Best Women Soccer Players From France: The French women’s national football team, also known as Les Bleues, has a rich history and has produced many talented players. From pioneers like Marinette Pichon and Sonia Bompastor to current stars like Wendie Renard and Eugénie Le Sommer, French women’s soccer players have been outstanding.
Best Women Soccer Players From France
In this article, we will discuss the top 10 best women’s soccer players from France, specifically focusing on the leading goal scorers from the French women’s team.
10. Élise Bussaglia
- Career Span: 2003–2019
- Matches: 192
- Goals: 30
- Average: 0.16
Élise Bussaglia is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and is also the 10th top scorer for the France Women’s Team. She started her international career in 2003, contributing to a 7-1 victory over Poland.
Bussaglia played in several major tournaments, including the 2011 World Cup in Germany, where she scored a crucial equalizer against England in the quarter-finals. This goal was even nominated for the Goal of the Tournament. She continued to represent France in the 2012 Olympics, the 2013 European Championship, the 2015 World Cup, the 2016 Olympic football tournament, and the 2017 European Championship.
Even in the 2019 World Cup held in France, Bussaglia was a part of the team. However, after the tournament, where France was eliminated in the quarter-finals, she announced her retirement from the national team. Throughout her international career, she played 192 matches and scored 30 goals, often showcasing her skills in free kicks and penalties. She was a valuable asset to the French team over the years.
9. Hoda Lattaf
- Career Span: 1997–2007
- Matches: 111
- Goals: 31
- Average: 0.28
Hoda Lattaf is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and ranks as the 9th top scorer for the France Women’s Team. She had a notable international career, making 111 appearances and scoring 31 goals. Lattaf participated in two European Championships in 2001 and 2005, as well as one World Cup in 2003.
However, there was a period between November 1997 and June 2007 when Lattaf didn’t play many matches for the senior national team. Despite her strong performances at the club level, she was not selected for the final squad of the 2011 World Cup in Germany, despite being included in the provisional squad by coach Bruno Bini. She eventually retired from international football while playing for Lyon.
8. Élodie Thomis
- Career Span: 2005–2017
- Matches: 141
- Goals: 32
- Average: 0.23
Élodie Thomis ranks as the 8th top scorer for the France Women’s Team. She had a successful international career, representing France in various competitions. She made her senior national team debut in June 2005 against Italy. Throughout her international career, she played 141 times for France and scored 32 goals, showcasing her skills on the field. She was part of the French squad in the 2011 World Cup in Germany, where she played in all six matches and scored two goals, helping France finish fourth in the tournament. She also represented France in the 2012 Olympics, the 2015 World Cup, and the 2016 Olympic football tournament.
In 2014, Thomis achieved a significant milestone by joining the “international 100 club” during a friendly match against Sweden. She continued to contribute to the team, playing in the 2015 World Cup in Canada and scoring a goal in the round of 16 against South Korea.
However, her international career came to an end after the 2017 European Championship, where she decided to retire from international football. Thomis left Lyon after the 2017/18 season, concluding her successful career both at the club and international level.
7. Wendie Renard
- Career Span: 2011–present
- Matches: 151
- Goals: 35
- Average: 0.23
Wendie Renard is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and stands as the 7th top scorer for the France Women’s Team. In March 2011, she made her debut for the senior national team in a game against Switzerland.
Over the years, Renard became a key player for France. She scored her first international goal in November 2011 against Mexico. Renard played in important tournaments like the 2011 Women’s World Cup, the 2012 Olympics, the 2015 World Cup, the 2016 Olympic football tournament, the 2017 European Championship, and the 2019 World Cup. She was also the captain of the team under coach Philippe Bergeroo.
However, her role as captain ended when a new coach, Corinne Diacre, took over in 2017. Despite this, she continued to contribute to the team. Renard played 151 international matches and scored 35 goals, often using her heading skills. Notably, she announced her retirement from the national team in February 2023 after France’s victory in the Tournoi de France. Renard, along with other players, withdrew from the upcoming World Cup due to dissatisfaction with the current system, citing it as not meeting the standards required at the highest level.
6. Louisa Nécib
- Career Span: 2005–2016
- Matches: 145
- Goals: 36
- Average: 0.25
Louisa Nécib is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and ranks as the 6th top scorer for the France Women’s Team. She made her debut in the national team in 2005, scoring her first international goal in 2007 against Greece.
Nécib played in several major tournaments, including the European Championships in 2005 and 2009, the 2011 World Cup, the 2012 Olympics, and the 2015 World Cup.
Throughout her international career, Nécib played 145 matches and scored 36 goals. She was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2011 and 2014. After the 2016 Olympic tournament, she retired from international soccer due to personal reasons. Nécib’s contributions to the French national team have made her one of the standout players in the history of women’s soccer in France.
5. Camille Abily
- Career Span: 2001–2017
- Matches: 183
- Goals: 37
- Average: 0.2
Camille Abily is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and holds the 5th position in the list of top scorers for the France Women’s Team. He was part of the senior national team in the 2005 and 2009 European Championships. She played in the 2011 World Cup, appearing in all six matches and helping France finish fourth.
She was also a member of the 2012 Olympic squad, playing in all six matches, and made her 100th international appearance during the tournament against North Korea.
She was even nominated for the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2012, becoming the only Frenchwoman in the ten-player group. Abily continued her impressive performances, representing France in the 2013 European Championship, the 2015 World Cup, the 2016 Olympic football tournament, and the 2017 European Championship. With 37 goals in 183 international matches, she made significant contributions to the French national team, and her appearance in the Algarve Cup 2015 final set a record, surpassing Lilian Thuram, a player from the French men’s national team. Abily’s consistency and skill have solidified her place as one of the standout players in French women’s soccer history.
4. Gaëtane Thiney
- Career Span: 2007–2019
- Matches: 163
- Goals: 58
- Average: 0.36
Gaëtane Thiney is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and is the 4th top scorer for the France Women’s Team. She made her debut in the national team in 2007 against China and quickly rose through the ranks. Thiney played in several major tournaments, including the 2009 European Championships, the 2011 World Cup, the 2012 Olympics, the 2015 World Cup, and the 2017 European Championship.
Throughout her international career, Thiney faced ups and downs, including being left out of squads by different coaches. Despite these challenges, she remained determined and was known for her goal-scoring abilities. She scored crucial goals for France and was recognized as one of the best players in the league.
In her international career, Thiney scored a total of 58 goals in 163 matches, making her the fourth-highest goal scorer in the history of French women’s soccer. Despite facing challenges and criticisms, her contributions to the national team have solidified her legacy as one of the top players in French women’s soccer history.
3. Marie-Laure Delie
- Career Span: 2009–2017
- Matches: 123
- Goals: 65
- Average: 0.53
Marie-Laure Delie is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and holds the position of the 3rd top scorer for the France Women’s Team. She made her mark early in her career, being the top scorer at the 2007 U-19 European Championships. Delie progressed through various French youth teams, showcasing her goal-scoring prowess.
Her senior national team journey began in 2009, and she quickly became a crucial part of the team. Delie’s notable achievements include scoring the winning goal in the 2011 World Cup match against Nigeria, which was also the tournament’s first goal. She played a vital role in France’s 2012 Olympic squad, participating in all six matches. Delie continued to impress under different coaches, being a consistent presence in the national team.
By the time of her retirement, Delie had scored 65 goals in 123 international matches, making her the third-highest goal scorer in the history of the French women’s national team, behind Marinette Pichon and Eugénie Le Sommer. Her goal-scoring abilities and contributions to the team have left a lasting legacy in French women’s soccer.
2. Marinette Pichon
- Career Span: 1994–2008
- Matches: 112
- Goals: 81
- Average: 0.72
Marinette Pichon is one of the best women’s soccer players from France and ranks as the 2nd top scorer for the France Women’s Team. She represented the French national team from March 1994 and made 112 international appearances, scoring an impressive 81 goals. Pichon was a prolific goal scorer and held the record for the most goals in the French women’s A team until September 2020.
During her time as a player, Pichon participated in all the international championship finals that France qualified for, including three European Championships in 1997, 2001, and 2005, as well as one World Championship in 2003. Despite her remarkable contributions, the team didn’t secure a title during her tenure.
After France qualified for the 2007 World Cup in China in September 2006, Pichon announced her retirement from the national team. Her legacy as a goal-scoring powerhouse has left an enduring impact on French women’s soccer.
1. Eugénie Le Sommer
- Career Span: 2009–present
- Matches: 184
- Goals: 92
- Average: 0.5
Eugénie Le Sommer is undoubtedly the best women’s soccer player from France and holds the record as the top scorer for the France Women’s Team. Her journey in international soccer began in 2009 when she made her debut for the French senior national team against Ireland. Since then, she has been a key player in various tournaments and championships.
Le Sommer’s remarkable achievements include participating in the European Championships, the World Cup, and the Olympic Games. She played a crucial role in the 2011 World Cup, helping France reach fourth place. She was also part of the squad in the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic football tournament. Le Sommer continued to shine, contributing significantly to the team’s successes.
In her 184 international matches, Le Sommer has scored an impressive 92 goals, making her one of the most successful attackers in the world. In September 2020, she surpassed Marinette Pichon as France’s all-time top scorer, solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest players in French women’s soccer history.
