A rock-solid top five!
The Ligue 1 season officially came to an end on Sunday evening, after one final crazy multiplex matchday.
It was a season full of suspense, especially in the title race and the battle for Europe, with several players shining to help their clubs finish as high as possible.
At the UNFP awards, five players were also in the running for the Best Player trophy: Dembélé, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Thauvin, and Greenwood. But we’ve decided to reveal our five standout men of the season!
Ousmane Dembélé – PSG
The Ballon d’Or contender, whose medical situation is causing concern two weeks before the Champions League final, was once again named the best player of the Ligue 1 season. A trophy that rewards his influence at PSG, champions once again, thanks to both his attacking contribution (10 goals and 7 assists in 22 matches), his defensive work, and his ability to lead by example in every aspect of the game. Quite simply, the leader of the best team in the league.
📸 Alex Grimm – 2026 Getty Images
Florian Thauvin – RC Lens
While Risser, Sage, Sangaré and others were brilliant, it’s hard to believe Lens, PSG’s runners-up, would have had such a great season without Thauvin. Back in Ligue 1, the former Marseille man showed that at 33 he has lost none of his attacking quality, something reflected in both his stats (11 goals and 6 assists) and the way he carries the ball.
He will once again be the man to watch in the Coupe de France final on Friday, and Lens’ biggest weapon in the Champions League next season.
📸 SAMEER AL-DOUMY – AFP or licensors
Estéban Lepaul – Rennes
Ligue 1’s top scorer with 21 goals (and 5 assists), Lepaul was the driving force behind a Rennes side that went through an up-and-down season, especially when Habib Beye was still in charge.
Signed for €13.5 million from Angers last summer after a promising first Ligue 1 season (9 goals), Lepaul more than lived up to all expectations, becoming the first non-PSG player to finish as top scorer since Lacazette in 2014-15. Performances that already make him one of the country’s best strikers, now knocking on the door of the national team.
📸 GABRIEL BOUYS – AFP or licensors
Corentin Tolisso – Lyon
OL’s leader. Despite the disappointment of missing out on third place because of the thrashing handed out by Lens on Sunday (4-0), Lyon still finish in a strong fourth place, synonymous with Europe, something that seemed almost unthinkable just a few months ago given the club’s financial problems and the threat of relegation. And that is partly down to smart recruitment, but above all to a superb Tolisso.
With 11 goals and 4 assists in 30 matches, the France international, once again left out by Deschamps for the upcoming World Cup, showed enormous influence and leadership to carry OL. At 31, he proved he is still one of the best players in Ligue 1.
📸 OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE – AFP or licensors
Vitinha – PSG
This top five isn’t packed with PSG players, but it was hard not to include a second one. Especially Vitinha, who once again lit up Paris’ midfield this season. And while many of his teammates were regularly rested or injured, he was one of the few players, along with Zaïre-Emery and Pacho, to keep delivering on both fronts, making him a true pillar of the team.
Teased by Dembélé at the UNFP awards for scoring “just one goal,” the Portuguese midfielder also provided seven assists, while putting in impressive work all over the pitch, establishing himself as the orchestrator of PSG’s play and one of its leaders, with another league title to show for it.
📸 SIMON WOHLFAHRT – AFP or licensors
What about you, do you agree with this top five or did other players stand out more to you? Choices had to be made, so tell us in the comments who you would have picked ⬇️
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.