Ousmane Dembélé Wins Ligue 1 Player of the Year for Second Consecutive Season

On 11 May 2026, the French professional players’ union (UNFP) presented its 34th French football awards ceremony in Paris. Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the second year running, joining the elite group of back-to-back winners. The ceremony also saw RC Lens share the main trophies with PSG.

France 24Dembele again voted player of the year in FranceFrance 24Blueprint NewspaperOusmane Dembele Secures Second Consecutive French Player of the Year

Despite an injury-plagued campaign, Dembélé recorded 10 league goals and six assists while logging exactly 960 minutes of play. One source notes he started nine Ligue 1 matches; another records 20 league appearances, both agreeing on the same minutes and goal tally. By contrast, the previous season he started 20 matches, amassed 1 736 minutes, and scored 21 goals with eight assists.

Ousmane Dembele named French League Player of the Year despite playing 20 Games

Dembélé becomes only the fifth player to win the UNFP award in consecutive seasons. The last back-to-back winner was Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2014. Prior to Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé captured the prize five straight times before transferring to Real Madrid. This places Dembélé alongside a small cadre of French footballers who have dominated the accolade.

Ousmane Dembele Secures Second Consecutive French Player of the Year

Paris Saint-Germain wrapped up another Ligue 1 title after a 1-0 victory over Brest left the club six points clear of second-placed Lens with an insurmountable goal-difference advantage. The team also advanced to the UEFA Champions League final, having edged Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate. Teammate Desiré Doué earned the Best Young Player award, while Pierre Sage of Lens was named Best Coach.

Blueprint Newspaper

The UNFP highlighted Dembélé’s “consistent influence on the pitch despite limited minutes” during the award presentation. PSG’s official communications emphasized the forward’s contribution to both domestic and European progress, attributing sustained performance to Luis Enrique’s possession-based tactical system. Club officials also noted the collective nature of the achievement, echoing the player’s own sentiment.

Ousmane Dembele Secures Second Consecutive French Player of the Year

> “It's an individual trophy but all the individual trophies I've won are thanks to this team,” — Ousmane Dembélé, PSG forward

France 24

Sources differ on Dembélé’s total league appearances: one reports nine starts, another cites 20 league games played. Both agree on 960 minutes and ten goals, but no source provides a detailed injury timeline or specifies the nature of his physical setbacks. Information on the exact criteria used by the UNFP for the award is also absent.

Ousmane Dembele Secures Second Consecutive French Player of the Year

Paris Saint-Germain must secure at least a draw in its final two Ligue 1 fixtures to confirm a second consecutive title. The club’s focus now shifts to the Champions League final on 30 May 2026 in London, where they will face Arsenal. Dembélé’s fitness ahead of the final has been identified as a decisive factor for both the domestic and European outcomes.

Ousmane Dembele Secures Second Consecutive French Player of the Year