SOCCER PLAYERS from Réunion

Top 6

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous Soccer Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Dimitri Payet (b. 1987)

With an HPI of 53.32, Dimitri Payet is the most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 58 different languages on wikipedia.

Dimitri Payet (French pronunciation: [dimitʁi pajɛt]; born 29 March 1987) is a French professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Vasco da Gama. A set-piece specialist known for his accurate, bending free kicks, he primarily plays as an attacking midfielder, and is described as a player who is "blessed with terrific technique and dribbling skills". Payet was born on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, where he began his career playing for local clubs Saint-Philippe and Saint-Pierroise. In 1999, he moved to metropolitan France, joining Le Havre. Payet spent four years at the club before returning home to spend two years playing for AS Excelsior in the Réunion Premier League. In 2005, he joined FC Nantes and, after a successful 2006–07 season, joined AS Saint-Étienne on a four-year contract. With Saint-Étienne, Payet played in European competition for the first time after featuring in the 2008–09 edition of the UEFA Europa League. In the 2010–11 season, he won the UNFP Player of the Month award for September after scoring three goals and helping Saint-Étienne reach first place in the league table. Following the season, in June 2011, Payet joined the defending champions Lille signing a four-year contract. He had two years there and a further two at Olympique de Marseille before moving abroad to join West Ham United. In 2017 he moved back to France to join his old team, Marseille before leaving the club by mutual agreement in July 2023, joining Brazilian side Vasco da Gama a month later. Payet is a French international. From 2007 to 2008, he represented his country at under-21 level, making eleven appearances and scoring four goals. In 2010, he was called up to the senior team by manager Laurent Blanc for the first time. Payet made his international debut on 9 October 2010 in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Romania, appearing as a substitute. He was a member of the French squad that reached the final of UEFA Euro 2016, being named afterward by UEFA in the Team of the Tournament.

2. Florent Sinama Pongolle (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 40.81, Florent Sinama Pongolle is the 2nd most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Florent Stéphane Sinama Pongolle (born 20 October 1984) is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was signed at only 16 by Liverpool, but could never impose himself in the first team. He also spent several seasons in Spain, with Recreativo, Atlético Madrid and Zaragoza. Pongolle is now a pundit with Canal + in France.

3. Guillaume Hoarau (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 39.76, Guillaume Hoarau is the 3rd most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Guillaume Hoarau (born 5 March 1984) is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward.

4. Laurent Robert (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 38.29, Laurent Robert is the 4th most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Pierre Laurent Robert (born 21 May 1975) is a French former professional footballer who played as a left winger. He was known for his powerful shot, particularly from free kicks. Born in Réunion, he moved to mainland France aged 16 and began his professional career with Montpellier and Paris Saint Germain, playing and scoring in the UEFA Champions League with the latter. In 2001, he transferred to Premier League club Newcastle United for a £10 million fee, helping them qualify for several European tournaments including the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2003–04. The following season, he was fined and disciplined for publicly criticising manager Graeme Souness, leading to a loan to Portsmouth and transfer to Benfica in the Portuguese Primeira Liga in January 2006. He scored a winning free kick against O Clássico rivals Porto and played in a run to the Champions League quarter-finals, but moved on six months later to Levante in La Liga. He ended his career with brief spells at Derby County, Toronto FC and Larissa. Robert played nine games for France between 1999 and 2001, scoring one goal and winning the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2001. His younger brother Bertrand also became footballer, as did his son Thomas.

5. Ronny Rodelin (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 27.90, Ronny Rodelin is the 5th most famous Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Sylvio Ronny Rodelin (born 18 November 1989) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward.

6. Zacharie Boucher (b. 1992)

With an HPI of 24.60, Zacharie Boucher is the 6th most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Zacharie Boucher (born 7 March 1992) is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 2 club Troyes. He was a French youth international and has served as the number one goalkeeper at under-16, under-17, and under-18 level.