The best midfielders in France are key players in the success of French teams, whether in national or international leagues.
With their great ability to create goal-scoring opportunities, their distinctive vision of the game or their leadership skills, they are capable of changing the course of matches and bringing home victory.
That’s why we’ve put together the 10 best midfielders in France today, highlighting their careers, skills and contributions to the league.
Meet the stars who raise the bar and make Ligue 1 one of the most exciting leagues in Europe.
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Top 10 | Best midfielders in France this season: career, titles and records
Here’s a list of the best midfielders in France today:
- Vitinha (PSG)
- Pierre Lees-Melou (Brest)
- Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
- Angel Gomes (Lille)
- Romain Del Castillo (Brest)
- Junya Ito (Stade de Reims)
- Teji Savanier (Montpellier)
- Fabián Ruiz (PSG)
- Adrien Rabiot (Olympique de Marseille)
- Aleksandr Golovin (Monaco)
Read on to find out about the careers and titles of each of best midfielders in France.
1. Vitinha (PSG)
Let’s start the list of the best midfielders in France with the most valuable midfielder in Ligue 1, according to Transfermarkt.
There’s no doubt that 2023/24 was a special season for the Portuguese star, who made the League 1 squad and the UEFA Champions League squad. In other words, we’re really talking about one of the best in his position.
Vitinha began his career at Porto, where he caught the eye of big clubs outside Portugal, especially for his vision and control of the midfield.
Transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2022, the Portuguese midfielder has found his place in the Parisian midfield, controlling the pace of the game and offering creative passing options, essential for attacking moves capable of surprising opponents.
PSG titles
- French Super Cup: 2022 and 2023
- Ligue 1: 2022-23 and 2023-24
- French Cup: 2023-24
2. Pierre Lees-Melou (Brest)
Pierre Lees-Melou is also on the list of midfielders who made the Ligue 1 team of the year in 2023/24.
Among the reasons for this is his role in Brest’s historic qualification for the Champions League by finishing third in the French league, something that had never happened before in the club’s lifetime.
However, before becoming one of best midfielders in France, the player had already played for other teams in the country, such as Dijon and Nice.
However, it was at Brest that he quickly became one of the team’s most influential players, known for his technical quality and ability to drive the ball forward in midfield, with a distinctive vision of the game.
3. Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
A graduate of PSG’s youth academy, the star has quickly made his way into the first team thanks to his surprising talent and maturity for his age.
Zaïre-Emery is one of the best midfielders in France, and no wonder. After all, he has both defensive and attacking skills, and was voted into Ligue 1’s Team of the Year in 2023/24.
Even with so much success, the under-20 star still has a lot to show on the pitch and could become one of the biggest names in the history of French soccer.
PSG titles
- Ligue 1: 2022-23 and 2023-24
- French Super Cup: 2023
- French Cup: 2023-24
4. Angel Gomes (Lille)
Angel Gomes began his career at Manchester United, where he excelled at youth level. In search of more opportunities, he moved to Lille, where he found an ideal environment for his development, becoming one of the best midfielders in France.
With excellent vision and a knack for assists, Gomes finished the 2023/24 season among the players with the most assists of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season, confirming his ability to create goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates.
5. Romain Del Castillo (Brest)
Top 1 in individual assists in Ligue 1 in the 2023/24 season, Romain Del Castillo spent time at other French clubs such as Rennes before settling at Brest.
In addition to his talent for assisting his teammates, Del Castillo is known for his ability to dribble and move quickly in short spaces, facilitating offensive plays.
As a result, he helped the team qualify for the Champions League as third in Ligue 1.
Read more: League 1 champions: the biggest clubs in Ligue 1 [List]
6. Junya Ito (Stade de Reims)
Junya Ito began his career in Japan and moved to Europe to play for Genk in Belgium before joining Stade de Reims.
Ito is one of the fastest players in Ligue 1, known for his ability to dribble, providing creativity to Reims’ attack.
Another characteristic that makes him one of the best midfielders in France is his precision in crosses, which makes him an indispensable part of the team’s offensive scheme.
7. Teji Savanier (Montpellier)
A graduate of Montpellier’s youth team and with spells at Nîmes before returning to Montpellier, Savanier is one of France’s best midfielders. Super-experienced, his trademark is his precision in passing and his ability to take free-kicks.
In addition, his tactical intelligence makes him one of the most respected midfielders in France, and he is constantly praised for the regularity and leadership he brings to Montpellier.
Considered one of the best free-kick takers in Ligue 1, Javanier is a constant threat from set-pieces.
8. Fabián Ruiz (PSG)
A two-time Ligue 1 champion with PSG, Fabián Ruiz began his career in Spain, playing for Real Betis before moving to Napoli, where he matured in La Liga.
In 2022, he was signed by Paris Saint-Germain, and quickly adapted to Ligue 1, showing his ability to distribute the game and control the team’s rhythm.
Fabián is known for his long passes and his ability to shoot from outside the box, skills that are essential at key moments in matches, especially when it comes to escaping the tackle and surprising opponents. It’s no wonder he’s one of the best midfielders in France.
PSG titles
- Ligue 1: 2022-23 and 2023-24
- French Cup: 2023-24
9. Adrien Rabiot (Olympique de Marseille)
Four times Ligue 1 champion with PSG, Adrien Rabiot is currently the mainstay of Olympique de Marseille, another of France’s biggest teams.
The star has signed for the team in 2024, but his record with PSG and Toulouse puts him among the best midfielders in France.
With great defensive skills and the ability to contribute in attack, the player uses his versatility to remain one of the most important players on the pitch. In addition, his experience in Ligue 1 and Europe makes him one of the most complete and reliable players in the league.
Previous club titles
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1: 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18
- French League Cup: 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18
- French Cup: 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18
- French Super Cup: 2015, 2017 and 2018
France national team
- UEFA Nations League: 2020-21
10. Aleksandr Golovin (Monaco)
At Monaco since 2018, Aleksandr Golovin is one of those midfielders with excellent ball control and the ability to create fast, intelligent moves.
One of the best midfielders in France, he has a creative style that is essential to keep the team competitive in the French league. Proof of this is that in 2023/24, the team finished second in the French league, qualifying for the Champions League.
Let’s not forget that Golovin has also been one of Monaco’s main assistants and top scorers in recent seasons.
We bring our list of the 10 best midfielders in France to a close with a flourish.
They all represent the best in Ligue 1 today, contributing technique, vision and consistency to their respective teams. Combining youth and experience, they are key figures in French soccer and attract the attention of fans and scouts across Europe. And, if you really are a fan of French soccer, read on too:
- [LIST] 10 Best defenders in France this season
- TOP 10 Best goalkeepers in France this season in Ligue 1
- TOP 10 Best left-backs in France this season
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