Debate: The Best Players in Ligue 1

By: Thomas | October 12th, 2009

Recently, Rob posted an article on the main page about FourFourTwo’s latest ‘Top 100 Players’ list. This made me think about how much I love arguing over things like this, but also reminded me that there are shockingly few lists and debates of this sort about Ligue 1 in English. I think it’s time to remedy that. Here’s my attempt at a top 50 players in Ligue 1 list.

50. Dejan Milovanović (Lens)
49. Modibo Maiga (Le Mans)
48. Ludovic Obraniak (Lille)
47. Alberto Costa (Montpellier)
46. Yohann Pele (Toulouse)
45. Benoit Tremoulinas (Bordeaux)
44. Etienne Capoue (Toulouse)
43. Youssouf Hadji (Nancy)
42. Marama Vahirua (Lorient)
41. Asamoah Gyan (Rennes)
40. Kevin Gameiro (Lorient)
39. Park Chu-Young (Monaco)
38. Anthony Reveillere (Lyon)
37. Loic Remy (Nice)
36. Benoit Pedretti (Auxerre)
35. Blaise Matuidi (Saint-Etienne)
34. Ireneusz Jeleń (Auxerre)
33. Gonzalo Bergessio (Saint-Etienne)
32. Gregory Coupet (PSG)
31. Wendel (Bordeaux)
30. Kim Källström (Lyon)
29. Fernando Cavenaghi (Bordeaux)
28. Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
27. Alou Diarra (Bordeaux)
26. Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)
25. Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon)
24. Gervinho (Lille)
23. Miralem Pjanic (Lyon)
22. Hatem Ben Arfa (Marseille)
21. Aly Cissokho (Lyon)
20. Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
19. Mevlüt Erdinç (PSG)
18. Eden Hazard (Lille)
17. Rod Fanni (Rennes)
16. Guillaume Hoarau (PSG)
15. Taye Taiwo (Marseille)
14. Nenê (Monaco)
13. Benoit Cheyrou (Marseille)
12. Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
11. Mamadou Sakho (PSG)
10. Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux)
9. Souleymane Diawara (Marseille)
8. Stephane Sessegnon (PSG)
7. Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
6. Lucho Gonzalez (Marseille)
5. Mamadou Niang (Marseille)
4. André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse)
3. Michel Bastos (Lyon)
2. Lisandro Lopez (Lyon)
1. Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)

You may completely disagree with this list, think it’s terrible, that I’m the worst blogger ever, whatever. Tell me so in the comments. And to tell you the truth I probably don’t agree with it much either, but I compiled it in half an hour, and I feel exhausted after fixing it innumerable times. Tell me what you think.

Category: Auxerre (AJA), Bordeaux (FCGB), France Ligue 1, Le Mans (MUC 72), Lens (RCL), Lille (LOSCM), Lorient (FCLBS), Lyon (OL), Marseille (OM), Monaco (ASMFC), Montpellier (MHSC), Nancy (ASNL), Nice (OGCN), Paris (PSG), Player News, Rennes (SRFC), Saint-Étienne (ASSE), Toulouse (TFC)

Tags: Alberto Costa, Alou Diarra, Aly Cissokho, André-Pierre Gignac, Anthony Réveillere, Asamoah Gyan, Auxerre (AJA), Bafetimbi Gomis, Benoît Cheyrou, Benoît Pedretti, Benoit Tremoulinas, Blaise Matuidi, Bordeaux (FCGB), Cedric Carrasso, Dejan Milovanovic, Eden Hazard, Etienne Capoue, Fernando Cavenaghi, France Ligue 1, Gervinho, Gonzalo Bergessio, Grégory Coupet, Guillaume Hoarau, Hatem Ben Arfa, Hugo Lloris, Ireneusz Jelen, Jeremy Toulalan, Kevin Gameiro, Kim Kallström, Le Mans (MUC 72), Lens (RCL), Lille (LOSCM), Lisandro Lopez, Loic Remy, Lorient (FCLBS), Lucho Gonzalez, Ludovic Obraniak, Lyon (OL), Mamadou Niang, Mamadou Sakho, Marama Vahirua, Marouane Cahamakh, Marseille (OM), Mevlut Erding, Michel Bastos, Miralem Pjanic, Modibo Maiga, Monaco (ASMFC), Montpellier (MHSC), Moussa Sissoko, Nancy (ASNL), Nené, Nice (OGCN), Paris (PSG), Park Chu-Young, Player News, Rennes (SRFC), Rod Fanni, Saint-Étienne (ASSE), Souleymane Diawara, Stephane Sessegnon, Steve Mandanda, Taye Taiwo, Toulouse (TFC), Wendel, Yoann Gourcuff, Yohann Pelé, Youssouf Hadji

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Comments   |  Add your comment

• Rama |  October 12th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

  
  
  

  Pretty good list. Is Toulalan really better than Hoarau? Also, Diarra over Kallstrom?

  Posted from United States

  

• Ronald ---> Shadow |  October 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

  
  
  

  i dont have many problems with the list. think cheyrou can be lower on the list and pjanic moved one or two spots higher. Love that Toulalan gets the credit he deserves and is in the top 10

  Posted from United States

  

• Shane |  October 12th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

  
  
  

  I think Stephane Mbia should be on the list.

  Posted from United States

  

• Thomas |  October 12th, 2009 at 6:50 pm

  
  
  

  Jeremy Toulalan is a French international and one of the best defensive players in Ligue 1. Hoarau was excellent last season, but has yet to preform well this season. Benoit Cheyrou has basically been OM’s best player this season (only Niang is in contention). Yes, Pjanic should be higher on the list and Mbia would also be a strong candidate for inclusion. Thanks for the feedback guys.

  Posted from United States

  

• Aditya |  October 12th, 2009 at 7:46 pm

  
  
  

  It’s hard to compile a list.

  Posted from United States

  

• Aditya |  October 12th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

  
  
  

  Sorry for double post. Can we have a blog with all the popular team chants. I would like to join in while watching but I never understand a word!

  Posted from United States

  

• Sarah |  October 13th, 2009 at 2:15 am

  
  
  

  I think it depends on what you mean by “best”– does it mean the most talented/potential or the best form right now??

  Posted from United States

  

• Dave Trotter |  October 13th, 2009 at 3:32 am

  
  
  

  I would have Gignac as the best player. I’m going to write on the Toulouse blog why I feel that is the case. But I would saw Lisandro Lopez #1. Also, I think Gomis should be way higher than #25.

  Posted from United States

  

• Thomas |  October 13th, 2009 at 6:31 am

  
  
  

  Sarah: I was thinking the best right now. That’s why players like Pjanic and Ben Arfa are so low, because they haven’t reached their potential.

  Dave: Those are both excellent arguments. I seriously considered putting both Gignac and Gomis higher.

  Posted from United States

  

• Dave Trotter |  October 13th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

  
  
  

  Actually, I meant Gignac as the best French player. Forgot to add ‘French’ in there. Still think Lisandro is the best.

  Posted from United States

  

• Lau |  October 13th, 2009 at 6:51 pm

  
  
  

  yea this list is pretty accurate nd thomas should be up there in about six years or so

  Posted from United States

  

• Luka |  October 14th, 2009 at 4:41 am

  
  
  

  I wouldn’t put Lucho up there quite yet.

  Posted from Australia

  

• Mike Diamente |  October 14th, 2009 at 9:07 am

  
  
  

  Thomas I was just wondering where Juninho would have been on the list if he was still in France?

  Posted from United States

  

• mrCham |  October 14th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

  
  
  

  ….Or Benzema?

  Posted from United States

  

• Thomas |  October 14th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

  
  
  

  Interesting questions guys. I think that Benzema would be high on the list, 6ish? and Juninho would make the list, although he’d be pretty low considering his age and stamina.

  Posted from United States

  

• Thomas |  October 14th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

  
  
  

  And Luka, the list isn’t just about performance in Ligue 1, but more about general quality as player, which is why players like Lisandro, Lucho, and Pjanic are in strong positions on the list.

  Posted from United States

  

• Sarah |  November 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pm

  
  
  

  If this is about general quality of the player, then HBA should be higher!

  Posted from United States

  

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