Who are the best pétanque players in the world? This is a fun question to pose as there are many great players to choose from. Furthermore, we are seeing many young up-and-coming players who are just amazing. It's difficult to pick just one one so we are highlighting some of our favorites; this is by no means an exhaustive list of the best.
Philippe Quintais - Quintais is considered by many to be the greatest pétanque player of all time. He has won 15 world championships and numerous other titles throughout his career, and he is known for his accuracy and consistency on the petanque court; the godfather of pétanque.
Marco Foyot - Foyot is another legendary pétanque player, with six world championships and numerous other titles to his name. He is known for his tactical acumen and his ability to read the terrain and adjust his play accordingly. Some credit Foyot for bringing international attention to petanque and increasing the the popularity of game. We also think he has great hair.
Dylan Rocher - Rocher is a young French player who has already established himself as one of the best in the world. He came from a family of petanque players. Rocher has won five world championships and numerous other titles, and he is known for his power, precision, and versatility on the court. No one can figure how he shoots, and, yet, he rarely misses.
Henri Lacroix - Lacroix is a French player who has won four world championships and numerous other titles throughout his career. He is known for his calm and focused demeanor on the court, as well as his precise shooting and pointing skills. He is a master of the high lobs.
Thanakorn Sangkaew - Sangkaew is a young Thai player who has had great success in the last 5 years. He won the World Championship in 2019 and also won gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 Asian Petanque Championships in doubles and triples competitions. Sangkaew has shown amazing precision in his shooting. He also seems like a cool person whom we would like to hang with.
Nantawan Fueangsanit - Fueangsanit is one of the most successful female pétanque players in Thailand in the last 5 years. She won the Women's World Championship in 2017 and also won gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 Asian Petanque Championships in doubles and triples competitions. We admire her incredible calmness during high pressure moments.
Philippe Suchaud - Suchaud is known for his precision pointing and ability to read the terrain and make strategic decisions during games. He is also respected for his sportsmanship and his dedication to promoting the sport of petanque. He doesn't talk much during games; he just wins, over and over again.
Angélique Colombet - Colombet is a French female player who has won five world championships and numerous other titles throughout her career. She is known for her precision pointing and her ability to read the terrain. What a great pointer.
Bruno Le Boursicaud - Le Boursicaud is a French player who has won three world championships and numerous other titles. He is known for his strategic thinking and his ability to control the pace of the game, as well as his precision shooting. You can always recognize Le Boursicaud by the sunglasses he wears on his forehead, indoors or outdoors.
Ke Leng - a Cambodian pétanque player who has achieved considerable success at the national and international levels. She has won multiple gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games and has also won the Cambodian Petanque Championship several times. Leng is known for her strong shooting skills. She has also represented Cambodia in various international competitions, including the World Petanque Championships. Leng is considered one of the top petanque players in Cambodia and has helped to raise the profile of the sport in the country. Some compared Leng's shooting style to that of a cobra's attack.
All of these players are amazing athletes who have elevated the sport of pétanque. We thank them for it! Now that we are feeling inspired, it's time to get back on the courts and practice.