The FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ was launched in 2000 and became an annual event in 2005. The winners of the UEFA Champions League represent Europe at the tournament, and with Spain (12 titles), England (six), Germany (three), Italy (three) and Portugal (one) dominating that competition between 2000 and 2024, France had to be patient and bide their time.
Lyon, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain all enjoyed some impressive Champions League runs in that time, but the biggest prize in European club football continued to elude them. That all changed on 31 May 2025, however, when the Parisian giants brushed Inter Milan aside 5-0 in the final in Munich. At the same time, PSG also secured their place in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™.
Although no Ligue 1 side has graced the Intercontinental Cup since its launch 25 years ago, many French players have shone on the tournament’s stage. In 2000, with France still basking in the glory of their FIFA World Cup™ triumph two years earlier, Real Madrid were given the honour of representing UEFA in Rio de Janeiro, together with European champions Manchester United. Although neither side reached the final, which saw Corinthians defeat fellow Brazilians Vasco da Gama 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw, one Real Madrid player in particular left his mark on the tournament. Nicolas Anelka, then aged 20, stole the show and finished joint top scorer with three goals alongside Romário.
Anelka’s performances on the world stage heralded the start of something of a tradition, as since then, there has barely been an Intercontinental Cup in which a French player has failed to shine or lift the trophy. In 2007, despite remaining on the AC Milan bench throughout, Yoann Gourcuff became the first Frenchman to claim an Intercontinental Cup winner’s medal.
Three years later, Jonathan Biabiany went one better in the colours of city rivals Inter Milan when he became the first Frenchman to score in a final in the Nerazzuri’s 3-0 win over TP Mazembe.
Between 2008 and 2011, the likes of Patrice Evra, Eric Abidal and Thierry Henry all added an Intercontinental Cup to their trophy cabinet, but it wasn’t until 2013 that a French player, Franck Ribery, truly stamped his authority on the tournament. Ribery scored in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 semi-final stroll past Guangzhou Evergrande, and then ran the show in the Bavarians’ 2-0 win over Raja Casablanca in the final. His star turns were enough to secure the adidas Golden Ball for player of the tournament, an accolade that no other Frenchman has won since.
The man who came closest to following in Ribéry’s footsteps, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, was former Marseille idol Andre-Pierre Gignac, who arrived at the 2020 edition (played in 2021) in the colours of Tigres, who were fresh off the back of winning the Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time in their history. He hit the ground running in Qatar, scoring twice in his side’s 2-1 win over Ulsan HD in the second round, and converting from the spot in his side’s 1-0 semi-final win against Palmeiras. He was powerless to prevent Bayern lifting the trophy again – a solitary strike from Gignac’s compatriot Benjamin Pavard proving the difference in the final – but Gignac left Qatar with quite the haul: a silver medal, the adidas Golden Boot for top scorer, and the adidas Silver Ball, second to only Robert Lewandowski.
All of these French players found a way to make history, as did Kylian Mbappe, who got himself on the scoresheet in a 3-0 win for Real Madrid over Pachuca in the 2024 final.
The true French kings of the Intercontinental Cup, however, are undoubtedly Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema. The central defender tasted glory four times with Real – in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 – but the forward went one better by also winning the 2022 edition. Benzema is also the second-highest scorer in tournament history with six goals, level with Gareth Bale and just behind Cristiano Ronaldo on seven.
After seeing so many of its sons shine for other clubs in this global competition, France may finally see a French side lift the prestigious trophy on Wednesday, 17 December. PSG’s many homegrown players, including Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery, will all surely be dreaming of adding their names to the long list of Frenchmen who have left their mark on the Intercontinental Cup.
French players who have won the Intercontinental Cup
Yoann Gourcuff (AC Milan, 2007), Patrice Evra (Manchester United, 2008), Eric Abidal (Barcelona, 2009, 2011), Thierry Henry (Barcelona, 2009), Jonathan Biabiany (Inter Milan, 2010), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, 2013), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), Jeremy Mathieu (Barcelona, 2015), Theo Hernandez (Real Madrid, 2017), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich, 2020), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich, 2020), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich, 2020), Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich, 2020), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich, 2020), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea, 2021), Malang Sarr (Chelsea, 2021), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid, 2022, 2024), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid, 2022, 2024) et Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, 2024).
