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Nationalities: A closer look at Ligue 1 McDonald’s squads

Which countries dominate? Which clubs are the most international? Here’s a breakdown of the numbers shaping the 2025/26 Ligue 1 McDonald’s season.
G.BOXALL
Published on 09/12/2025 at 10:36
2-minute read
We take a closer look at the nationalities present in Ligue 1 McDonald's

Nice’s international flavour

Since the summer transfer window closed on Monday 1 September at 20:00, OGC Nice have emerged as the most cosmopolitan club in the league. Players of 19 different nationalities share the dressing room at the Allianz Riviera. The Aiglons’ squad includes 12 Frenchmen alongside a wide variety of profiles: 2 Senegalese (Y. Diouf, A. Mendy), 2 Ghanaians (Pepprah Opong, Abdul Samed), 1 Algerian (Boudaoui), 1 Belgian (Vanhoutte), 1 Burundian (Ndayishimiye), 1 Cameroonian (B. Nguene), 1 Canadian (Bombito), 1 Egyptian (Abdelmonem), 1 Spaniard (K. Carlos), 1 Ivorian (Boga), 1 Tunisian (Ali Abdi), 1 Brazilian (Dante), 1 Moroccan (S. Diop), 1 Nigerian (Moffi), 1 Pole (Bartosz Zelazowski), 1 Portuguese (Gouveia), 1 Sierra Leonean (J. Bah) and 1 Swede (Jansson).

Hot on their heels, Olympique Lyonnais boast 18 nationalities, while Olympique de Marseille complete the podium with 17. Notably, RC Lens – the most international side in the second half of last season – have dropped from 18 to just 12. At the other end of the spectrum, Stade Brestois field players from just 7 different nationalities.

Senegal on top

For the first time in years, there are more foreign players (294) than French players (208) in the league – making up 58.6% of all registered footballers (502 in total).

And while Ivory Coast (25) and Morocco (24) previously led the way among foreign contingents, this season Senegal take top spot with 28 representatives. This rise follows summer arrivals (or returns) such as Habib Diallo, Pathé Mboup, Bingourou Kamara and Mory Diaw. Key figures include Lamine Camara (AS Monaco) and Moussa Niakhaté (OL), both mainstays for the Teranga Lions.

The current top three foreign nationalities in Ligue 1 McDonald’s are:

  • Senegal (28): including Niakhaté (OL), Camara (ASM), Diallo (FCM), Diatta (ASM), Diouf (OGCN), Mendy (OGCN) and many more.

  • Ivory Coast (20): among them Diomandé (AJA), Boga (OGCN), Fofana (SRFC), Traoré (OM), Krasso (PFC).

  • Morocco (16): including Harit (OM), Aguerd (OM), Hakimi (PSG), Diop (OGCN), Sahraoui (LOSC).

Africa leading the way

Africa is the most represented continent in Ligue 1 McDonald’s. Out of 294 foreign players, 140 come from African nations, nearly equalling the combined total from the rest of the world (155). Europe follows with 112, then the Americas with 35.

When including French players, Europe naturally comes out on top with 320 players overall.

Key stats at a glance

  • 16 French players at Paris FC – the most in the league.

  • 5 French players at Lyon – the fewest in the league.

  • 26 foreign players at Marseille – the highest tally.

  • 10 foreign players at Brest – the lowest tally.

  • 81.5% of Lyon’s squad are foreign – the most international team.

  • 60.7% of Lens’ squad are French – the most domestic side.

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Squads overview