Who is the best player in Ligue 1 in 2022? Every year it's a hard question to answer. Is a goal-scoring striker better than a goal-saving defender? Do midfield distributors have a greater impact than shot-stopping goalkeepers? Luckily for us, Ligue 1 is probably the best place on earth for the world's top soccer talents to showcase their skills. So, who are the best Ligue 1 players of 2022? Who's dominating the French top flight right now?
Most 2022 Ligue 1 stars are among the best soccer players in the world, starting with Paris Saint-Germain's three headed attacking monster of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar, who have been on an absolute tear this season. There's the likes of Renato Sanches and Jonathan David of Lille, as well as Dimitri Payet, Lucas Paquetá, and Wissam Ben Yedder, who continually make Ligue 1 headlines. Whether it's in Lille, Monaco, Marseille or anywhere in between, the best French soccer players are making quite a stir in Ligue 1.
Vote below for the best players in Ligue 1 this season, and help decide who are the best current soccer players taking the pitch in France each weekend.
Messi's career seven Ballon d'Or awards, with his latest in 2021, speak for themselves. As long as he's got more Ballon d'Ors than all other active players combined, it's hard to keep the Argentine magic man who's scored over 750 career goals off the top of any soccer list. It's not all about the individual though. Messi's eleven career club championships (the latest in 2022), and recent 2021 Copa America win for Argentina prove he's a true team player.
Is pure, raw, unfiltered prestige enough to have Sergio Ramos on this list? Probably not, after the Spanish talisman and centre-back made it onto the field for only 12 matches in PSG's 21/22 campaign, remarkably scoring twice. He is still Sergio Ramos, though. And sometimes that's the only argument I need, Shawn!
Talk all the sh!t you want about Neymar's level of effort, his discipline, how much he's dialed in week-to-week, but watching the Brazilian prodigy play is a pure living fairy tale. Does it really matter that he had an awful 2022 season? Neymar might not be Pele 2.0, but he's still one of the best footballers on Earth. PSG's #10 has endured a tough run of form, but his talent is still obvious. He has the ball control, vision and ability to dictate a football match like so few other superstars can.
He's the shining light of French football and probably the best footballer in the world right now. Kylian Mbappe has reached his final form, in transforming over the past few years from a cheeky speed merchant to a completely lethal striker who spends his weekends destroying Ligue 1 defenses for fun. The World Cup champ has added strength and hold-up play to make him equally dangerous running behind or receiving the ball at his feet. Mbappe's finishing is vicious enough to have earned him Ligue 1 Player of the Year. Wherever he plays across the frontline, he's able to adapt his game. He may well become the best footballer of his era.
Sure, he's the most expensive full-back on Earth, but Achraf Hakimi is an absolute terror screaming up the right hand flank at PSG. Given full license to push forward, the Moroccan full back is a menace creating crosses off the sideline with his immense speed and precise passing. Along with Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, Hakimi will lead a fast and furious Morocco attack at this year's World Cup.
Marquinhos is one of the premier centre-backs in the world right now. He is the rock on which PSG are built, organizing the central defense, and he has even chipped in with some vital goals in the last couple of years. There are only a handful of defenders better over the last two years. He should play a crucial role for the Brazilians in Qatar this winter.
