Winger – Bayern Munich

Franck Ribery demonstrates, through his career, that you must never give up and that sporting disadvantages on the surface can prove to be your greatest assets.

His path to the top has been winding despite a talent that has been overflowing since he was a child.

Franck Ribéry began his career in Boulogne-sur-Mer in 2000, after being fired from the LOSC training centre because of his size.

Boulogne-sur-Mer was the starting point of Franck Ribéry’s atypical career. “When we played small games in the neighbourhood, Franck always managed to get involved, to find a place to join the older ones. Because if he played with people his own age, he would take the ball and score. And with the older ones, he still managed to impose himself,” one of his neighbours would say.

After two years with Boulogne, Ribery joined another National club, Alès, where he made a name for himself.

After Alès, at the age of 20, he finally settled in Brest, also in the National. The start is complicated, but his progress is dazzling and he ends the season with 23 decisive passes, which open the doors of League 1 and FC Metz the following year.

Marseille, passport to glory (2005-2006)

After lightning flashes in Metz and Galatasaray (2004-2005), Franck Ribéry joined the team in Marseille. In a short season, he put Ligue 1 at his feet, won his place with the Blue and seduced the great Bayern Munich, where he became the player we know, who came to play for Ronaldo and Messi as the best player in the world.

Considered one of the best players in Europe, he won the French Player of the Year Award in 2007, 2008 and 20132, the UNFP Trophy for Best New Player in League 1 in 2006, the German League Player of the Year Award in 2008 and 20133, the UEFA European Player of the Year Award in 2013 and finished third in the 2013 Golden Ball.

His speed, technique, speed, vision, vision and striking power make him one of Bayern Munich’s leaders, with whom he scored a fivefold in 2013, winning the German league, the German cup, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup6. He is the most successful player in the history of the Bundesliga.

Generally speaking, he is considered one of the best players on the French team since Zinedine Zidane retired in 2006. On August 13, 2014, he announced his international retirement.