Nine starts, 10 goals: Ousmane Dembele hailed as 'deserving' winner of Ligue 1 Player of the Year award by PSG team-mate Vitinha
Published 12/05/2026 at 15:32 GMT+1
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Ousmane Dembele has been named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the second year in a row, despite starting just nine domestic games for Paris Saint-Germain this season.
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The French forward finished top of the voting ahead of team-mates Vitinha and Nuno Mendes, meaning a PSG player has won the award for 10 consecutive seasons.
Alexandre Lacazette was the last non-PSG player to win the award in 2015 when playing for Lyon.
Dembele played a starring role as PSG won a first UEFA Champions League last year, which led to him also scooping the Ballon d’Or.
However, he has not quite had the same impact this season, with injuries blighting his progress.
He scored 10 goals and five assists in 20 league appearances, just nine of which were starts.
But he was still deemed to have done enough to claim the individual award once more.
”Perceptions have changed because I'm the reigning Ballon d'Or winner,” Dembele said. ”And yes, I've had quite a few physical setbacks.
”I haven't had a lot of playing time, but every time I've been on the pitch, I've tried to be there for the team.
”That was the case against Marseille and against Lille, where I tried to help the team. I don't know if my time counts double, but I'm happy that the players voted for me.”
Rennes' Esteban Lepaul, who is the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 20 goals, wasn't among the final nominees for the award.
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PSG need just one point from their final two Ligue 1 games to wrap up a record-extending 14th successive title.
They will also have the chance to defend their Champions League crown when they take on Arsenal in the final on May 30, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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Dembele grabs his second goal - PSG's fifth - with 'brilliant' finish off post
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Did a lack of goals cost Vitinha?
Like Dembele, Vitinha received widespread praise for helping PSG finally get their hands on the Champions League trophy, with some labelling him as the best midfielder in the world.
And although he can also be counted among Vitinha's admirers, during the ceremony Dembele joked that the midfielder's hopes of being named the Player of the Year award were hampered by managing just one goal in his 27 league appearances.
”I wanted to thank my whole family, the staff, the president, the coach Luis Enrique,” Dembele said. ”I'm lucky to have a coach like that; he's exceptional.
”And Vitinha too, because he asked me to pay him a little tribute. He's an exceptional team-mate, I think he deserved this trophy, but with a goal.”
In response, Vitinha said: ”He deserved it. He's the Ballon d'Or winner, he's the best player in our league.
”Get things done quickly, otherwise he [Dembele] will sweat too much. It could be a pain for him.”
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Elsewhere, PSG boss Luis Enrique missed out on winning the award for the best coach in Ligue 1.
Instead, it went to RC Lens head coach Pierre Sage, who has his side sitting second in the table, behind only PSG.
However, Sage was keen to express his belief that Enrique ”should have won” that vote.
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