The French Football Federation (FFF) is reviving its project to create a Hall of Fame for the France national team, after an initial attempt last year was deemed insufficient. A commission of former internationals has been set up to establish new induction criteria, aiming to honour the players, coaches and personalities who have marked the history of Les Bleus.
FFF president Philippe Diallo stated that the first list was only a step and that the institution was committed to evolving its rules. The concept took concrete shape in March 2025 during a tribute to Olivier Giroud, where the jerseys of Zinédine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Hugo Lloris, Thierry Henry, Marcel Desailly, Patrick Vieira, Didier Deschamps and Giroud himself were suspended under the roof of the Stade de France.
Contested Criteria
The initial criterion of 100 caps was criticised by former internationals and supporters. Former defender Maxime Bossis pointed out what he sees as a bias. "It's good to pay tribute, but the criterion is biased because internationals can play a huge number of matches today compared to the 1980s," he said. The goal of the new commission is to integrate past legends and other notable figures, including managers, beyond this single statistical threshold.
Tribute to Deschamps
A particular tribute is planned for Didier Deschamps, who has not been seen with the France team since the semi-final elimination in the last World Cup. He is expected to be among the first legends honoured, with a ceremony envisaged for 2027. The Hall of Fame could be located at the FFF's premises or in a nearby building, with an operational launch hoped for next year.
They host Belgium on October 5th as part of their busy fixtures schedule. Top scorer this season Kylian Mbappé, with 10 goals, embodies the current generation that this future temple of glory will also need to celebrate.
Background and full detail: Sports.fr
