As FIFA 21 nears ever closer, it’s time to start looking at some potential new icons that could be making it into the next season of FIFA Ultimate Team!
Next up, we delve into Les Bleus, with a number of top tier French icons that would definitely add some fantastic team building options to FUT 21.
Read More: FIFA 21 Ones To Watch: Summer Transfer News, Rumours & Updates, Predicted Cards And Release Dates
Nicolas Anelka - 90 ST
Top Teams: Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool, JuventusCareer Apps: 769Career Goals: 241Top Club Honours: 2x Premier League, 4x FA Cup, 1x Serie A, 1x Super Lig, 2x Champions LeagueInternational Honours: 1x Confederations Cup, 1x European Champion
Starting off our French Icon Wishlist we have a true journeyman striker, Nicolas Anelka, who played across 4 of the top 5 leagues in Europe over the course of his career.
Known primarily for his pace and goal-scoring ability, as well as his movement off the ball, Anelka won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2008/09 season with 19 goals.
While FUT is not short on French attackers, many would love to see Anelka added into the game, especially Chelsea and Arsenal fans that have their eyes set on a past and present squad!
Patrice Evra - 90 LB
Top Teams: Manchester United, AS Monaco, Juventus, OGC Nice, MarseilleCareer Apps: 817Career Goals: 20Top Club Honours: 5x Premier League, 3x Serie A, 2x Coppa Italia, 1x FIFA Club World Cup, 1x Champions LeagueInternational Honours: -
One of the best LBs the Premier League has ever seen, and one of the best full-backs in Europe at the top of his game, Patrice Evra would be a solid icon card to add into FUT 21.
Fast and energetic on the left, Evra could help out at both ends of the pitch, and considering his smaller stature, was physically strong against wingers.
We’d love to see Evra included in the FUT 21 Icon Class, as he’d be going straight into past and present Manchester United team!
Lilian Thuram - 91 CB
Top Teams: Parma, Juventus, AS Monaco, FC BarcelonaCareer Apps: 812Career Goals: 13Top Club Honours: 2x Serie A, 1x Coppa Italia, 2x SuperCoppa Italia, 1x Copa Del Rey, 1x UEFA Cup, International Honours: 1x Confederations Cup, 1x European Champion, 1x World Cup
A pivotal part of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning squad, Lilian Thuram was one of the most athletic, dominant centre-halves in the world during his prime.
With great pace for a defender, Thuram played predominantly as a centre half throughout his career but was also deployed as an attacking right back on occasions.
We’d be interested to see how Thuram compared to the likes of Blanc/Desailly in FUT 21, with both being similar types of cards.
Eric Cantona - 92 CF
Top Teams: Manchester United, Marseille, Leeds UnitedCareer Apps: 349Career Goals: 142Top Club Honours: 5x Premier League, 2x FA Cup, 2x Ligue 1, 1x French CupInternational Honours: -
When discussing French Icons, it’s hard to look past King Eric. Despite having a shorter than average career and a relatively poor disciplinary record, Cantona was without a doubt one of the Premier League’s best-ever players, winning 4 Premier League titles in 5 years with Manchester United and being integral in Manchester United’s revival as a top tier side in the 1990s.
We’d love to see Cantona partnering up with his Manchester United teammates in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team as a high rated icon card with top technical and physical attributes!
Michel Platini - 94 CAM
Top Teams: Juventus, Saint-EtienneCareer Apps: 329Career Goals: 168Top Club Honours: 2x Serie A, 1x Coppa Italia, 1x Ligue 1, 1x UEFA Supercup, 1x Intercontinental Cup, 1x Champions League, 3x Ballon D’or (1983, 1984, 1985)International Honours: 1x European Champion
Without a doubt the best French icon in our wishlist has to be the 3 times Ballon D’or winner, Michel Platini. While being primarily an attacking midfielder by trade, Platini had a deadly goalscoring record and holds the record for most goals scored in the European Championship Finals with 9 goals, despite only playing in France’s victorious 1984 campaign.
As an attacking midfielder in FUT, Platini would have everything from his rifle of a long shot, to his inch-perfect playmaking ability, to his fine set-piece taking abilities.
What a card this would be in FUT 21!