As in every country across the globe, the French press enjoy nothing more than rating players after each frenetic weekend of league action.

For legendary sports daily L'Equipe, the business of handing out scores is a serious undertaking and, with ten rounds already contested in Ligue 1 this season, the paper's staff have dissected and analysed their findings.

They provide a fascinating insight into a championship many consider to be 'the fifth wheel' on the European scene, although few will be surprised to learn that Lyon come out with flying colours. Indeed, not only are the French champions blessed with a well-organised collective, their team is also packed with individual talent to spare - seven Lyonnais are included in the paper's all-star squad of 17 players: Cris, Eric Abidal, Juninho, Kim Kallstrom, Florent Malouda, Gregory Coupet and Jeremy Toulalan.

Aside from Marseille's Frank Ribery - well-known to all following his exploits in Germany - the other names on the list are unlikely to stir much recognition from football enthusiasts outside France. What stands out almost as much as Lyon's dominance, though, is that the French championship remains a real breeding ground for African talent, with six of the continent's finest attracting L'Equipe's admiration: John Mensah (GHA, Rennes), Nadir Belhadj (ALG, Sedan) Mamadou Niang (SEN, Marseille), Kader Keita (CIV, Lille) David Jemmali (TUN, Bordeaux) and Romaric (CIV, Le Mans).

Niang and Keita are in especially fine form at the moment, and for many constitute the two best forwards currently plying their trade in France. With four strikes to his name, Senegal international Niang has also helped Marseille up to second in the standings, and despite being considered behind Djibril Cisse in the club's pecking order, has displayed remarkable efficiency up front as the French international continues his recovery from injury. Niang's performances have even outshone those of his much-vaunted colleague Ribery, who has been struggling to regain top form of late.

As for Keita, the Côte d'Ivoire livewire has formed a fearsome partnership with Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie (five goals) in Lille's attack. Slightly disappointing last term, the Elephant has built on his appearances at the FIFA World Cup™ to return figures of two goals and three assists so far, mostly from the right flank where he never stops running at defenders.

A whole raft of prestigious clubs are paying close attention to his burgeoning career, which has already come on substantially in a short time. "We knew he had great potential, but before he used to go for goal on his own, dribble past four or five and finish," recalls Les Dogues' coach Claude Puel. "Kader has had to work on his movement off the ball because, until now, he only used to play by himself."  

Mensah, Rennes' rock
Whereas Keita left home at a young age to try his luck in Tunisia (Etoile sportive du Sahel) and Qatar (Al-Saad), his compatriot Romaric is a product of ASEC Abidjan's world-renowned Mimosas Academy.

After two seasons with Belgian outfit Beveren, he joined Le Mans in summer 2005, just as they returned to the elite with promotion, yet his first campaign was blighted by a serious road accident. Back in action since the spring, he has shone either as a left-sided attacking midfielder or as an out-and-out striker, and can already lay claim to two goals and two assists from this term. 

Impressive, but nothing that would frighten Stade Rennais defender John Mensah unduly. Injured after the Germany 2006, the Ghanaian international was forced to watch his team's opening four fixtures from the sidelines, and they toiled in his absence - losing three, drawing one and shipping eight goals in the process. Since his return six games ago, however, they have tasted victory three times and succumbed to defeat just once, with a mere three goals conceded.

Taught the art of defending in the rigorous environment of the Italian game, Mensah is a stopper of undoubted skill. Eager to stay on his feet as long as possible, he troubles strikers with his physical presence and distributes the ball cleanly, all of which have made him the undisputed boss at the heart of the Brittany club's rearguard.

Little more known than the Rennes ace, meanwhile, is Tunisian international David Jemmali, who also graced the fields of Germany this summer and has become a central figure at Ricardo's Bordeaux in the space of a few months. Masterful at both left-back and in central defence, Jemmali has not missed a single match this season, either in the Champions League or Ligue 1, and although the rest of his team-mates have been lacklustre so far, he has not yet disappointed.   

That leaves Nadir Belhadj, without doubt the least-celebrated African on the list. An Algerian international, the Sedan man was crowned 'Best left-back in Ligue 2' last season and has been getting his first glimpse of top-flight football this term at the age of 24. It has been a first glimpse for many observers of the French game too, and they have liked what they have seen. With ten games gone, 900 minutes played and a goal scored, the full-back has shown a real hunger to surge forward and attacks as much as he defends. 
 

Janot's Les Bleus dreams
As for the home talent, discounting the Lyon contingent three French players have earned themselves a place in L'Equipe's dream squad, starting with eccentric goalkeeper Jeremie Janot.

Despite his small size, numerous tattoos and garish jerseys, the Saint-Etienne No1 possesses rare ability, particularly on his line, and rightly picked up September's Player of the Month trophy. Forcing his way into the France squad will be another matter altogether, though, with Coupet, Mickael Landreau and Sebastien Frey all barring his way. "I believed more in my chances five years ago than I do now," admits the player himself. "There are so many good goalkeepers in the France team, but if I got called up it wouldn't be a scandal."

The two other Frenchmen - Frederic Piquionne and Steve Savidan - are both forwards, and face the same conundrum as Janot if they aspire to represent Les Bleus. Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Louis Saha, Nicolas Anelka, Sydney Govou and Djibril Cisse have all laid down serious claims to a place, so garnering Raymond Domenech's favour is going to take a serious and sustained effort.

On the positive side, the duo have been in excellent shape since the season began with four strikes each, thanks to a similar style based on diagonal runs and latching onto through balls.  

As for Savidan, his story is wrapped up with the success new-boys Valenciennes have encountered in the early stages of the nascent campaign. An integral part of the VAFC side that won two successive promotions (19 goals in the National division, 16 in Ligue 2 last term), the well-travelled marksman at last looks to be at home after a sequence of seven clubs in seven years. "Things were going so badly for me that I don't want to stop," he said. "I don't feel like I've changed, though. Every weekend I still feel like I'm the underdog in a French Cup game."

That may well be a sentiment shared by more than a few of Ligue 1's unknown treasures.