Ousmane Dembélé has been named Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season at the UNFP awards, cementing his status as the league's premier talent. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who also claimed the 2025 Ballon d'Or, topped a star-studded list of nominees that included PSG teammates Nuno Mendes and Vitinha, Lens' Florian Thauvin, and Marseille's Mason Greenwood.
Dembélé's victory comes despite a campaign hampered by injuries and careful load management. The 28-year-old played only 960 minutes across 20 Ligue 1 appearances—nearly half the 1,736 minutes he logged in 2024-2025—but still managed 10 goals and 6 assists. His rate of a goal every 96 minutes was the best among all Ligue 1 players with significant playing time, showcasing his clinical finishing.
In advanced metrics, Dembélé also led the league in combined expected goals and expected assists per 90 minutes, underlining his ability to create and convert high-quality chances. That efficiency, rather than sheer volume, appears to have swayed the player vote, which determines the winner. Last season, he posted 21 goals and 8 assists in 29 matches; this season's per-90 output actually improved.
The UNFP awards, voted on by professional footballers across France's top flight, are widely regarded as the most credible individual honors in the country. Dembélé's back-to-back wins place him in exclusive company. Only a handful of players have achieved the feat, and he now joins legends like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Kylian Mbappé in doing so for PSG.
Indeed, PSG's stranglehold on the award is remarkable. The club's players have won every Ligue 1 Player of the Year trophy since 2016, a streak spanning nine consecutive seasons. Dembélé's retention ensures that dominance continues, reflecting the deep well of talent at Parc des Princes.
Beyond the main prize, Dembélé also took home the award for the best goal of the season. His individual effort against Lille on January 16—a quick combination followed by an audacious lob—was judged the most spectacular strike of the campaign. The goal perfectly encapsulated the flair and decisiveness that make Dembélé so dangerous.
For PSG, Dembélé's individual successes bolster the club's prestige but also raise questions about workload management. With the Champions League knockout stages approaching, his limited minutes in domestic action may be a deliberate strategy to keep him fresh. So far, it has paid dividends on both fronts.
Thauvin's nomination at Lens and Greenwood's at Marseille suggest the league has other standout performers, but none could match Dembélé's impact per minute. The gap between him and the rest, though narrower than last year, remains evident in the voting.
As the Ligue 1 season winds down, Dembélé's focus will shift to adding more team silverware to his growing collection. Having already secured the league title and the Trophée des Champions, he will aim for glory in Europe. His UNFP recognition serves as a reminder that, when fit, he is the most decisive player in French football.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.