France

France, nicknamed Les Bleus, are one of the world's leading national football teams — two-time FIFA World Cup champions (1998, 2018), two-time European Champions (1984, 2000), and UEFA Nations League winners in 2021. Ranked number one in the world as of April 2026, they are the only European side to have won every senior FIFA and UEFA competition.

France were among the founding members of FIFA in 1904 and participated in the inaugural 1930 World Cup. Their first golden generation — anchored by Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa — finished third at the 1958 World Cup, with Fontaine setting the all-time record of 13 goals in a single tournament. The 1980s brought the 'Magic Square' midfield of Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse and Luis Fernández, delivering the UEFA Euro 1984 title on home soil.

The Zidane era produced the greatest sustained success in French football history. Aimé Jacquet's side won the 1998 World Cup on home soil, beating Brazil 3–0 in the final, and Roger Lemerre followed up by clinching Euro 2000 with a golden goal against Italy. Despite a shocking 2002 group-stage exit, France returned to the 2006 World Cup final, where Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt cost them against Italy.

Under Didier Deschamps, France rebuilt into a dominant force. A new generation led by Kylian Mbappé won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, beating Croatia 4–2 in the final, and claimed the inaugural UEFA Nations League title in 2021. France reached the 2022 World Cup final before losing to Argentina on penalties, cementing their status as the first European team to win every senior FIFA and UEFA competition.