France would be traveling to Qatar as the defending champions of the FIFA World Cup. They are also one of the top contenders to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
However, they must select the right 26 players that will be traveling to the Mundial.
They also need to find the best French soccer players to defend the title they won 4 years ago.
France is a country that is so blessed that it can quickly line up three different starting 11s, good enough to win a world cup title.
Nevertheless, let’s look at France’s top 10 best soccer players in 2022.
1. Karim Benzema
Position: Striker
Age: 34
France has obviously the best strikers in the world in their team, and Karim Benzema is just one of them.
What a season it has been for Karim Benzema, and in that same season that precedes the World Cup, the Real Madrid striker has been the man of the headlines.
After winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga double last season, which makes it the fifth title for each competition, he won the Balon d’Or.
He became the man to go to for the Les Blues after he emerged as the La Liga and UEFA Champions League highest scorer last season.
Therefore, Didier Deschamps will know it’s a no-brainer, making him their target man and leading the line because if not Benzema, who else?
2. Kylian Mbappé
Position: Forward
Age: 23
If not Benzema, definitely Mbappe. At just 23, Mbappe has won five Ligue titles and scored 28 goals and 17 assists in the previous season, the highest stats in both goals and assists in the Ligue 1 last season, and the first player to do so.
He has not slowed down in the new season, but the biggest flex is that Mbappe won the FIFA World Cup with France in 2018 as a teenager, and that means he’s a big asset beyond his skills.
He’s just 24 goals away from breaking Thierry Henry’s 51-goal record for the Blues.
3. Hugo Lloris
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 35
France has always had some of the best goalkeepers in the world at their disposal and Hugo Lloris.
The Spurs goalkeeper is hugely experienced and has continued to earn the trust of Didier Deschamps.
His 139 caps look good enough to beat Lilian Thuram’s record as the most-capped player at 142 appearances.
Meanwhile, if not injury or a drastic drop in form, a goalkeeper that helped oversee a World cup win four years ago should still be a part of the team.
Although many might not agree, but Hugo Lloris is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and definitely one of the best soccer players in France.
4. Raphaël Varane
Position: Centre-back
Age: 29
Raphaël Varane may have been undone by injury problems in his first season at Manchester United, but he remains a top defender anytime, any day.
The injury problems kept him out of four of France’s UEFA Nations League matches in the summer.
Nevertheless, the 29-year-old remains part of the big picture for Didier Deschamps.
His CV and trophy haul is an enviable one that includes the World cup and multiple UEFA Champions League and La Liga trophies.
5. Aurélien Tchouaméni
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22
Here is one new face in France’s team compared to those around in 2018.
Aurélien Tchouaméni could be the “Mbappe” of the 2022 France team, although he is 22 years old.
However, his style of play surpasses his age; his move from Ligue 1 to European Champions Real Madrid explains how highly rated he is.
Tchouaméni will definitely play a big part at the World Cup.
However, with the presence of more experienced players but if Carlo Ancellotti can trust him, expect Deschamps to do the same, especially with N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba’s injury problems ahead of the Mundial.
Aurélien Tchouaméni has the potential to become one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
6. Olivier Giroud
Position: forward.
Age: 36
At 36, Olivier Giroud easily falls into the bracket of the players who may likely miss out on the world cup.
Still, his goalscoring prowess, experience, and the fact that he does it in one of Europe’s top five are enough reasons to keep him on the team to Qatar.
His goals this season may not be on the same level as Benzema, but two goals in five UEFA champions league games, four goals, and two assists in ten Serie A games are decent numbers.
He could play the cameo experienced super subs role in Qatar, Deschamps; what do you say?
7. Christopher Nkunku
Position: forward
Age: 24
It is hard to imagine Nkunku not playing at the World Cup for France, and it’s even harder to imagine France not traveling with the RB Leipzig forward.
That’s how insane the depth in quality that France possesses is.
The 24-year contributed 20 goals and 13 assists in the Bundesliga last season and did a fantastic seven goals in six UEFA Champions League games for his side.
8. Ousmane Dembélé
Position: Winger
Age: 25
Surprisingly or maybe not, Dembele played in Russia as France went on to win the FIFA World Cup. However, since then, he’s had a drop but also managed to recover.
He was almost offloaded by Barcelona in 2021, but the former Dortmund forward has overcome injuries to show the qualities that convinced Barcelona to splash the cash.
He had 13 assists in La Liga last term, but this season, he’s already made five assists and four goals in La Liga, making him one of the best French soccer players in 2022.
9. Antoine Griezmann
Position: Forward
Age: 31
The Atletico Madrid forward was both instrumental as France reached the final of the 2016 Euros, and won the 2018 World Cup. In fact, the Frenchman was named the man of the match in 2018 World Cup final.
In 2014, Antoine Griezmann made debut for France under Didier Deschamps, and since then, he has been a regular in the starting XI.
Griezmann’s importance in the French national team is underrated. He doesn’t just help his team with goals, but contributes so much more.
His energy, stamina, work rate, and ball recovery rate is one many players in the French national team will fail to match.
10. Paul Pogba
Position: Midfield
Age: 29
Aha, one name that has been conspicuously missing, right? Pogba may be injured weeks before the world cup, but if he gets fit before the start, he will be on the plane.
At 29, it’s exciting what the former Manchester United midfielder has achieved, which includes the World Cup in 2018.
Since leaving Manchester United for Juventus this summer, he’s yet to play due to injury, but his quality and versatility are never in doubt.
He’s a perfect description of form is temporary, and class is permanent, making him one of the top ten France soccer players in 2022.
