Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year

The UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year is an official award given by the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP) to a player aged 23 years or under at the start of the season whose performances are considered to be the best in Ligue 1, France's top professional football league. The inaugural award was handed to midfielder Zinedine Zidane of Bordeaux, following the 1993–94 Division 1 season.^[1] It has been awarded ever since its inception, with the exception of the 2019−20 season, where the competition was abruptly cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2]

SportAssociation football

LeagueLigue 1

Awarded forbeing the best performing player in a Ligue 1 season whilst aged 23 years or under at the start of the season.

CountryFrance

Quick facts Sport, League ...

Ligue 1 Young Player of the season

Zinedine Zidane won the inaugural award in 1994 with Bordeaux.
Sport	Association football
League	Ligue 1
Awarded for	being the best performing player in a Ligue 1 season whilst aged 23 years or under at the start of the season.
Country	France
Presented by	Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels
History
First award	1994; 32 years ago (1994)
First winner	Zinedine Zidane
Most wins	Kylian Mbappé (3 awards)
Most recent	Désiré Doué (2025–26)

Close

The award has been given to 28 different players over the course of 31 seasons, with only Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappé winning the award on more than one occasion. Of these players, only Mbappé has won the award three times. Hazard (Belgium), Marco Verratti (Italy), Younès Belhanda (Morocco), and Nuno Mendes (Portugal) are the only recipients of the award who represent a nation other than France.

Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Désiré Doué is the most recent winner of the award, which was awarded to him for his performances in the 2025–26 Ligue 1 season.^[3]