Some already see it as an anomaly, even an injustice. Top scorer in Ligue 1 with 18 goals, Esteban Lepaul is not one of the five nominated for the title of best player of the season at the UNFP Trophies. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Florian Thauvin (Lens) and Mason Greenwood (OM) were preferred to the Rennes striker.
A choice that surprises Djibril Cissé. In the Ligue 1 after-sales serviceon Ligue1+, the former French international did not hide his incomprehension. “I’m a big fan of LePaul. He knows that I adore him, I often speak with him”reacted the ex-Auxerrois who, beyond this non-nomination, would see the Rennes striker flying off to the 2026 World Cup with the Blues.
Esteban Lepaul preferred to Randal Kolo Muani
“He can go to the French team. I compare it with what I experienced. When I was called up, there was Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Christophe Dugarry, Youri Djorkaeff… Lepaul is the top scorer in Ligue 1, he would have his place. He will finish at 18-20 goals. Me, I would have taken it, I would have tried”continued the former international center forward (41 caps).
For him, Esteban Lepaul deserves his place in the list more than Randal Kolo Muani, author of a poor season at Tottenham (1 goal in 26 Premier League matches). “He’s not going to piss you off on the bench, he’s going to do the job. And if you bring him in, he will have his carefree spirit. Kolo Muani has his history with the Blues and Didier, but if you look at the stats, you have to take Lepaul…”he decides.
