Despite PSG's dominant in Europe easing the narrative around it, the Ligue 1 can't stop making a mockery of itselfand and the recent coronation of Ousmane Dembele as the Player of the Year is another one of the several highlights.

The reigning Ballon d'Or winner needed just nine starts to defend his award in the league, whereas he falls behind a host of other players in important metrics, while his inclusion in team of the year also led to the omission of the league's top scorer Esteban Lepaul.

The PSG forward was announced winner of the award at the gala on Monday evening, beating his teammates Vitinha, and Nuno Mendes, as well as Florian Thuavin of RC Lens, who won multiple Ligue 1 Player of the Month awards this season.

How Ousmane Dembele won dubious Ligue 1 award

With just three PSG games before the conclusion of the Ligue 1 season, Ousmane has made nine starts in 20 appearances, scored ten goals and assisted six others, both numbers that fall outside the top ten for most.

The Ballon d'Or holder struggled with injuries at the start of the season, with a knee injury keeping him out of action for the entirety of September, and he didn't make another league start until the end of October away at Lorient.

At the time he was confirmed player of the year, 259 players have played more Ligue 1 minutes than Ousmane Dembele's 959 this season, while PSG never struggled in his absence and even won more of their games without him.

To award such a player the best awa4d leaves a lot of questuin marks on the credibility of the LPF, especially with several better deserving players.

Better deserving Ligue 1 POTY winners

Several of Ousmane Dembele's PSG teammates would have been more deserving of the award, especially Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, who has been ever present in the team with consistent and crucial performances.

The former Wolves man does not stand alone in this. Midfield partner Joao Neves is also one of the most underrated players, whose contributions have been very important for Les Parisiens.

Defensive stars, Nuno Mendes, and William Pacho have also been stand outs for Luis Enrique's team, and while Dembele has also been impressive in his minutes, his contributions have not been as vital as that of his mentioned teammates.

RC Lens' Florian Thauvin also has a big shout in the award having steered his club in the direction of league contention following his return to Ligue 1 since departing Olympique Marseille in the summer of 2021.

The Frenchman is the only player with multiple player of the month awards this season with three, while his ten goals and five assists have been very handy for Lens, while only teammate Matthieu Udol created more than his 16 big chances.

Thauvin is also second best on chances created with 75, four behind the leader Adrien Thomasson on 79, while his expected assists of 8.8 also ranks second best to 8.9 of Udol.

Top scorer Esteban Lepaul also deserves a shout-out with 20 goals and five assists, but the Rennes striker was completely over looked in the awards, even missing out on a place in the team of the season all together.

Other Winners at Ligue 1 2025-26 Awards

Piere Sage of RC Lens wins the coach of the year award after leading the club in their title charge, even though they could be on the verge of falling short to defending champions PSG, who leads the way with six points with two games left.

Desire Doue claimed the young best player award, defending the title he claimed last season, while Robin Risser of Lens claimed the best Goalkeeper award on a night dominated by PSG and his club.

Mamadou Sanagre claimed the Marc-Vivien Foé award for the best African player in Ligue 1, while Bayern Munich's Michael Olise was crowned best French player abroad ahead of Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé.

Ligue 1 Team of the Year 2025-26

Robin Risser of RC Lens has been included in the team as the goalkeeper despite recorded two fewer clean sheets compared to Lille's Berke Orze, who also conceded fewer goals and saved 50 percent of penalties faced.

PSG trio of Nuno Mendes, William Pacho, and Achraf Hakimi, are joined by Malang Sarr of RC Lens in a four man defence, leaving no room for any member of Lyon defence, despite recording the second most clean sheets so far.

The midfield three is made up of Vitinha, Mamadou Sanagre of RC Lens, and completed by former French international Corentin Tolisso of Olympique Lyonnais, who has produced 11 goals and four assists as an attacking Midfielder this season.

Mason Greenwood is recognized for another standout season for Marseille, where he has 16 goals and six assists so far, with a place in the Ligue 1 team of the year, joining Ousmane Dembele and Florian Thauvin.