Best of the Decade Awards: Ligue 1 Foreign Players
By: Thomas | January 20th, 2010
We’re continuing the Decade Awards series with an overall award for player of the decade, broken down into Foreign Player of the Decade and French Player of the Decade. The winner of each poll will be put into a final poll to determine the Ligue 1 Player of the Decade. If you disagree with the nominations, leave a comment and we might switch things around.
Mario Yepes: In Ligue 1 from 01/02 through 07/08, making 188 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 10 goals. He won the French Cup 2006, Coupe de la Ligue 2008, and UNFP Center Back of the Year: 2004 and 2006.
Didier Drogba: In Ligue 1 from 01/02 through 03/04, making 80 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 39 goals. Onze d’Or: 2004, UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2004, Ligue 1 Goal of the Year: 2004, Ligue 1 Forward of the Year: 2004, Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2004.
Juninho: In Ligue 1 from 01/02 through 08/09, making 248 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 75 goals. Ligue 1: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, Trophée Des Champions: 2002-2007, Coupe de France: 2008. Ligue 1 Player of the Year 2006, Ligue 1 Attacking Midfielder of the Year 04, 05, 06.
Cris: In Ligue 1 In Ligue 1 from 04/05 through the present, making 181 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 14 goals. Winner of Ligue 1 2005-2008, Trophee des Champions 2005-07, Coupe de la Ligue 2008, Ligue 1 Center Back of the Year 05, 06, 07.
Ronaldinho: In Ligue 1 from 01/02 through 02/03, making 55 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 17 goals. Ligue 1 Goal of the Year 2003.
Michael Essien: In Ligue 1 from 00/01 through 04/05, making 137 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 18 goals. Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions 2004, 2005. Ligue 1 Player of the Year 2005, Ligue 1 Defensive Midfielder of the Year 03, 05.
Pauleta: In Ligue 1 from 00/01 through 07/08, making 267 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 141 goals. Coupe de la Ligue 2002, 2008, French Cup 2004, 2006. Ligue 1 Player of the Year 2002, 2003, Ligue 1 Forward of the Year 2003, 2006, Ligue 1 Top Scorer 2002, 2006, 2007.
Mamadou Niang: In Ligue 1 from 00/01 through 09/10. making 240 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 91 goals.
Sonny Anderson: In Ligue 1 (during this decade) from 99/00 through 02/03, making 110 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 71 goals. Ligue 1 2002, 2003, Trophee des Champions 2002, Coupe de la Ligue 2001. Ligue 1 Top Scorer 2000, 2001.
Shabani Nonda: In Ligue 1 (during this decade) from 99/00 through 04/05, making 147 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 72 goals. Coupe de la Ligue 2003. Ligue 1 Top Scorer 2003, Ligue 1 Forward of the Year 2003.
Category: 
Comments
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No one had a longer stay and a better impact that Juninho.
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I think this is gonna be a two horse race. Juninho vs. Pauleta. I lie firmly in the Pauleta camp. Pauleta spent the same length of time as Juninho, deservedly picked up more personal accolades, scored more, and his achievments are even more impressive in that he (generally) played on mediocre to downright bad teams. Juninho had a brilliant supporting cast for his entire time with Lyon.
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Juninho did have a better support cast compared to what Pauleta enjoyed. But I gave Juninho the nod considering his major contribution for Lyon in Champions League as well. In comparison Pauleta played several seasons in UEFA Cup but never could inspire FCGB or PSG to a major run in the competition.
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I picked Juninho.
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Definitely Juninho.
He spent his prime years in France with Lyon, it has to be him.
Juninho was a better football player than Pauleta thus
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juninho as much as i hated lyon in ligue 1. he was the reason behind their success. also he carried the team in CL. he was also an underrated player but very skilled and consistent
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Juninho Pernambucano <3
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