The 2024 games in Ligue 1 transformed the French league, once again one of the most entertaining in world football. Fans have the luxury of watching an actual fight for the title for a change, as well as a number of young and established stars growing their reputation.
But who is worthy of making the team of the year in Ligue 1 after the 2024 games? I’ve looked at the games as well as at the fantasy football stats, and these are the top players in the French league.
Team of the Season in Ligue 1
Goalkeeper
Lucas Perri (Olympique Lyon)
Lucas Perri beats out great competition on the way to being the best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 in 2024. Fantasy football enthusiasts who’ve chosen him will be pleased, especially since Lyon has had a bang-average run of form.
The team has conceded 22 goals. However, Perri has always been on duty to stop more from going in. The Brazilian is one of the team’s top players and at 27 years of age, in the prime of his career.
Defenders
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
You might be sick of Achraf Hakimi joining the Team of the Year. The Marrocan player is virtually unmissable when such lists are drawn up.
But that’s because Hakimi isn’t just one of the best wing-backs in the game. It’s because he proves this every week.
PSG has returned to the top of the Ligue 1 table, and Hakimi is now one of the team’s undisputed leaders. Consistent numbers make him, along with Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, one of the PSG’s indispensable players.
Bafode Diakite (Lille OSC)
Bafode Diakite staked his claim this season as one of the defenders that France national team manager Didier Deschamps must keep a watch out for.
In a particularly strong season from Lille, Diakite has proven time and again that he is a defender comfortable with the ball at his foot, even against world-class opponents.
Thilo Kehrer (AS Monaco)
Thilo Kehrer was, once again, one of the best defenders in Ligue 1 fantasy football. The German 28-year-old registered great defensive stats that put him in the top bracket of defenders across Europe’s top leagues. However, the goal contributions and excellent passing make me sure of the decision to include him in our Team of the Season.
Guela Doue (Racing Strasbourg)
Guela Doue may be a surprise entry in our Team of the Season. But the Racing defender did just about everything right in 2024. The 22-year registers, on average, 2.1 tackles and 5 clearances per game. These kinds of performances have kept Strasbourg straight in the middle of the league table and comfortably away from relegation.
Midfielders
Ludovic Blas (Stade Rennes)
Ludovic Blas must’ve entertained thoughts about being a little too good for this Rennes side in 2024. The attacking midfielder certainly pulled his weight, contributing 5 goals and 6 assists as well as playing in nearly every midfielder role.
That’s precisely why Blas is the best fantasy football midfielder in 2024 in Ligue 1. And it is why, if Rennes do stay up, most of that will be due to Blas and Benjamin Bourigeaud’s contributions.
Lee Kang-In (Paris Saint-Germain)
PSG has had plenty star midfielders in its squad over recent years. Few, however, have understood as seamlessly what the team really needs. Lee Kang-In has managed to provide both entertainment and consistent performances.
With 6 goals, 3 assists and the role of PSG’s playmaker, the South Korean deserves his place in the Team of the Season.
Junya Ito (Stade Reims)
There haven’t been an awfully lot of reasons to smile in 2024 if you’re a Stade Reims fan. Junya Ito‘s commitment and strong performances are the closest supporters got to receiving some joy. Ito is the only Reims player to feature in all of the team’s Ligue 1 matches and is their strongest performer.
Zurab Davitashvili (AS Saint Etienne)
There’s a reason why the scouts of Europe’s top teams are obsessed with Ligue 1 – they can find great players at bargain prices. I’m not going to claim to know that Zurab Davitashvili won’t be part of Saint Etienne’s squad for long. However, can a team stuck in the relegation battle hold on to a 23-year-old who has shown more than capable of playing at a high level in a number of positions?
Attackers
Mason Greenwood (Olympique Marseille)
Mason Greenwood‘s transfer to Marseille was controversial, as was much of this first season in France. This hasn’t stopped the young, former Man Utd striker from overpowerforming on occasion.
Greenwood has done enough to rack up plenty of points for fantasy football managers. No striker in Ligue has managed more points in fact, but that’s to be expected of the top scorer of 2024.
Roberto De Zerbi‘s band of misfits continue to have a shot at winning the league, especially as long as they keep Greenwood fit and firing in the goals.
Jonathan David (Lille OSC)
Jonathan David is finally back on the radar of big clubs. The Canadian striker has looked like “the next big thing” on and off for several seasons. In 2024, David finally looks to have made up his mind about becoming one of the most dangerous strikers in Ligue 1.
Jonathan David has scored 11 goals so far this season and has proven a striker with a full requisite of abilities. Will he be able to turn this into the kind of repertoire that the world’s top clubs are looking for? Lille fans who’ve seen him play often certainly believe so.
