10 Most Capped Ligue 1 Players In History

Ever wondered who are the players with the most appearances in Ligue 1 history?

There is no greater honour for a player in football than winning trophies and acquiring record appearances in a beautiful sport like football.

Players with the most appearances in a particular league are often considered the most consistent, due to their unwavering consistency and determination to set a record.

So since the inception of Ligue 1, we’ve seen great players trod stadiums in the league, with amazing talents and have went on to have achieve great success while active.

Vitorino Hilton – (512 appearances)

An historical record was set by the Brazilian centre-back Hilton during Montpelier’s match against Nimes, when he became the oldest player to feature in a Ligue 1 match this century.

He took part in the game at the age of 41-years and 143 days, surpassing the 41-years and 137 days record of Benjamin Nivet who played for Troyes.

Aside the fact that Hilton made history in Ligue 1 as the oldest player to feature in top-flight game, he also ranks tenth on the list of players with the most appearances in Ligue 1 with 512 games.

Florent Balmont – (513 appearances)

If there is any player who played a pivotal role in Lille’s double triumph in 2011, it is Florent Balmont for his remarkable performances in helping Les Dogues clinched the Coupe de France and Ligue 1 title.

Though he couldn’t play for more fashionable club during his active years, but it can be said that he dazzled at Lille with his unerring consistency and ability to control games from his position in the midfield.

As a top player who spent the entirety of his club career in Ligue 1, he played 513 games for five clubs including LOSC Lille, OGC Nice, Dijon, Toulouse and Lyon.

Dominique Baratelli – (524 appearances)

With 524 Division 1 appearances to his name, Baratelli is one of Ligue 1’s most experience goalkeepers to ever graced the French league.

The Nice-native began his professional career with AC Ajaccio in 1967, where he proved doubters wrong concerning his shorter than average size through a series of brilliant performances in the league.

His name will forever be remembered as one of the greatest shot-stopper Ligue 1 has ever seen, due to his cat-like reflexes and unrivalled composure in-between the sticks throughout his playing with Ajaccio, Nice and Paris Saint-Germain.

Jean-Paul Bertrand-Demanes – (528 appearances)

Bertrand-Demanes name will be remembered as one of three goalkeepers France used in their 1978 World Cup outing, where he smashed his head on a post after pulling off a save against Argentina.

With 528 Division 1 appearances to his name, Bertrand-Demanes name stands in eight position as one of the most-capped goalkeepers in Ligue 1.

You can’t mention Bertrand-Demanes’ name and not acknowledge him as one of the consistent goalkeepers in Ligue 1 to acquire a record number of games.

Patrick Battiston – (558 appearances)

Legendary Bordeaux centre-back Battiston, occupies a unique place in the history of French football due to his consistency and commitment.

As a professional player, the Frenchman was an exemplary sportsman and a man of honour, who oozes unrivalled artistry, poise, talent and class as a top defender.

Aside his enviable haul of trophies at club level where amassed a record 558 games and 39-goals, he also had an illustrious career with Les Bleus at the international level.

Sylvain Kastendeuch – (577 appearances)

Kastendeuch wasn’t just one of the Ligue 1 players with the most appearances with 577 games, he’s also a world-class defender and club legend at FC Metz.

He had two separate spells with Metz with an insane stats to show how great a player he was, winning trophies and not receiving a single red card before he bid the game farewell.

Aside being a prominent name at Metz, he’s also a respected figure in Ligue 1 due to his consistency at the highest-level of the game.

Alain Giresse – (584 appearances)

Alain Giresse who the fans often referred to as “Gigi” is undoubtedly the undisputed number one Bordeaux legend

The legendary midfielder didn’t only earned universal respect and admiration for his sheer-brilliant as a player, he also earned respect for the sheer-length of his career at the highest-level.

If there is any player who embodies a rare type of loyalty strong enough to outshine the two seasons he spent with Marseille at the end of his career, it is Gigi having spent the entirety of his club career at Bordeaux.

Dominique Dropsy – (595 appearances)

Dropsy is a Ligue 1 veteran with 595 French top-flight appearances to his name, having played for Valenciennes FC, RC Strasbourg and Girondins de Bordeaux as a goalkeeper.

The legendary shot-stopper made his debut in 1972 with newly-promoted Valenciennes FC, but signed for Strasbourg in 1973 and he immediately went on to established himself as one of the best goalie in France that time.

He joined his boyhood club Bordeaux at the age of 34-year-old and went on to play a significant role in the club’s dominance in the 80’s, where he won two Division 1 Championships in 1985 and 1987.

Jean-Luc Ettori – (601 appearances)

One of the few highly successful one club goalkeepers in French football history, Jean-Luc Ettori spent the entirety of his 19-year professional club career at AS Monaco.

Ettori’s remarkable involvement in Monaco’s surprising league triumph propelled him into national stardom, where he went on to become Les Bleus number goalie at the international level.

The legendary shot-stopper’ consistency remains one of the reasons that helped him amassed 601 appearances for Monaco in Ligue 1 before he retired.

Mikael Landreau – (618 appearances)

Landreau plied his trade in Ligue 1 with Nantes, Lille, Paris Saint-Germain and SC Bastia before he bid the game farewell.

As Ligue 1 most-capped players in the history of the league with 618 games, he also kept 227 clean-sheets at the highest-level.

Landreau broke Jean-Luc Ettori French top-flight appearance record when he made his 604th appearance against AC Ajaccio as Bastia goalkeeper, and eventually went to set a new record as the player with the most appearances in Ligue 1.

This article was updated 10 months ago