Kylian Mbappé wins a fifth consecutive title as best player of the season

By The editorial team with AFP

Published 45 minutes ago, Updated now

Mbappé, for the 5th time. FRANCK FIFE / AFP

The PSG star striker received this distinction for the fifth consecutive time this Monday evening, during the UNFP trophy presentation in Paris.

Kylian Mbappé was crowned best player in Ligue 1 on Monday during the UNFP Trophies in Paris, for the fifth consecutive time, before his departure from PSG whose control over these end-of-season awards was only thwarted by Brestois Eric Roy , named best coach.

Mbappé, who played his last match at the Parc des Princes on Sunday with the Parisian jersey, improves a record he already held: never has a player been more crowned than him with this prize awarded by the players’ union (UNFP) since 1994 and whose winners are elected by their peers. Despite a lackluster season for a player of his stature, especially since February and the announcement of his departure from the club which leaked to the press, Mbappé outclasses the other nominees, his teammate Ousmane Dembélé and Brestois Pierre Lees-Melou, real metronome of the surprise team of the season, in particular.

Among all the records he already has, Mbappé, still scoring on Sunday despite PSG’s defeat at home against Toulouse (3-1), should become the top scorer in the championship for the sixth consecutive year. “It’s difficult, isn’t it? Much more than that may let on” explained the player, referring to his departure from France at the end of the season, probably to Real Madrid.

“Just a 25 year old guy thanking you”

“This is a chapter of my life that will close. Ligue 1 still has an important place in my life. I tried to do honor, to be the worthy representative of this championship. I leave with my head held high. But I would never have been able to do it without Monaco, and of course PSG, where I rubbed shoulders with exceptional players” he added, thanking all the members of the club, without forgetting neither its president nor the Emir of Qatar, owner of PSG, which he had done during his video formalizing his departure on Friday. Among all the records he already has, Mbappé, still scoring on Sunday despite PSG’s defeat at home against Toulouse (3-1), should become the top scorer in the championship for the sixth consecutive year.

His way, whose emotions are always hushed and put in the background in favor of his sporting performances, of leaving an indelible mark on the French championship where he played for nine seasons, two at Monaco and seven at PSG. “Today it’s just a 25-year-old guy thanking you. In Ligue 1, I always had the impression of being loved and it’s a pleasant feeling” Mbappé explained again, in front of his father Wilfrid on the verge of tears in the audience.