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France’s top division Ligue 1 is pushing hard to become one of the top footballing leagues on the planet. They are spending big in the transfer market, hoping to sign the biggest names.
Almost all Ligue 1 teams have improved upon their squads from last season. They want to be more competitive and make the league title race more unpredictable. Six gameweeks into the 2021-22 campaign, Paris Saint-Germain have maintained their stronghold at the top, but not all of their players are firing on all cylinders.
Plenty of underrated stars have taken the league by storm, going toe-to-toe with renowned superstars. We will take a look at the early bloomers of the 2021-22 Ligue 1 campaign today and tell you who the most in-form players are. Let's get to it!
Special mention: Mohamed Bayo - Clermont Foot
#5 Moussa Dembele - Lyon
On the deadline day of the 2018 summer transfer window, Lyon signed Moussa Dembele from Celtic for €22m. After netting 31 league goals in his first two league seasons, he endured a poor start to the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign. As a consequence, Lyon sent him on a half-season loan to Atletico Madrid in January 2021.
He returned in June with a renewed passion for Lyon, which has reflected perfectly on his performances this season. Dembele has been Lyon’s best performer in the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season, netting four goals in five appearances.
He has been decisive in front of goal, passed efficiently, and even dropped down to fetch the ball from midfield from time to time. Lyon, ninth in the table, need to up the ante in the coming weeks in Ligue 1. Their top scorer, Moussa Dembele, seems to be the unanimous choice to lead the charge.
#4 Idrissa Gueye - Paris Saint-Germain
In a team decked with high-profile attackers, you might not expect a defensive midfielder to make headlines. But that is exactly what Idrissa Gueye has been doing in Ligue 1 this season. Gueye has not only been a rock at the back for PSG, but he has also contributed tangibly in attack.
The former Everton midfielder has started four Ligue 1 games for PSG this season, missing the first two due to COVID-19. So far, he has pitched in with two goals, bagged one man-of-the-match award and averaged 3.3 tackles per game. PSG may have more flamboyant midfielders at their disposal, but it is Gueye who has kept them ticking this season.
#3 Amine Gouiri - Nice
Ligue 1 has some fine forwards on its roster, all capable of winning the Golden Boot at the end of the season. Nice forward Amine Gouiri may not be one of the biggest names, but he has emerged as a strong contender for the top-scorers' award in the opening weeks.
The 21-year-old French forward has led his side with verve and explosiveness. He has been a constant threat in front of goal, helping his side maintain an unbeaten run in the league. Gouiri, who averages 3.2 dribbles per game, has registered four goals and two assists in five Ligue 1 matches.
He failed to convert from the spot in Nice’s last Ligue 1 game against Monaco, which ended 2-2. However, one solitary mishap should not take anything from his overall stellar gameplay.
#2 Dimitri Payet - Marseille
Former West Ham United midfielder Dimitri Payet has been one of the best players for Ligue 1 side Marseille since his transfer in 2017. The versatile attacking midfielder possesses excellent vision, the ability to pick out the perfect pass, and a knack for hitting the back of the net. In the 2021-22 Ligue 1 campaign, all of his qualities have been on full display.
Payet has played both as a forward and an attacking midfielder this season, excelling in both positions. He played as a centre-forward in the first three games of the campaign, registering three goals and an assist.
He missed the fourth game due to a muscular problem, but the Frenchman returned to action in the fifth game as an attacking midfielder. He pulled the strings from the middle of the pitch and helped Marseille to a 2-0 win against Rennes.
#1 Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid tried hard to lure Kylian Mbappe away in the summer transfer window. PSG, however, held on and are still trying to tie the Frenchman down with a massive contract. Take a look at his Ligue 1 tally this season, and one will understand why PSG refused an alleged €200m bid from Los Blancos.
Mbappe has been PSG and Ligue 1’s best player this season, making a quantifiable impact in every game he has featured in. In the first two league games of the season, he provided two assists against Troyes and Strasbourg, respectively.
The next three games saw him pitch in with four goals, including a match-winning brace against Reims. Finally, in PSG’s last Ligue 1 game against Lyon, he provided an assist, allowing his side to bag maximum points. To top it off, Mbappe has also started linking well with Lionel Messi, giving PSG fans a sneak peek into the future.
Also Check Out: Kylian Mbappe Net Worth
