Yoann Gourcuff is an attacking midfielder who plays for Olympique Lyonnais and the French national team.
After having started his senior career with Rennes he moved to Italy ahead of the 2006/07 season to play for AC Milan. Gourcuff had two frustrating seasons with the club, due to injuries and not getting along with manager Carlo Ancelotti. He also had to compete with Brazilian star Kaka for a starting place in the team. Eventually Gourcuff went on loan to Bordeaux for the entire 2008/09 season and then being sold to the club the following season. Gourcuff even started the 2010/11 season as a Bordeaux player but in August 2010 signed a five year deal with Lyon for a fee of €22 million.
Gourcuff has often been compared as the new Zinedine Zidane and he is a player the French national team are counting on. His first goal for France was a spectacular strike against Romania in October 2008. His second goal for Les Bleus came in a 2-0 win, also against Romania, on 9 October 2010.

Nasri fast developed into one of Arsenal’s most important midfielders. He came through at Olympique de Marseille and was Ligue 1′s Young Player of the Year in the 2006-07 season. He was already at this stage compared to the great Zinedine Zidane. Ahead of the 2008-09 season Arsene Wenger signed him for Arsenal. He had a great come back since he suffered a broken leg in 2009 and being dropped from the French national team for the 2010 World Cup. He was recalled into the French squad for their Euro 2012 campaign and was prolific for Arsenal. However in August 2011 Nasri signed a four year contract with Manchester City for a fee of £25 million. He made his debut in a 5-1 win against Tottenham, assisting in three of the goals.

Mathieu Flamini is a defensive midfielder who plays for Italian side AC Milan. He has also represented the French national team. Flamini came up through the youth ranks of Olympique de Marseille. He played four seasons for English side Arsenal before joining AC Milan in May 2008.

Franck Ribéry is a left winger who plays for German side Bayern München and the French national team. Ribéry is a real impact player and was named French Footballer of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He was also Player of the Year in Germany in 2008. He arrived at Bayern München in June 2007 and won the German double with the club in the 2007-08 season and the 2009-10 season. In the latter they were also runners-up in the Champions League. Prior to this Ribéry had played for various French clubs, except for a brief stint at Galatasary in Turkey. He had two exceptional seasons for Olympique de Marseille in 2005-06 and 2006-07. He was included in the French national team just before the 2006 FIFA World Cup and went on to enjoy a great World Cup with France reaching the final. After that several top clubs in Europe were seeking his signature but Bayern München were successful paying Marseille a then club-record €25 million.