Kylian Mbappé received his fourth Ligue 1 best player trophy from coach Didier Deschamps on Sunday, May 28, during the UNFP Trophies ceremony at the Gabriel pavilion in Paris. Crowned in 2019, 2021 and 2022 (no edition in 2020, Covid year), the captain of the France team exceeds Zlatan Ibrahimovic, three times crowned with this prize awarded by the players’ union (UNFP) since 1994.
Kylian Mbappé wanted “above all” to send his “dearest thoughts” for Sergio Rico, victim Sunday morning of a serious horse accident. “There are much more important things than football, the whole club is with him, I wanted to have a sense of priorities by talking about that first,” he added.
Mbappé praised the other players, including “the Lensois, who had a great season”, “and Leo (Messi) who also helped me” but who was absent from the ceremony. “It’s a privilege to play with players like that.” As for the record of four consecutive titles, “it’s a pleasure, I always wanted to win, to leave my name in the history of the championship. But even with all the ambition I have I didn’t expect to win so quickly.” Asked about his future, he assured: “I will still be there next season”.
For the trophy, he is ahead of the other finalists, the Lensois Seko Fofana and Loïs Openda and the Lille resident Jonathan David. Champion of France for the sixth time after PSG’s draw in Strasbourg (1-1) on Saturday, where he served a decisive pass to Messi, Mbappé (24) carried his team. “We remain PSG, even in a year that people think a little less well, we are here to win,” he concluded.
Author of 28 goals in L1, he also scored 7 times in the Champions League and signed a quintuple in the Coupe de France against the amateurs of Pays de Cassel. With the Blues he has scored 11 goals since September 2022.
The Parisian is also in the running for a fifth ranked title of top scorer in the French Championship. He could match Jean-Pierre Papin, five times top scorer with Olympique de Marseille from 1988 to 1992. He is one unit ahead of Lyonnais Alexandre Lacazette (27 goals), before the 38th and last day, Saturday.
