The curtain has fallen on another pulsating Ligue 1 campaign, and what a season it proved to be. From Paris Saint-Germain’s continued dominance orchestrated by the imperious Vitinha to Lyon’s renaissance under Pierre Sage, French football delivered drama, heartbreak and unexpected triumphs in equal measure. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated return of Paul Pogba crumbled into disappointment, and OGC Nice’s European ambitions evaporated in spectacular fashion. As we dissect the 2025-26 season’s defining narratives, certain names shine brighter than ever whilst others fade into ignominy.
The Big Hits
Vitinha emerged as the undisputed jewel in Ligue 1’s crown this season. The 26-year-old Portuguese midfielder has transformed from a talented acquisition into PSG’s beating heart, dictating tempo and connecting every phase of play with metronomic precision. “I like feeling the match go through me,” he remarked in December, and by season’s end, those words had crystallised into prophetic truth. Recording 12 goals and 15 assists across all competitions, Vitinha completed the campaign with a passing accuracy hovering around 92% whilst winning the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award. His ability to transition defence into attack, combined with an uncanny knack for finding space in congested midfields, made him indispensable to Luis Enrique’s system.
Pierre Sage’s work at Olympique Lyonnais deserves equal billing amongst the season’s triumphs. After steadying the ship following his appointment in late 2023, Sage has now guided Les Gones to a remarkable third-place finish and Champions League qualificationâtheir first since 2020. Implementing a possession-based approach that maximises the talents of Alexandre Lacazette and Rayan Cherki, Sage transformed a club in crisis into genuine contenders once more. Lyon’s 72 points represented their highest tally in five years, vindicating John Textor’s faith in the relatively inexperienced coach.
Perhaps the season’s most romantic story belongs to Florian Thauvin. The 33-year-old winger, returning to Marseille after spells in Mexico and Italy, rediscovered the form that once made him indispensable to Les PhocĂ©ens. Contributing 18 goals and 11 assists, Thauvin reminded everyone why he was such a force during Marseille’s Europa League final run in 2018. Playing off the right flank in Roberto De Zerbi’s fluid system, his combination of experience, technical quality and renewed hunger proved instrumental in securing second place and automatic Champions League qualification for OM.
The Misses and Flops
Few returns have fallen as flat as Paul Pogba’s ill-fated arrival at Marseille. Signed on a free transfer following the reduction of his doping ban, the 32-year-old was meant to add star quality and Champions League experience to De Zerbi’s midfield. Instead, persistent fitness issues limited him to just 14 league appearances, during which his ponderous pace and defensive vulnerabilities were ruthlessly exposed. The Pogba of Manchester United and Juventus fame never materialised; in his place stood a diminished figure struggling with Ligue 1’s intensity. By April, he’d been relegated to the bench, with younger legs preferred for the crucial run-in.
Nice’s collapse stands as perhaps the season’s greatest disappointment. After finishing fifth last term and investing heavily in the summer window, Franck Haise’s side were tipped for Champions League contention. Instead, they limped to ninth place, 23 points adrift of the top four. A porous defence that conceded 52 goalsâthe worst record in the top halfâundermined any attacking promise. The partnership between INEOS and the club’s previous ownership structure appeared to create uncertainty, whilst key signing Youssouf Fofana’s departure to Monaco in January symbolised diminishing ambitions. The âŹ45m spent on reinforcements yielded precious little return, making this a season to forget on the CĂŽte d’Azur.
The Shocks
Le Havre’s survival story deserves recognition as one of the campaign’s genuine surprises. Promoted in 2023 and having narrowly avoided relegation last season, Luka Elsner’s side were widely tipped for the drop. Instead, a resolute defensive setup and the goalscoring emergence of 21-year-old forward JosuĂ© Casimirâwho netted 14 timesâsaw them finish a comfortable 13th. Their 3-1 victory over PSG in March stands as one of the season’s most memorable upsets.
Equally unexpected was Lens’s stumble. After consecutive top-five finishes and establishing themselves as regular European qualifiers, Will Still’s side struggled for consistency, ultimately finishing seventh. The sale of LoĂŻs Openda’s replacement and injuries to key defenders disrupted their rhythm, proving that sustainability in French football’s upper echelons remains precarious without significant financial muscle.
What This Means
The 2025-26 season reinforced Ligue 1’s established hierarchy whilst offering tantalising glimpses of evolution. PSG’s dominance continues, but their reliance on Vitinha also exposes potential vulnerabilityâwhat happens if he’s injured or poached by a Premier League giant? Marseille and Lyon’s returns to the Champions League promise to enhance French football’s coefficient and provide a genuine challenge to Parisian supremacy domestically.
For Nice and Pogba, soul-searching beckons. The club must reassess their recruitment strategy and ownership structure, whilst the Frenchman faces potentially career-defining decisions about whether to continue at the highest level or accept a diminished role. French football’s competitive balance remains fragile, with the gap between PSG and the rest still substantial, but the emergence of genuine competition for European places suggests a healthier ecosystem than in recent years.
As attention turns to summer recruitment and the 2026-27 campaign, one thing remains certain: Ligue 1 continues to produce compelling narratives, world-class talent, and enough drama to satisfy even the most demanding football romantic. The hits outweighed the misses this seasonâjust about.
