This is a post for football lovers and non-enthusiasts alike. Football fans will see a post titled “top scorers of the French league” and sit with a cold drink, internally screaming “goal!” However, if I’ve learnt anything about football, it’s the fact that it unites people. In view of that amazing purpose, how about we bring in non-football fans? The more the merrier, right? That’s why we pay huge sums to sit in stadiums with strangers we share one connection with, or go to viewing centers, when you could watch from the comfort of your home. Think of this as a beginner-friendly post, and stay with me.
Let’s begin with the French League. What does it even mean? The French League is also called Ligue 1, pronounced as league uh, and it is the highest professional level of football in France, just as Europe has the Premier League and Spain has La Liga. The French League is a competition where 18 football clubs (used to be twenty until the reduction to 18 in the 2023-2024 season) in France play against each other. They play two kinds of matches: home and away. The home match is a match in their stadium, while the away match is in their opponent’s stadium. The competition in this season usually begins from August and ends in May.
The end game is that the team with the highest points will become the champion of France, while the teams with the lowest points will get a downgrade to a lower division (like League 2). The top teams get automatic qualification to play in European tournaments like the UEFA Champions League. Some of the most popular clubs in League 1 include Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)– the richest and most popular club in France that popular footballers like Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar Jr have played for, and the 2021 champions, Lille.
With the background being sorted, let’s take a look at some of the top scorers of the French League, people who already have the heart of fans, or people our new inductees should look out for.
Top Scorers of the French League
1. Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
3. Edinson Cavani (PSG)
4. Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
5. Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco)
Top 5 Scorers of the French League
The list below comprises modern top scorers, some of the most popular ones with fan recognition, and Ligue 1 scoring impact.
1. Kylian Mbappé (PSG 2017-2024)
He is the only player who has gotten the top scorer record six times in a row of seasons, from 2019-2024. That’s an outstanding record! He has made 246 Ligue 1 appearances with a whopping sum of over 190 goals to show for them, as of May 2024. The forward player is best known for his speed of lightning speed, smooth dribbling, sharp finishing, and ability to withstand pressure has made him the global household name that he is right now.
Not only was he a top scorer for the French League six consecutive times, but he also has the record of being named Player of the Year for Ligue 1 five times, also winning the league one Golden Boot from 2019-2023. He was the first player to be named Ligue 1 top scorer and top assist provider in one season, 2021-2022. According to Forbes, he’s the third on the list of the most paid athletes.
He moved to Real Madrid in 2024, but he certainly made a mark in the French Ligue as the all-time Ligue 1 top scorer for PSG and in 21st-century Ligue 1 history. Mbappé is arguably the face of modern Ligue 1.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG 2012-2016)
Before Mbappé was Zlatan, the one who made an outstanding statement in four years. He joined the Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 and led them to break a 19-year record and win their first Ligue 1 title. The iconic Swedish striker’s impact from 2012 to 2016 is unforgettable in the history of French football.
In just 122 Ligue 1 appearances, he recorded 113 goals. With this kind of skill comes arrogance and flair, and he didn’t miss out on any. He was a key instrumental factor in PSG’s four league titles during his stay with them. From winning goals with overhead kicks to iconic interviews, he remains a favorite scorer among fans. He is said to have contributed significantly to making a global name of the league.
Zlatan was 4 4-time Ligue 1 champion, a 2-time Ligue 1 top scorer and player of the year, he scored the most goals (38) for PSG from 2015-2016, was a multiple-time player of the month, amongst a host of other achievements.
The books will always include the name of the Swedish king who dominated the French football kingdom.
3. Edinson Cavani (PSG 2013-2020)
Cavani- the one who broke Zlatan’s record as top scorer. He had a total of 200 goals in his 301 phenomenal appearances, of which he had 138 goals in his 200 Ligue 1 appearances. The striker was PSG’s all-time top scorer in 2020 before his record was broken by Mbappé.
He has been rightly nicknamed El Matador, The Killer, or The Bullfighter for his dangerous finishing. The Uruguayan striker got the Ligue 1 Golden Boot for the top scorer award twice and consecutively, (2016-2017 with 35 goals) and (2017-2018 with 28 goals). He also won six Ligue 1 titles, four Coupes de France, and five Coupes de la Ligue, making him one of the greatest foreign influences in French football.
Although it seems like his name gets overshadowed in the spotlight by the likes of Zlatan and Neymar, he has earned great respect for his contribution to the modern PSG success story, with a perfect seven years to prove his worth.
4. Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon 2010-2017, 2022- 2025)
He began his career as a 19-year-old with Lyon in 2010. Since then, he has moved to becoming a striker after beginning as a wide forward, he has finished as a Ligue 1 top scorer, and in the 2014-2015 season, he won the Ligue 1 player of the year award. Lacazette is one of Ligue 1’s most loyal players, with a huge chunk of his career tied to Olympique Lyonnais, the full official name of the club widely referred to as Lyon.
Before he moved to Arsenal in 2017, he had already reached the milestone of a hundred goals. His 2016-2017 season particularly stood out because he scored a total of 28 goals.
He returned with so much fire in 2022 to the Lyons after five seasons in the Premier League, that by 2024, he has 164 Ligue 1 goals in over 300 appearances, making him one of France’s best homegrown talents. He hasn’t won any League 1 with Lyon, but he has made an undeniable impact. He’s regarded as the second top scorer in the modern French Ligue.
5. Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco 2019-2024)
Monaco’s second-best top scorer. In 2019, he signed a five-year contract with Monaco. The striker may not always be in the headlines, but you know how they say numbers don’t lie. At the end of his contract in 2024, he left the club with 201 appearances and 118 goals.
Quietly, he became one of the team’s fiercest finishers, another one of France’s prides. He was Ligue 1’s top scorer in the 2019-2020 season with 18 goals, which tied him with Kylian Mbappé. Although he hasn’t won any Ligue 1 titles, he has a track record of consistent goals, with a lot of amazing penalties, which he consistently wins with his two feet.
Conclusion
These five top scorers of the French League have made an unquestionable impact in the sport. Whether you’re a diehard fan of the sport or a newcomer trying to get familiarized, you’d agree that these players have done major feats. It is no wonder that they have permanent spots in the hearts of their fans, whether or not they are still active in the game. Who knows who the next top scorer of the French Ligue might be?
