Ousmane Dembele won the Ligue 1 player of the year award for the second straight season on Monday after helping Paris Saint-Germain move close to another league title and the Champions League final.
The 28-year-old became the fifth player to retain the award. Zlatan Ibrahimovic last achieved the feat in 2014.
Dembele replaced Kylian Mbappe as Ligue 1’s top player last season after Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid CF. Mbappe had won the prize five consecutive times.
“It’s an individual trophy but all the individual trophies I’ve won are thanks to this team,” Dembele said.
Dembele collected the award despite an injury-hit campaign. He started only nine Ligue 1 matches and played 960 league minutes this season. Last year he made 20 starts and logged 1,736 minutes.
The forward still produced 10 league goals and six assists. Last season he registered 21 goals and eight assists.
PSG moved within touching distance of a 14th French league title on Sunday after beating Stade Brestois 29 1-0. Luis Enrique’s side sit six points clear of RC Lens with two matches remaining and hold a superior goal difference.
PSG can secure the title officially if they avoid defeat against Lens on Wednesday. The club also prepare for a Champions League final against Arsenal FC later this month after edging FC Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-final.
Desire Doue won the award for best young player, while Pierre Sage claimed the best coach honour after guiding Lens into the title race.
