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Top 50 Players in Ligue 1 this season.
The French league is in my humble opinion, one of the most underrated leagues in European football and is often overlooked because of the dominance of PSG. There are a lot of exciting teams and players throughout the league and its been interesting to follow the battles for top 5 positioning as well as a tight relegation fight between seven teams. For this list of 50 players, I have a few different requirements to earn entry onto the list. The first criteria is that the player has to have played at least 50% of the teams league games and this unfortunately will eliminated injured players or recent signings from making the list. The second criteria is that the list will feature a maximum of five entries per team and some players will be left off the list because they don't fall in the top five on the team. The final criteria is that this list is based purely on the performances from this season and it doesn't take into account past season performances, player value or potential.
50. Wissam Ben Yedder - FW - Monaco
The captain from Monaco is once again performing at a high level and the 31 year old has contributed 13 goals and 3 assists this season in 21 league appearances with a 6.91 player rating.
49. Ludovic Blas - CAM - Nantes
The 24 year old French attacking midfielder is showing that last seasons performance wasn't a fluke and he is really turning into one of the leagues superstars. This season he has 7 goals and 1 assist in 20 games with 2 man of the match performances and a 6.92 player rating.
48. Houssem Aouar - MF - Lyon
There have been some transfer rumors during this winter window of Arsenal and other clubs looking to midfielder Aouar as a viable transfer target. The 23 year old has been consistent for Lyon and he has 3 goals and 2 assists this season in 21 league games with a 6.92 player rating and 2 man of the match performances.
47. William Saliba - CB - Marseille
Arsenal fans will be glad to hear that Saliba has been terrific defensive this season for Marseille as he is spending his third consecutive season on loan in the French league. The 20 year old has appeared in 20 games this season with a 6.93 player rating.
46. Alberth Elis - RW - Bordeaux
I was able to watch the Canada against Honduras qualifying match for the World Cup this week and Alberth Elis was playing for Honduras. I was very impressed with his movement and speed down the wing and the 25 year old is a very strong talent. In 14 league games this season he has 8 goals and 1 assist with a 6.94 player rating as Bordeaux are happy to have him on loan this season from Portuguese club Boavista FC.
45. Kiki Kouyate - CB - FC Metz
The 24 year old has made a big leap during his second season with FC Metz in Ligue 1 as he has appeared in 15 games with 1 man of the match performance and a 6.94 player rating.
44. Mario Lemina - CDM - Nice
He joined the club this summer after spending last season with Fulham in the Premier League for a $6,050,000 transfer fee. The 28 year old defensive midfielder has played in 19 league games with a 6.94 player rating.
43. Flavien Tait - MF - Stade Rennais
The 28 year old midfielder has 2 goals and 3 assists in 16 league games for Stade Rennais with a 6.95 player rating and he has helped the club to a strong 10-4-8 record for a fifth place spot in the league.
42. Stephy Mavididi - LW - Montpellier
The Montpellier foward has almost equalled his goal total from last season already as the 23 year old scored 9 goals in 35 games last season and he already has 8 goals and 3 assists in 21 league games.
41. Brendan Chardonnet - CB - Brest
The 27 year old center-back has done a fantastic job defensively for Brest as he has helped the club reach a 7-7-8 record at the mid-way point of the season. He has 2 goals in 19 league games with one man of the match performance and a 6.96 player rating.
40. Fabien Centonze - RB - FC Metz
The final player on the list from FC Metz as the French club is currently in 18th place in the league and really struggling to avoid relegation. The 26 year old right-back has done a good job getting involved offensively with 4 goals and 1 assist in 17 league games with a 6.97 player rating.
39. Valentin Rongier - MF - Marseille
The 27 year old has seen his market value decline over the past couple seasons but he is off to a solid start to this season. He has appeared in 16 league games this season with 1 assist and a 6.97 player rating.
38. Mohamed Bayo - FW - Clermont Foot
One of the biggest questions I had for the newly promoted Clermont Foot was whether Mohamed Bayo would continue his goal scoring ways in a new league and competition. The 23 year old is arguably the reason Clermont Foot find themselves above the relegation zone. Bayo has 9 goals and 2 assists in 17 league games and that means that he has contributed to 50% of the teams offense this season. He also has 3 man of the match performances and a 6.98 player rating.
37. Sofiane Diop - LW - Monaco
The 21 year old is a future superstar for Monaco and the French national team if he continues on the path he is on over the past couple seasons. In 21 games this season he has 6 goals and 3 assists with one man of the match performance and a 6.99 player rating.
36. Karl Toko Ekambi - LW - Lyon
The Cameroon international player has been a star for Lyon since joining the club in 2020 and he shows no slows of showing down in his second full season with the club. In 17 league games this season he has 5 goals and 2 assists with one man of the match performance and a 7.0 player rating.
35. Randal Kolo Muani - FW - Nantes
The 23 year old is having another strong season with Nantes as he has 8 goals and 3 assists in 21 league games with 3 man of the match performances and a 7.0 player rating. Muani is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and he would be a great addition to most big clubs if Nantes can't resign him.
34. Habib Diallo - FW - Strasbourg
Strasbourg are off to a great start to the season as they have a 10-5-7 record and currently sit in 4th place in the standings. The 26 year old has contributed 8 goals and 1 assist in 17 league games with 3 man of the match performances with a 7.01 player rating this season.
33. Ibrahima Sissoko - CDM - Strasbourg
The 24 year old has been a steady defensive midfielder for Strasbourg over the past few seasons and he has appeared in 19 league games this season with 1 goal and 6 assists with a 7.02 player rating.
32. Moses Simon - LW - Nantes
The Nigerian forward has been fairly solid for Nantes this season with 2 goals and 6 assists in 18 league games with a 7.02 player rating.
31. Steve Mounie - FW - Brest
The 27 year old Benin forward has contributed 5 goals and 1 assist this season in 19 league games with one man of the match performance and a 7.03 player rating.
30. Marquinhos - CB - PSG
He is one of the most valuable defenders in the world and the 27 year old Brazilian is once again having a strong season. In 17 games this season he has 3 goals and a 7.03 player rating and Marquinhos continues to justify his world class value.
29. Frederic Guilbert - RB - Strasbourg
The 27 year old is on loan this season from Aston Villa and the right-back is having a great season with Strasbourg. In 18 games this season he has 3 assists with one man of the match performance and a 7.04 player rating.
28. Seko Fofana - MF - RC Lens
The improvement by Seko Fofana over the past couple seasons is truly amazing as the 26 year old has improved his market value up to $19,800,000 from a $13,200,000 value at the start of the season. The 26 year old has appeared in every game and was a surprise snub from the Ivory Coast international team for the African Cup of Nations tournament. In 22 games this season he has 6 goals with two man of the match performances and a 7.04 player rating.
27. Florian Tardieu - CDM - Troyes
The defensive midfielder from the newly promoted side Troyes has done a great job in 15 appearances this season with one man of the match performance and a 7.06 player rating.
26. Benjamin Andre - CDM - Lille
Lille have not reached their success from last season but Benjamin Andre has continued his strong performance from last season. In 20 league games this season he has 2 goals and 1 assist with 2 man of the match performances and a 7.06 player rating.
25. Adrien Thomasson - CAM - Strasbourg
Adrien Thomasson has already beat his goal total from last season in 17 fewer games as the 28 year old has 7 goals and 3 assists in 20 games this season with 3 man of the match performances and a 7.07 player rating.
24. Renato Sanches - MF - Lille
The top performing player for last seasons champions this year has been midfielder Renato Sanches with 1 goal and 3 assists in 14 league games. Sanches has had 4 man of the match performances and he has a 7.07 player rating but unfortunately he has missed some time this season because of injury.
23. Jimmy Cabot - MF - Angers
The 27 year old is on track for the best season of his career with 6 assists in 21 league games and a 7.07 player rating with one man of the match performance. He is still on contract until 2023 and Angers are holding a good mid-table position.
22. Kamaldeen Sulemana - LW - Stade Rennais
The new top prospect for Stade Rennais after the club lost Eduardo Camavinga to Real Madrid as they acquired Sulemana in the summer from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland for a transfer fee of $16,500,000. The 19 year old has been fantastic for Stade Rennais and he is certainly living up to his potential with 4 goals and 2 assists in 18 games and 4 man of the match performances with a 7.08 player rating.
21. Idrissa Gueye - CDM - PSG
One of the unsung heroes of PSG during this season has been defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye as the 32 year old has 3 goals in 15 league games with 2 man of the match performances and a 7.09 player rating.
20. Angel Di Maria - RW - PSG
The veteran winger from Argentina continues to perform for PSG as the winger has done a fantastic job since joining the club in 2015. This season he has 3 goals and 4 assists in 15 games with one man of the match performance and a 7.09 player rating.
19. Andy Delort - FW - Nice
The 30 year old forward recently joined the club Nice from Montpellier at the start of the season for a transfer fee of $11,000,000. He has performed pretty well since joining Nice with 6 goals and 1 assist in 16 league games that includes 2 man of the match performances and a 7.11 player rating.
18. Youcef Atal - RB - Nice
The Algerian defender has performed well for Nice since joining the club in 2018 and although he has missed some time this season, its been a good start. The 25 year old has 2 goals and 1 assist in 13 league games with one man of the match performance and a 7.12 player rating.
17. Martin Terrier - LW - Stade Rennais
The 24 year old forward has scored the most goals in a single season already this year as Terrier has 10 goals in 21 games with 2 man of the match performances and a 7.13 player rating. He is still on contract with Stade Rennais until 2025 and I'm excited to see if he can continue this success with them moving forward.
16. Bruno Guimaraes - CDM - Lyon
The defensive midfielder for Lyon and the Brazilian international has appeared in 20 games this season with 4 assists and Guimaraes has 3 man of the match performances and a 7.15 player rating.
15. Franck Honorat - RW - Brest
The 25 year old French forward has been in the Starting eleven of every game for Brest this season and he has been sensational. In 22 league games he has 6 goals and 5 assists with 2 man of the match performances and a 7.18 player rating.
14. Romain Faivre - MF - Brest
The 23 year old midfielder has maintained his success from last season with French club Brest as Faivre has 7 goals and 5 assists in 21 league games with 3 man of the match performances and a 7.2 player rating.
13. Andrei Girotto - CB - Nantes
The Brazilian defender has been the top performer for Nantes this season and he has 5 goals and 1 assist in 22 league games with 4 man of the match performances and a 7.2 player rating.
12. Jonathan Clauss - MF - RC Lens
The right midfielder 29 year old has been the top performer for RC Lens this season and he has been terrific since coming over in 2020 from German club Arminia Bielefeld on a free transfer. This season he has 2 goals and 9 assists in 21 league games with 2 man of the match performances and a 7.22 player rating.
11. Benjamin Bourigeaud - MF - Stade Rennais
The 28 year old is one of the most underrated midfielders in the world and he has been so consistent for Stade Rennais over the past few seasons. This season he has 3 goals and 5 assists in 22 league games with a 7.24 player rating.
10. Lucas Paqueta - CAM - Lyon
The 24 year old Brazilian attacking midfielder has been great since joining Lyon from AC Milan in 2020 and he has 7 goals and 3 assists in 20 league games with three man of the match performances and a 7.26 player rating.
9. Gaetan Laborde - FW - Stade Rennais
The new arrival from Montpellier has been great for Stade Rennais since joining the club in August for a $16,500,000 transfer fee. In 18 games this season he has 7 goals and 5 assists with two man of the match performances and a 7.28 player rating.
8. Ludovic Ajorque - FW - Strasbourg
This man continues to show how reliable of a striker he is Ligue 1 as Ludovic is on track for arguably his best season as a professional. In 20 league games this season he has 10 goals and 7 assists with three man of the match performances and a 7.33 player rating. His contract is good until 2024 with Strasbourg but I think there are top clubs in other leagues that should try and acquire Ludovic Ajorque.
7. Aurelien Tchouameni - CDM - Monaco
The 22 year old French defensive midfielder is having another tremendous season with Monaco and he could become a future starter for the French national team. In 21 league games this season he has 1 goal and 1 assist with three man of the match performances and a 7.35 player rating.
6. Lionel Messi - RW - PSG
The World Class forward has only appeared in 12 league games for PSG so far this season but he has done a great job with 1 goal and 6 assists with two man of the match performances and a 7.36 player rating. Lionel Messi has been very active in the Champions League for PSG with 5 goals in 5 games but he has been absolute class during his first season with PSG.
5. Amine Gouiri - FW - Nice
The 21 year old French forward has been tremendous for Nice since joining the club in 2020 and he has continued his strong form this season. In 22 league games he has 10 goals and 7 assists with five man of the match performances and a 7.37 player rating.
4. Sofiane Boufal - LW - Angers
The 28 year old forward has been absolutely fantastic for Angers this season and he is having somewhat of a comeback season after a couple sub-par years. This season he has 5 goals and 4 assists in 18 league games with four man of the match performances and a 7.4 player rating.
3. Teji Savanier - MF - Montpellier
The captain for Montpellier is one of my favorite players in the league and he has really helped brought his team up to a 10-4-8 record and 6th place in the league. In 18 league games he has 5 goals and 6 assists with seven man of the match performances and a 7.59 player rating.
2. Dimitri Payet - CAM - Marseille
Quickly turning into an ageless wonder is Dimitri Payet as the 34 year old is performing the best in his career and showing no signs of slowing down. In 18 league games he has 8 goals and 8 assists with five man of the match perfomances and a 7.65 player rating.
1. Kylian Mbappe - FW - PSG
One of the best players in the world is performing at the top of the league once again with 10 goals and 9 assists in 20 league games. Kylian Mbappe is worth an estimated $176,000,000 according to transfermarkt but he is set to become a free agent at the end of the season if PSG doesn't manage to resign him. Real Madrid is the frontrunner to land Mbappe at this point and his performance this season justifies the high praises that he gets.