Ousmane Dembélé Named Ligue 1 Player of the Year for Second Consecutive Year

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been named the Ligue 1 McDonald’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The honor was officially announced during the UNFP awards ceremony held in Paris on May 10, 2026.

Dembélé’s achievement ends a period of dominance by former teammate and France captain Kylian Mbappé, who had previously secured the award for five consecutive years.

Tactical Shift and Performance

The forward’s success this season is attributed to a tactical repositioning by coach Luis Enrique, who moved Dembélé into a more central role as a false nine. This shift has transformed the attacker into a primary central threat for Les Rouge et Bleu, impacting both domestic and international competitions.

In his new role, Dembélé has recorded 33 goals and 13 assists across all competitions. This offensive output has been a defining element of the club’s season as they competed in Ligue 1 McDonald’s and the UEFA Champions League.

Playing more centrally puts me at the heart of the game and closer to goal – it’s helped me become more composed in the box

Ousmane Dembélé

While Dembélé has embraced the central role for his club, he noted a difference in his deployment with the national team. During the ceremony, while standing with France manager Didier Deschamps, Dembélé remarked that Deschamps still plays me out wide.

Awards and Competition

Dembélé secured the Player of the Year title over a field of nominees that featured several of his own teammates. The other PSG players nominated for the award included:

• Achraf Hakimi
• Vitinha
• Désiré Doué

The only nominee from outside of Paris Saint-Germain was Rayan Charki of Olympique Lyonnais.

The evening was a broader success for Paris Saint-Germain, which set a record by placing nine players in the Team of the Season. In addition to Dembélé’s individual honor, the club’s manager, Luis Enrique, also received an award.

Désiré Doué was named the Best Young Player after a season in which he tallied 12 goals and 12 assists. Doué also earned his first senior cap for the France national team in March 2026.

Upcoming Schedule

Despite the conclusion of the individual awards, Dembélé and Paris Saint-Germain have two major finals remaining in their schedule for May 2026.

• The Coupe de France final against Reims is scheduled for May 24, 2026.
• The UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan is scheduled for May 31, 2026.