Top 20 Famous French Sportspeople

Top 20 Famous French Sportspeople

*Originally published by Jordan on November 2019 and Updated by Vanessa On April 2023

France is known for many things. The food, the fashion, the café culture, and of course sports! Just last year in 2018 the French national football team won the World Cup; counting the second World Cup title for les bleus.

And it’s not just in football that French athletes excel, they’ve made their mark in the realms of tennis, basketball, wresting and rugby, too. Just to name a few. So let’s discover the top 20 famous French sportspeople!

1. Kylian Mbappé

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Known by many as simply “Mbappé”, this football superstar is most definitely one of the top 10 famous French athletes. At just 20 years old, Kylian Mbappé has made quite the impression on the French sports world.

In 2018, he became the second teenager in history to score in a World Cup final, and was certainly one of the highest-paid teenage athletes. Boasting a starting forward position with Paris Saint-Germain and a French World Cup victory already under his belt, Mbappé plays to win.

2. Amélie Mauresmo

By Charlie Cowins on Wikimedia Commons

Easily the most famous French female tennis player, Amélie Mauresmo is a household name in France. In 2004, Mauresmo was ranked the N°1 singles tennis player in the world, and held onto her title for several months while competing in several grand slams. Now retired, Amélie had a brilliant 15-year career; claiming two grand slam titles (Australian Open and Wimbledon) as well as a silver medal for France in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

After her retirement in 2009, Amélie turned to coaching. She has coached professional tennis players all over the world; perhaps most notably British champion Andy Murray.

3. Didier Deschamps

By Kirill Benedictov on Wikimedia Commons

Known today for his famous scowl on the sidelines as he coaches the French national team, Didier Deschamps is a retired French footballer himself. And one of the most famous French sportspeople at that! Before becoming the coach of the French national team in 2012, Deschamps was a defensive midfielder for several prestigious club teams. His remarkable athletic career includes a World Cup victory in 1998 as well as long standing stints with clubs like Juventus, Chelsea and Marseille.

4. André the Giant

By John McKeon on Wikimedia Commons

Measuring a massive 7ft. 4 (224cm) André René Roussimoff, better known as André the Giant was a professional French wrestler and actor. His immense height catapulted him to international fame, in the wrestling world as well as in several advertising campaigns. He famously sparred against Hulk Hogan in 1987, but is perhaps better known for his role as Fezzik the Giant in hit film The Princess Bride.

5. Jeannie Longo

By James F. Perry on Wikimedia Commons

Born and raised in Annecy, France, cyclist Jeannie Longo is one of the most famous French sportspeople. And by a long shot. She began cycling in 1975 and continued competing until 2012; an impressive longevity in any sport! Longo holds many titles and was considered the best female cyclist in the world for well over a decade. Not only was Longo a 25-time French national champion, she was named world champion 13 times and has four Olympic medals.

6. Yannick Noah

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Yannick Noah has been named France’s highest ranked tennis player, and he has held onto the title for decades! Noah is the most recent Frenchmen to win the French Open (for singles in 1983) and has 23 prestigious career titles to his name. And not only is Yannick Noah a veritable tennis legend, he’s also quite the musician.

After he retired from his tennis career in 1991, Noah has become a successful French pop singer. Today he has a successful career as a musician and contributes his free time to philanthropic efforts. He’s even founded his own charitable foundation Fête le Mur which helps underprivileged kids in Paris’ suburbs.

7. Laure Manaudou

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Laure Manaudou is one of the most well-known French swimmers of all time. In the early 2000’s, Manaudou set multiple world records in freestyle 200-1500 meter swimming events at European and World championships. In 2004, she competed at the Athens Olympics and won a gold medal for freestyle swimming.

After a short yet vibrant career, the champion swimmer retired at just 22 years old. Today, her younger brother Florent continues the family swimming tradition with lots of support from js elder sister. In 2012, Florent Manaudou was awarded an Olympic gold medal for his impressive performance in the 50 meter freestyle. His sister was poolside to congratulate him, and the two continue to support each other in their love for the sport.

8. Tony Parker

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William Anthony Parker Jr. or Tony Parker is a retired French-American basketball star, and definitely one of the 10 most famous French sportspeople! Tony Parker was born in Belgium, but grew up in France where he developed a love and a talent for basketball.

Parker started his career in France where he played for Paris Basket Racing in the French Basketball League. After just two years, he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs (NBA) and continued his career playing for the Texan team as a Point Guard. During his time with the Spurs, Parker won four NBA Championship titles and participated in six all-star games. In 2015, Parker played for the French national team, helping them defeat Lithuania, and earning him an MVP title.

9. Vincent Moscato

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Born and raised in Paris, Vincent Moscato is a former French rugby player. Certainly one of the most well-known French rugby players, Moscato left his mark on the sport. He played for Bordeaux for nearly two decades as a talented hooker, earning various accolades including Champion de France in both 1991 and 1998. Since his retirement in 2004, Moscato has pursued a career in sports entertainment, earning him even more fame.

But perhaps he’s best known for his current position as an actor and radio show host. Moscato has been in dozens of films, as well as showcased his talents on the theater stage. Today, he even has his own broadcast on RMC The Super Moscato Show where he discusses various sports with a humorous twist.

10. Zinedine Zidane

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Zinedine Zidane (or Zizou for most French people) is one of the most famous  footballers of all time. Growing up in a rough quarter of Marseille, his mentors encouraged him to channel his anger and frustrations into football. That was piece of advice that he never wavered from during his twenty-year career.

Zidane started playing football with neighborhood kids at just 5 years old, and made his professional debut as an offensive midfielder at 17 playing for Cannes. This young player was immediately noticed for his incredible dribbling talent as well as his fierce determination.

Zidane went on to play professionally for Bordeaux, Juventus and eventually Real Madrid. In 2001 he signed to Real Madrid for a world record breaking fee of 150 billion Italian lire (today equivalent to around €77 million). Zidane had a successful career overall and his accolades include 3-time FIFA player of the year, the 1998 World Cup victory and the 1998 Ballon d’Or. After retirement, Zidane channeled his love for the game into coaching. Today Zidane is the head coach of Real Madrid, coming full circle in his football journey.

11. Camille Lacourt 

Camille Lacourt is a former French swimmer who is well known for performing remarkably well in backstroke competitions, notably the 50m and 100m backstroke. Lacourt was not unfamiliar with success or with medals in his career, he earned several world championships and European Championships. He also took part in the Olympics as well as competing in the 100-meter backstroke which led him to win a silver medal at the 2012 London Games. 

13. Marie-José Pérec

At the age of 16, she moved to Paris from Guadeloupe. She competed for France in the 200m at the 1988 Olympic Games after coaches encouraged her to become a sprinter due to their recognition of her innate talent. At the 400-meter world championships in 1991, she won with ease. At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Perec came in as the 400m favourite, and she lived up to the hype. Olha Bryzhina, the defending champion, had the field in front heading into the final straightaway, but Pérec used her long, beautiful strides to break away and win by over two metres.

14. Renaud Lavillenie

Athlete Renaud Lavillenie was born in France on September 18, 1986. He is one of the greatest in the world at the pole vault sport and specialises in it. At important international events like the Olympics and World Championships, Lavillenie has received many medals.

At a height of 6.16 metres, he broke the pole vault world record in 2014. Lavillenie was given the Pierre de Coubertin medal for his performance at the medal ceremony at the 2016 Rio Olympics as a result of his sportsmanship and fair play.

15. Alain Prost

16. Fabien Barthez

Fabien Barthez who is now retired is widely seen as one of his generation’s top goalkeepers. During his career, Barthez played for a number of prestigious teams, including Marseille, Manchester United, and Monaco. He also represented France at the international level, helping them win the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championships. Barthez was a fan favourite because of his goalkeeping skills and he was also liked for his positive attitude on and off the pitch.

17. Yannick Noah

Tennis player Yannick Noah, who was born on May 18, 1960, is a former French national. Most famously, he was the first Frenchman to win the French Open since 1946 in 1983, when he took home the trophy. For several years, Noah ranked in the top 10 and finished his career with a lot of championships. Also, as a player and captain for France in the Davis Cup, he contributed to the team’s victory in that year’s championship. Apart from his speed, he is also known for his powerful serve. Most people like him for his easygoing nature and unusual dreadlocks. He has also excelled in music after he gave music up and a lot of his songs have also become a major hits. 

18. Laura Flessel-Colovic

A short time after épée fencing initially appeared on the Olympic programme in 1996, Laura Flessel-Colovic rose to the top position among women competitors at the Olympics. She was referred to as “The Wasp” and was a five-time Olympic medalist who took home gold in both the individual and team competitions in 1996. In 2000 and 2004, she added individual silver and team bronze, as well as individual bronze. Through the London 2012 Olympics, where she carried the French flag during the Opening Ceremony, she continued to compete in the Olympics.

19. David Douillet

Early on, David Douillet’s judo talent became evident, and at the age of seven, he won the French junior championship. Douillet was 1.80 metres tall when he was four years old. He was becoming a strong natural athlete, that much was obvious. At just 21, Douillet won the title of France’s champion.

He participated in his first Olympic games in 1992, competing in the heavyweight judo division and taking home a bronze medal. Naoya Ogawa, the same competitor who had defeated Douillet in the semi-finals in Barcelona in 1992, was Douillet’s semi-final opponent at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He managed to win by a slim margin this time in what Douillet referred to as “the final before the final.” The actual final was won by him with ease in the end.

20. Amélie Mauresmo

Amélie Mauresmo is a retired French tennis player who won many championships including the Australian Open and Wimbledon, she is well known for her adaptable playing style and powerful serve. She is also one of the only openly homosexual professional tennis players, she was the world’s top-ranked player in 2004 and again in 2006. Mauresmo worked with a number of well-known athletes after retiring, including Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka, as a coach. She also gave birth to a child and has been active in a number of humanitarian organisations that support causes including education and LGBT rights.

Well, now you know a little more about the top 10 famous French sportspeople! I hope you enjoyed this article. Who would you add to the list?

And if you’re curious about French history and culture, why not join one of our guided walking tours around Paris? A local guide will show you Parisian neighbourhoods all while letting you in on the interesting facts and cultural references.

There are multiple tours every day, starting from all over the city centre. So what are you waiting for? Come join us and let’s explore Paris together!