The players and coaches named in the different categories of the UNFP trophies were revealed on Tuesday evening. The big 2022 ceremony will take place on May 15.
The pressure is mounting ten days before the 30th UNFP trophy ceremony, which will take place on Sunday May 15 at the Pavillon Gabriel, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. This Tuesday, the players named in the different categories (player, goalkeeper, coach, hopeful, etc.) were revealed live on the L’Équipe channel. As a reminder, it is the Ligue 1 players who vote to elect the best of them.
Best player
The pass of three for Mbappe? Titled at the last two ceremonies, in 2021 and 2019 (it did not take place in 2020), the Parisian is part of the list of contenders for his own succession. Top scorer in the championship with 24 goals in 32 games, he has also distributed 16 assists since the start of the season in Ligue 1 and is logically favorite to win a new trophy. But the latter will be coveted by payet (OM), Terrier (Reindeer), Paqueta (OL) and Ben Yedder (Monaco).
best trainer
For the first time since 2008 and Alain Perrin with OL, the coach of the French champion team is not among the five finalists. If Pochettino (PSG) was not acclaimed, Galtier (Nice), Genesis (Reindeer), Kombouare (Nantes), Stephan (Strasbourg) and Sampaoli (OM) are among the four contenders for the best coach trophy. This season, the outcome of the ballot is much more uncertain than last year, when the choice of Galtier, champion of France with LOSC, was obvious.
Best goalkeeper
The management of goalkeepers has animated the season of several Ligue 1 clubs, and two goalkeepers whose competition has been tough with their N°2 – or N°1 bis – are among the five finalists: Donnarumma (PSG) and Lopez (OM). Salts (Strasbourg), Lafont (Nantes) and Benitez (Nice) are also part of the list of contenders for the succession of Navas (PSG), crowned in 2021 but not retained this season, despite his 19 Ligue 1 games played (three more than Donnarumma).
best hope
Ligue 1 is full of young talents and this list, filled with players who are already very well established in their club, is proof of that. Kalimuendo (lens), Lukeba (OL), Mendes (PSG), Saliba (OM) and Thuram (Nice) are the five finalists for the hopes trophy. Saliba, indisputable holder in Marseille and become French international this season, may have a head start, even if the competition is fierce.
Best French Abroad
Who else but Benzema to succeed… Benzema? The Real Madrid striker, on another planet this season, is nominated for the title of best Frenchman abroad alongside Dembele (Barcelona), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Kante (Chelsea) and Maignan (Lille). In view of his monumental season, which made him one of the favorites for the Ballon d’Or, it is difficult to see who could deprive Benzema of this trophy. The absence of Nkunku, author of 31 goals and 20 assists with Leipzig in all competitions this season, is also surprising.
Best female D1 player
Three players from PSG, currently second in women’s D1 behind OL, are among the five finalists: Diani, Gueyoro and Katoto. They are accompanied by another player playing in the capital, Mateo (Paris FC), and a Lyonnaise, macario. Last year, Diani was voted best player in D1, ending the reign of Marozsan (OL), titled at the three previous ceremonies.
Best goalkeeper and hope of female D1
Among the goalkeepers, the title will be decided between chavas (Bordeaux), Endler (OL), Morched (Issy), Nnadozie (Paris FC) and Votikova (PSG). For the trophy of the best hope of the championship, Bussy (Rheims), Dumornay (Rheims), Fazer (PSG), Feller (Rheims) and Ribadeira (Paris FC) are the five named, with a good presence from the Champagne club.
League 2
A Toulousain to succeed a Toulousain? After Adli’s coronation last year, the sensation van den Boomen12 goals and 21 assists in the league since the start of the season on the coast. M’Changama (Guingamp), Eh (Auxerre) Healey (Toulouse) and Coal (Auxerre) complete the selection.
Already assured of going up to Ligue 1 with Toulouse, Montanier is a favourite. He is named alongside Daf (Sochaux), Laurey (Paris FC), Pantsi (Ajaccio) and Tholot (Paul).
Demarconnay (Paris FC), tricked (Toulouse), Fofana (Le Havre), Leon (Auxerre) and Leroy (Ajaccio) are the four finalists to succeed Gallon (Troyes), titled a year ago.