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The Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award is given to the best performing player in the French top-flight over the course of a season. The award was introduced in the 1993-94 season and PSG winger David Ginola was its first winner.
Some of the biggest names in football over the past three decades like Zinedine Zidane, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Eden Hazard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have all won the award.
Kylian Mbappe won the Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award last term
Paris Saint-Germain failed to retain the Ligue 1 title last season, much to the disbelief of most football fans. Lille pipped them to the crown in what was a concerted effort from Christophe Galtier's men.
However, Kylian Mbappe won the Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award, scoring 27 goals and providing seven assists in 37 appearances in the league for PSG. With so many individuals turning in incredible performances this term, it will be interesting to see who walks away with the prize in the 2021-22 season.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the five favorites to win the Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award this season.
#5 Amine Gouiri (OGC Nice)
Young OGC Nice forward Amine Gouiri is a technically gifted player. The 21-year-old's exceptional dribbling skills and composure in the final third set him apart. Gouiri has been performing at a very high level since the 2020-21 season.
In 34 Ligue 1 appearances last term, Gouiri scored 12 goals and provided seven assists and showed us what he is capable of. He has turned it up a notch this term and has been a menacing presence uptop for Nice.
Gouiri can dance past defenders and leave them stranded with his quick feet and close control. He is also a very good finisher. In 17 Ligue 1 appearances so far this term, Gouiri has scored eight goals and provided four assists.
#4 Dimitri Payet (Olympique Marseille)
Dimitri Payet is one of the most creative attacking midfielders in the world of football. The Frenchman has been extremely influential for Marseille and even at the age of 34, he continues to be undroppable from the starting XI.
He seems to even be playing some of the best football of his career. Payet takes opposition players on, beats them in a nonchalant manner and gracefully executes pinpoint passes to his teammates.
Payet played eight key passes in Marseille's 1-0 win over Troyes, the highest in the 2021-22 season so far. The 34-year-old is still incredible at set-pieces and has scored two goals from direct free-kicks this term.
Payet has six goals and six assists to his name in 14 appearances and is definitely a contender for the Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award.
#3 Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)
This might look like a curious choice but we all know that form is temporary while class is permanent. Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has had a rather dull start to life in Ligue 1. But it looks like once he hits his stride, there will be no stopping him.
His numbers are quite low right now, with just one goal and three assists nine Ligue 1 appearances. But fans who have watched PSG play will know that it's not for a lack of trying. He has created 28 chances for PSG in just nine league appearances. The PSG frontline has just not been in great goalscoring form.
Messi has also hit the woodwork far too many times already this term. That's why we say that he will kick into gear soon. Messi endured a tough start to proceedings in the 2020-21 season as well. But he was unstoppable in the second half of the campaign. The 2021-22 season should be no different.
#2 Ludovic Ajorque (Strasbourg)
Strasbourg are currently sixth in the Ligue 1 table and are just three points adrift of Marseille in third. The majority of the credit for that ought to go to their striker Ludovic Ajorque, who has been in sublime form in the 2021-22 season.
Standing at 197 cms, Ajorque is a physically dominant customer and his hold-up play is quite good. The left-footed striker is also excellent at timing his runs and has the ability to pop up in the right place at the right time.
The 27-year-oold has done a stellar job in attack for Strasbourg this term and has been one of the best players in the league. He has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 16 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
With so many of their high-profile stars failing to match expectations, PSG have had to once again rely on Kylian Mbappe to be the difference maker. The Frenchman has obliged and has been rather generous with his contributions up front.
Mbappe continues to torment defenders with his electric pace and mesmerizing dribbling ability. The French forward is excellent with the ball at his feet and his movement and link-up play have been great too.
Mbappe's overall playmaking has also improved quite a lot this season. He is currently the favorite to go on and win the Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award as things stand. The 22-year-old has scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 16 Ligue 1 appearances so far this term.
