The French Player of the Year award, unlike most similar awards in other nations, does not include foreigners competing in the French top flight. Let us take a look at all the winners since the award was opened to French players competing outside the nation as well. A change that was brought about in 2001.
2022 – Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé won the award for the third time in 2022 after another stellar season with Paris Saint-Germain. Scoring 39 goals and providing 26 assists across all competitions, this young forward underlined his status as one of the best players in the world. Those performances transformed him that season from a talented kid into arguably the very best player on earth.
2021 – Karim Benzema
The honor went to Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema in 2021 due to his outstanding performances. The team’s captain scored 30 goals to fire them up to win La Liga for this year’s championship which proved that he was still at his peak even after hitting 34 years old. It was this season when Benzema truly proved his ability as the talisman of the club following ronaldo’s departure.
2019 – Kylian Mbappé
At just twenty years of age, Kylian Mbappé won it for the second time in 2019 following yet another prolific season with PSG. A hat-trick against Lyon saw this young World Cup winner score thirty-three goals.
2018 – Kylian Mbappé
19 years old Mbappé became the winner of this prize in 2018. This young man played for PSG while on loan from Monaco and helped them secure the Ligue 1 title by scoring 21 goals. He also represented France in the world cup and played a major role in their victory. Mbappé was already a superstar in the making as he proved to be the future of football.
2017 – N’Golo Kanté
Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté won this award last year due to his boundless energy and ability to win ball possession. At just 26 years old, he had already won two premier league trophies with Leicester City and Chelsea respectively.
2016 – Antoine Griezmann
In 2016, Antoine Griezmann won the honor after an excellent season with Atlético Madrid. As Atlético Madrid challenged for trophies, the French forward scored crucial goals including those in the champions league semi-finals and finals. This made him one of the best players on earth as well as one that always delivers.
2015 – Blaise Matuidi
Paris Saint Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi won it in 2015 because of his outstanding performances at midfield throughout that year. The engine was instrumental in breaking up opponents’ play or providing thrust from deep positions within PSG’s squad. In domestic contests, he always played a key role for Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (PSG) which dominated the French league
2014 – Karim Benzema
Real Madrid’s forward Karim Benzema scored 24 goals in 2014 to enable the club win two titles: the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League. This was made possible by his link-up play and predatory finishing, which was crucial for their success; Benzema is now part of the best attacking line-up in the world.
2013 – Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry had a fantastic season with Bayern Munich and deservedly won this award in 2013. At 30 years old, the winger contributed to twelve goals as well as seventeen assists – all major factors behind Bayern’s historical treble success. It is possible that this could be considered his finest year ever as a winger and maybe he was even better than anyone else at that time.
2012 – Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema won it again in 2012 with twenty-one goals that helped Real Madrid lift La Liga for the second time. His intelligent runs in attack combined with clinical finishing made him an indispensable player of his team within this period of their existence. Having established himself as a dangerous striker in Spain’s capital city, Benzema continued flourishing.
2011 – Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema got his third straight achievement in 2011 when he once again enjoyed an impressive season with Real Madrid. At just twenty-three years old, he netted twenty-six times across all competitions. Showing how much progress he has made playing alongside Ronaldo.
2010 – Samir Nasri
He won it in 2010, a year when he was full of creative flair at Arsenal. The 23-year-old midfielder scored 9 goals and made 13 assists as he orchestrated the Gunners’ play with his passing, dribbling and work-rate; now he was definitely one of the best playmakers in the Premier League.
2009 – Yoann Gourcuff
In an outstanding season, Bordeaux attacking midfielder Yoann Gourcuff claimed this award for himself in 2009. The 23-year-old had scored a dozen times and provided as many assists. A move to bigger things was being whispered about for Gourcuff now.
2008 – Franck Ribéry
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribéry won the award for the second year in 2008 after a stellar season saw him score 12 goals and provide 21 assists. The 25-year-old’s searing pace, trickery and work-rate on the flank were pivotal as Bayern won the Bundesliga. Ribéry was now considered among the world’s most dangerous wingers.
2007 – Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry won the award in 2007 thanks to an exceptional campaign with Bayern. The 24-year-old forward scored 11 goals and provided 21 assists, terrorizing defenses with his direct running. Ribéry was reaching the peak of his powers and was a nightmare for fulllbacks.
2006 – Thierry Henry
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry claimed the honor one more time in 2006 following a superb season which saw him score 31 goals to break the Premier League record. The 28-year-old’s clinical finishing, link-up play and big-game mentality helped Arsenal retain their title. Henry was now arguably the best French striker ever.
2005 – Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry won it yet again in 2005 after scoring 25 goals and providing 19 assists as Arsenal finished runners-up in the league. The 27-year-old forward’s pace, movement and predatory instincts in the box were unplayable at times. Henry was at the absolute peak of his immense talents.
2004 – Thierry Henry
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry won the award in 2004 after scoring 30 goals to fire the Gunners to the Premier League title. The 26-year-old’s clinical finishing, intelligent movement and ability to create for others. The forward was now among the best players on the planet.
2003 – Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry claimed the honor for the first time in 2003 after scoring 31 goals and providing 12 assists for Arsenal. The 25-year-old forward’s searing pace, link-up play and predatory instincts were unplayable during another superb individual his status as one of the world’s best players. Henry cemented his status as one of the world’s best players.
2002 – Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane was awarded the trophy in 2002 after a brilliant season with Real Madrid. The then 30-year-old Frenchman scored 11 goals and provided 9 assists from midfield. Zidane’s big-game performances helped Real win the Champions League. The midfielder was a key part of the side that extended Real Madrid’s dominance leading into the new century.
2001 – Patrick Vieira
Arsenal FC’s captain Patrick Vieira was the winner of the award in 2001 thanks to his dominant midfield displays. The 24-year-old excelled at breaking up play and keeping possession with his tackling, passing and drive. Vieira was the engine powering Arsenal’s success and looked certain for a legendary career. The Frenchman laid the foundations for a complete midfielder that would dominate the league’s style of play for years to come.
This award has recognized the outstanding talents of French superstars like Zidane, Henry, Ribery, Benzema and Mbappé over the past two decades. It is safe to say that next generation of French footballers have followed in their footsteps. And established France as one of the top footballing nations in the world.
