French Ligue 1 top scorers: Mbappe not among the top five, all-time leader nets over 250 goals

Ligue 1 is widely regarded as one of Europe’s five major football leagues and has long been a stage where many French legends built their reputations. Over the years, domestic strikers have consistently played a major role in shaping the competition’s history, with many of them securing prominent spots on the league’s all-time scoring chart.

In this article, Nowgoalmobi highlights the French Ligue 1 top scorers and the players who have left a lasting mark with their goals.

French Ligue 1 top scorers: Mbappe misses the top 5, leader surpasses 250 goals

Among French players, Bernard Lacombe stands alone in Ligue 1 history as the only one to surpass the 250-goal mark. The former striker finished his league career with 255 goals in 497 appearances, placing him second on the all-time scoring list, behind only Delio Onnis.

Lacombe began his professional journey with Olympique Lyonnais in 1969, the club from his hometown. During nearly a decade with Lyon, he built a formidable attacking partnership with Serge Chiesa and Fleury Di Nallo, scoring 123 goals in 222 league matches. In 1978 he briefly joined Saint-Étienne, Lyon’s fierce rival, and added 14 goals in 32 appearances during a single season.

The most successful chapter of his playing career came after his move to Girondins de Bordeaux in 1979. Under coach Aimé Jacquet, Lacombe led the line for one of the strongest Bordeaux sides of the 1980s, scoring 118 goals in 243 matches and helping the club establish itself among the elite in French football.

His influence on the league did not end when he retired as a player. Lacombe later served Olympique Lyonnais in various roles, including coaching and management, and played a key part in shaping the club’s rise toward domestic dominance and European recognition in the late 1990s.

Bernard Lacombe passed away on June 17, 2025, at the age of 72, prompting tributes from clubs, players and supporters across the football world.

Just behind Bernard Lacombe on the scoring chart is Hervé Revelli, who recorded 216 goals in 389 Ligue 1 appearances. The prolific forward is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of AS Saint-Étienne.

Revelli first rose to prominence with Saint-Étienne in the late 1960s. As a young striker, he quickly became a key figure in the team and helped the club win four consecutive league titles between 1967 and 1970, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in French football.

In 1971, Revelli moved to OGC Nice, where he continued to impress by scoring 41 goals in 71 league matches. However, his most memorable achievements came after returning to Saint-Étienne. Back with the club, he played an important role in securing three more Ligue 1 titles and was part of the side that reached the 1976 European Cup final, one of the most iconic moments in the club’s history.

Over the course of his career, Revelli won seven Ligue 1 titles, a record for many years before it was eventually surpassed by Marco Verratti, who later collected nine league trophies.

With 191 goals in 246 Ligue 1 appearances, Kylian Mbappé currently sits sixth on the French league’s all time scoring list. His tally includes 175 goals for Paris Saint Germain and 16 for AS Monaco, making him the only active player from the modern era to feature near the top of the chart.

During his time in France, Mbappé dominated the scoring charts. He won the Ligue 1 Golden Boot for six consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2024, an achievement unmatched in the competition’s history.

The forward left PSG in July 2024 to join Real Madrid on a free transfer and quickly lived up to expectations in Spain. In his first full season with the Spanish giants, he scored 43 goals in 56 appearances, helping Madrid secure the La Liga title while also claiming the European Golden Shoe.

Mbappé’s impact with the French national team has been just as impressive. As of March 2026, he has scored 55 goals in 94 international matches and is closing in on Olivier Giroud’s record of 57. On the World Cup stage, he has already produced memorable moments, including a hat trick in the 2022 final against Argentina. With 12 goals across the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and strong form in recent months, the 2026 World Cup could provide another stage for him to shine.

French Ligue 1 top scorers

Bernard Lacombe - 497 matches - 255 goals

Hervé Revelli - 389 matches - 216 goals

Roger Courtois - 288 matches - 210 goals

Thadée Cisowski - 286 matches - 206 goals

Roger Piantoni - 394 matches - 203 goals

Kylian Mbappé - 246 matches - 191 goals

Nowgoalmobi.net has named French Ligue 1 top scorers

Stay ahead of the game with updated football results, accurate odds, and daily predictions on our platform.