spain), benefiting from two goals and a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé.
The star captain of the EDF and Antoine Griezmann tumble into the Top 50 favorite personalities of the French recently produced by Ifop for the Sunday Newspaper. Mbappé was already in a pitiful 22nd place last year and he sinks to 36th position, while Antoine Griezmann goes from 26th to 32nd place, to therefore appear in front of his former friend 2018 world champion. Zinédine Zidane is the highest ranked footballer, in 17th place.
Deschamps is no longer mentioned…
Didier Deschamps is absent from the top 50 and this is not a surprise. The Blues coach has faced numerous criticisms, both from football fans and the general public. The minimalist football of the French team, which nevertheless allowed the Blues to reach the final of the last two World Cups, tires many enthusiasts. And some are impatiently awaiting the induction of Zinédine Zidane after the 2026 World Cup. “La Dèche” had already left the “JDD Top 50” last year.
During the poll carried out from December 12 to 14, 2022, a few days before the World Cup final in Qatar lost against Argentina on penalties, Kylian Mbappé appeared in 4th position in the top 50, Olivier Giroud in 9th, Antoine Griezmann in 11th, Hugo Lloris in 18th and Didier Deschamps in 23rd. Before the 2022 World Cup, the captain of France 98 had become a must-have on the list of French people’s favorite personalities in recent years, finishing 23rd in 2018, 25th in 2019 and 22nd in 2020.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.