Top 10 Best French Football Clubs in the World – 2025 (Ranked)

France has long been one of Europe’s most passionate footballing nations, home to clubs with rich histories, fierce rivalries, and legendary players. From dominating domestic leagues to making their mark in Europe, the biggest French football clubs have carved out a legacy that spans generations. Whether you’re talking about title counts, fan bases, or international success, the debate over the best French football clubs in 2025 always sparks intense discussion among fans and pundits alike.

In this article, we take a closer look at the top 10 biggest French football clubs of all time, ranking them based on their achievements, historical impact, and global recognition. These famous French football clubs have helped shape the identity of Ligue 1 and brought pride to French football on the continental stage. Whether it’s consistent league dominance or unforgettable European runs, these teams represent the very best French football has to offer.

List of Best French Football Clubs in 2025

Let’s dive into our list of the best French football clubs in 2025, based on their domestic success as well as European club tournament performances over the years.

How We Ranked the Best French Football Clubs in 2025?

Trophies Won (Domestic and European Success): One of the most important criteria in determining the best French football clubs in 2025 is silverware. The more prestigious and numerous the trophies, the stronger the case for inclusion among the best French football clubs.

Historical Legacy and Cultural Impact: Clubs with a long-standing presence in French football, strong local or national identities, and devoted fan bases earn recognition as famous French football clubs.

Financial Strength and Infrastructure: The financial power of a club, along with the quality of its stadium, training facilities, and overall management structure, reflects its ability to remain competitive at the highest level.

Which are the Best French Football Clubs Currently?

Based on our ranking factors, we ranked the French clubs on our list. Some clubs have seen a dip in their performance in the last few years, but the top three have been consistently battling for the league titles for decades now.

10. OGC Nice

Nice may fly under the radar at times, but they have a proud history and are historically one of the best French football clubs. Their most successful era was in the 1950s when they dominated the French game and won four Ligue 1 titles. Established in 1904, Nice continues to remain one of the better-known clubs from France.

In recent years, the club has experienced a rebirth thanks to new ownership, smart recruitment, and investments in infrastructure. Though they’ve yet to match their past trophy hauls, they are building toward a future that could re-establish them as one of the most successful clubs in France. They have won the league four times and have 3 Coupe de France trophies to their name.

9. RC Lens

Lens may not be the most decorated, but they are undeniably one of the biggest clubs in France when it comes to fan passion and cultural relevance. The club, based in a working-class town in northern France, has one of the most loyal supporter bases in the country. It continues to have one of the biggest and best supporters in the world.

Their Ligue 1 triumph in 1998 and Coupe de la Ligue win in 1999 are high points in their history. Lens has experienced a revival in recent seasons, playing exciting football and finishing near the top of Ligue 1, proving they still belong in the top tier of French football clubs. They continue to be relevant in modern French football as well.

8. Stade de Reims

Stade de Reims was once the crown jewel of French football. In the 1940s and 50s, they were the dominant force, led by legends like Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine. They reached two European Cup finals (1956 and 1959), both times losing to Real Madrid, but left an undeniable mark on the early European game. Established in 1931, Stade de Reims have won the league 6 times.

Though they’ve not reached the same heights since, their legacy as pioneers and title collectors keeps them among the famous French football clubs. Reims’ influence on French football’s early international identity can’t be overstated. They’ve also won the Trophee des Champions.

7. Lille OSC

Lille is a club that has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but remains one of the best French football clubs historically. Founded in 1944, they quickly became a dominant team in post-war French football, winning league titles in 1946 and 1954. They have won a total of 4 league titles in their history, alongside 6 Coupe de France trophies.

The modern resurgence came in 2011 when they won a domestic double under Rudi Garcia, powered by talents like Eden Hazard. Then, in 2021, they shocked the football world by winning the Ligue 1 title, beating out PSG in one of the most thrilling seasons in recent memory. Their success is a testament to the club’s smart recruitment and solid infrastructure.

6. Girondins de Bordeaux

Bordeaux is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in France. Founded in 1881, they boast a rich legacy of domestic dominance and a passionate fan base. Their golden era came in the 1980s when they won three Ligue 1 titles in five years under coach Aimé Jacquet, who later led France to their 1998 World Cup triumph. They have won 6 league titles in their history.

They’ve also been a consistent force in Europe, making multiple appearances in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. Legends like Zinedine Zidane, Christophe Dugarry, and Alain Giresse have all worn the Bordeaux jersey. Despite recent struggles and even relegation, Bordeaux’s history and honors make them one of the biggest French football clubs of all time.

5. AS Monaco

AS Monaco was founded in 1924 and, despite not being in France, but in the sovereign city-state of Monaco. The club competes in the French league system and has since become one of the most successful and intriguing clubs in French football history.

Monaco’s biggest strength has always been its ability to develop young and promising talents. From Thierry Henry to Kylian Mbappé, James Rodríguez to Bernardo Silva, Monaco has been a launching pad for some of the game’s biggest stars in the footballing world.

4. AS Saint-Etienne

AS Saint-Etienne is also known as “Les Verts” (The Greens) because of their famous green jerseys. The club was founded in 1919 and has its own deep history, legacy, and tradition. Saint-Etienne has experienced the dizzying highs of domestic dominance and European glory as well as the lows of relegation coupled with financial difficulties.

Saint-Étienne enjoyed their golden days in the 1960s and 1970s when they were not only the best team in France but also in the European circuit as well. They have won an incredible 10 Ligue 1 titles, with four in a row between 1967 and 1970. Their greatest success was in 1976 when they got as far as the European Cup final, where they lost to German side Bayern Munich.

3. Olympique Lyonnais

They may not have the long history that some of their rivals boast, but their achievement and innovations more than make up for it. Olympique Lyonnais has a history going all the way back to 1950, and their rise to prominence is a testament to how smart they are in managing this fantastic youth development system, and how committed they’ve been to attractive and attacking football.

From 2001 to 2008, Lyon saw a golden era by winning seven successive Ligue 1 titles, a record which still remains solid to this day. It was a time of dominance for homegrown talents, along with big-spending signings. During this time in French football, players like Juninho Pernambucano, known for his mesmerizing free kicks and passing, Michael Essien, and Karim Benzema became household names. Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2 when they faced the harsh reality of surviving in the top division due to financial regulations.

2. Olympique de Marseille

Olympique de Marseille represents the passionate soul of French football, and perhaps the soul of football in general. Marseille was founded in 1899, steeped in history and tradition. Highs and lows from the club’s story, but always underlined with the backing from their supporters, who help to create the wonderful cauldron of noise and colour in the stadium on match day.

While Marseille’s history includes its darker and cloudier chapters, here, quite frankly, nothing makes sense. They also lost their league title and were relegated, following the match-fixing scandal in 1993. It is still a stain on their illustrious past. Le Classique is one of the fiercest rivals in Europe and matches with PSG.

1. Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain, also known as PSG, is arguably one of the biggest French football clubs. PSG was established in 1970, and it is a young football club, but it is also one of the best football clubs in the world right now. Currently, PSG has evolved from being just a team to an icon. PSG’s rise in the last decade or so resembles the rise of the Parisian capital itself.

Since 2011, PSG has been a modern football club that was taken over by Qatar Sports Investments and has entered an era of high achievement. The club is associated with some of the most famous stars in world football. Which fan can avoid the reminiscence of the great acrobatic display of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Brazilian trickster Neymar Jr, or the sheer pace of Mbappe? So many of these superstars, among other legends, have worn their jerseys on the pitch.