The UNFP trophy awards: William Saliba best L1 hopeful, Marie-Antoinette Katoto best player

Best L1 player: Kylian Mbappé (PSG)

Best L1 coach: Bruno Genesio (Rennes)

Five matches won by a five-goal margin or more: Bruno Genesio has made Stade Rennais a goalscoring machine, and a spectacle. With 80 achievements, his formation is the second best attack in Ligue 1. Genesio is also the story of a « revenge », he who completely overtook OL in their double confrontation. And perhaps that of a European qualification at the end of the season…

Best L1 goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)

This is his first season in France. And he only played 17 small matches in L1! Despite this low total of meetings and while he alternated all season with Keylor Navas in the goal of PSG, the best goalkeeper of the Euro with Italy managed to catch the eye of his peers, who wanted to reward him by designating him as the best goalkeeper of the year in L1. The Italian was in competition with Walter Benitez, who leads France’s best defense with Nice, Alban Lafont (Nantes), Pau Lopez (Marseille) and Mats Sels (Strasbourg). He succeeds in the prize list to… Navas.

Best L1 Hope: William Saliba (Marseille)

In competition with Arnaud Kalimuendo (Lens), Castello Lukeba (Lyon), Nuno Mendes (PSG) and Képhren Thuram (Nice), William Saliba was voted best Hopes of the year. However, he is no longer a young first after having already impressed with Saint-Etienne and Nice. But this trophy rewarding the best player who was 21 at the start of the season, the central defender of OM fell into this criterion. And his season still marked the spirits to the point that he was rewarded by his peers.

After having celebrated his first selection for the France team, William Saliba succeeded in this way to Aurélien Tchouaméni (AS Monaco). He becomes the fourth time defender to win this trophy. On loan from Arsenal this season, a question arises as he is suspended on the last day: will he still be in L1 next season?

Best goal in L1: Bamba Dieng (Marseille)

The Marseille striker still has a lot of room for improvement in the finish, that’s for sure. But this goal scored at La Meinau, no one will take it away. An acrobatic volley in the area, scored on a center dropped by Luis Henrique. A real gem that had totally turned off Racing fans.

Best French player abroad: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

A first award before a next, even more prestigious, next October? The simple fact of evoking Karim Benzema for the next Ballon d’Or makes this title of best French player playing abroad seem obvious. A formality. Regardless of his nationality, « KB9 » is simply one of the best players in the world today. The former Lyonnais has carried Real Madrid all season, even more so in the Champions League, where he could be crowned again in two weeks, against Liverpool. 44 matches, 44 goals, 15 assists in all competitions so far: his season will remain extraordinary whatever happens.

Best female D1 player: Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)

They were not there after winning the Coupe de France this Sunday. But the Parisiennes also completed their prize list in the evening. Two in fact: Laurina Fazer and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. If Fazer was voted best Hope of the season, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, best Hope in 2018 and 2019, won the trophy for best player by stacking the goals with Paris (18 goals). She succeeds her teammate Kadidiatou Diani on the list.

Best female D1 goalkeeper: Christiane Endler (Lyon)

She had already won this trophy last season. And if she changed clubs last summer, it didn’t change anything. The Chilean from OL, whose defense proved to be insurmountable during this exercise (8 goals conceded over the season!), kept her property by being named D1’s best goalkeeper. Logically.

Most beautiful goal of L2: Youssouf M’Changama (Guingamp)

A strike in one touch from the outside of the right foot, full skylight opposite. Youssouf M’Changama scored a real gem for one of his 8 Ligue 2 goals this season, in addition to his 15 assists.

Best L2 coach: Philippe Montanier (Toulouse)

While Toulouse entertained the L2, it’s not really a surprise: Philippe Montanier was elected best coach in his championship. His team, which made sure to find the L1 next season, impressed by panicking the counters with no less than 82 goals scored in 38 days.

Best L2 player: Branco van den Boomen (Toulouse)

No surprise either in this category. TFC midfielder Branco van den Boomen, Ligue 2 champion with the Violets, had a tremendous season, especially from a statistical point of view, with 12 goals and 20 assists. The 26-year-old player notably marked the spirits thanks to his free kicks. He succeeds Amine Adli, who was also elected with Toulouse.

Best L2 goalkeeper: Benjamin Leroy (AC Ajaccio)

The last bastion of AC Ajaccio Benjamin Leroy, doorman of the best defense of L2, was elected best goalkeeper of the championship. The ACA, which has just validated its rise in the elite, took only 19 small goals in 38 days. And he is obviously no stranger to it.