Four of our World Cup winners were indeed representing Les Bleus, and Malo Gusto will dream of emulating Marcel Desailly, Frank Leboeuf, N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud in North America this time around. France are many people’s tip to lift the famous trophy in New Jersey next month.

With Blues also featuring in the squads of Spain, England, Argentina, Portugal and the Netherlands, there is a good chance of a Chelsea player returning home a world champion. Here are the players to have achieved that feat in the past…

Frank Leboeuf - 1998

At the 1998 World Cup, Desailly and Laurent Blanc were France’s first-choice centre-back pairing on home soil. However, Leboeuf was an able deputy and stepped in for Les Bleus’ group stage victory against Denmark.

Leboeuf was called upon in more dramatic circumstances as the tournament reached its denouement. Shortly after Lilian Thuram had scored his second goal of the game to put France 2-1 up against Croatia in the semi-final, Blanc was shown a red card. Leboeuf came on for Youri Djorkaeff and helped the ten men close out the victory.

Leboeuf subsequently started the final, alongside his new Chelsea team-mate Desailly, and helped keep Ronaldo, Rivaldo and co quiet as France lifted the World Cup for the first time with an emphatic 3-0 victory over holders Brazil.

Marcel Desailly - 1998

Desailly’s final was very slightly overshadowed by the fact he was sent off midway through the second half for a second bookable offence (the first yellow was extremely harsh), but he had nonetheless been a key member of France’s run to glory, starting every game.

Signing Desailly on the eve of the tournament was an impressive coup for Chelsea, with the in-demand AC Milan defender choosing Stamford Bridge as his next destination after the World Cup.

Having seen his class on the global stage, Blues fans were excited to welcome Desailly to the club – and he duly delivered, going on to become a Chelsea great and a club captain.

Andre Schurrle – 2014

It would be four more tournaments until Chelsea had another World Cup winner, and he provided the single most telling contribution in a final yet.

As with his time at Chelsea, Andre Schurrle was largely used off the bench by Germany at the tournament in Brazil. He scored in the edgy last-16 win over Algeria and then netted the sixth and seventh goals of Germany’s spectacular 7-1 rout of the hosts in the semis.

Then, with the final against Argentina goalless in extra time, sub Schurrle sent over a superb left-footed cross that Mario Gotze volleyed into the net, winning Germany a fourth World Cup title.

N’Golo Kante - 2018

Kante had been widely regarded as one of the world’s best midfielders for a couple of years, and he showed his talents on the global stage by helping France triumph in Russia eight years ago.

Kante’s dynamism in the middle of the park was pivotal as France beat Argentina, Uruguay and Eden Hazard’s Belgium in the knockout stage. Though he had a stomach bug on the day of the final, Kante was still able to start and left the pitch during the second half with France ahead against Croatia. They would go on to win 4-2.

Olivier Giroud - 2018

Also in the starting XI that day was France’s number nine Olivier Giroud, who performed a selfless role for Didier Deschamps’ side throughout the tournament.

Though he did not find the net himself, Giroud brought the best out of Les Bleus’ other attacking stars, with Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann in particular shining at the tournament. Giroud registered two assists, and showed the value of the all-round centre-forward at a time when the spotlight often focused on individual brilliance.