Editor's Team of the Season: Eduardo

Goalkeeper: Yehvann Diouf

Diouf recorded four clean sheets (seven overall this season) in Reims’ last 10 matches to end the season. He also stepped up in big-time matches throughout the season to help Reims steal points from AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, and Olympique de Marseille, including a 3-1 win over OM. Diouf’s standout performance of the 2024-25 season came last month when he made 14 total saves in the 2-0 win over RC Lens.

Left Back: Nuno Mendes

Nuno Mendes started 19 of 24 Ligue 1 McDonald’s match appearances, recording one goal and three assists.

Despite his modest goal and assist numbers this season, Mendes ranked fourth on the PSG squad in progressive carries with 58, trailing only Achraf Hakimi, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Bradley Barcola. Aside from his progressive carries, Mendes registered 30 key passes this season and 127 progressive passes.

Center-back: Charlie Cresswell

During his first season in France’s top flight, Cresswell led Toulouse in several defensive categories. As a center-back, he recorded 191 clearances, 50 more than Mark McKenzie, who ranked second on the team with 141.

He also led Les Violets in blocks (44) and shots blocked (28), and was third on the team in interceptions (28). The only two players who recorded more interceptions than Cresswell on the Toulouse team were Gabriel Suazo (36) and Cristian Cásseres Jr. (42).

The Toulouse defender only lost 18 challenges this season, ranking him seventh on the team, 24 fewer than Cásseres Jr., who led the team with 42 challenges lost.

Center-back: Willian Pacho

Pacho was tied with Warren Zaïre-Emery in blocks with 35, and he led PSG in shots blocked (22), interceptions (40), and clearances (91). The 23-year-old was far and away the Parisians’ clearance leader this season as Marquinhos only had 64 and was second on the squad.

Regarding tackles, only João Neves (63) had more than Pacho (56) this campaign. Despite his high number of tackles, he didn’t lose that many challenges as the center-back only recorded nine challenges lost and won 32 tackles for second on the team. Only Hakimi won more tackles than Pacho as the Morocco international recorded 36.

Right-back: Achraf Hakimi

Although a right-back, Hakimi was a significant part of PSG’s attack in Ligue 1 McDonald’s this season. Hakimi made 25 league appearances with 24 of them coming as a starter and racking over 2,000 minutes while recording four goals and registering six assists.

The 26-year-old recorded 50 key passes for the Parisians, which was fourth on the team. Only Doué (55), Lee Kang-in (56), and Dembélé (65) recorded more than Hakimi.

Midfielder: Vitinha

The Portugal native made 29 appearances in Ligue 1 McDonald’s this season, with 20 of them coming as a starter. Vitinha’s impact for PSG was felt in the passing game as the 25-year-old led the squad in progressive passes (224) and passes into the final third (257). The PSG midfielder finished the campaign scoring five goals and recording one assist.

Midfielder Andrey Santos

Santos appeared in 32 league matches with all 32 coming as a starter for RC Strasbourg. The Brazilian recorded 10 goals and three assists while playing nearly 3,000 minutes for a Strasbourg team that fell short of clinching a European competition spot for next season.

The 21-year-old was also second on the team in progressive passes (149) and passes into the final third (141). Only Guela Doué recorded better numbers than Santos in those categories. He also impacted the defensive side, leading the team in blocks (46) and was third on the squad in interceptions (32).

Midfielder: João Neves

Neves made 29 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG this season, starting 22 of them. In his first year with the Parisians, the 20-year-old tallied three goals and eight assists while finishing fifth on the team in progressive passes with 144. Neves led the PSG squad with 63 tackles on the defensive side and was third on the team with 23 interceptions.

Forward: Bradley Barcola

Barcola made 34 league appearances for Luis Enrique and his team with 27 coming as a starter. Only Dembélé recorded more goal contributions than Barcola as the French had 24 (14 goals and 10 assists) this season for PSG. The 22-year-old was also tied for fourth on the team with Hakimi for recording 50 key passes this season.

Forward: Ousmane Dembélé

Dembélé played a central role in PSG’s attack this Ligue 1 McDonald’s season, appearing in 29 matches and starting 20. As the team’s main offensive threat following Kylian Mbappé’s departure, the Frenchman scored 21 goals and added six assists. His 21 goals tied him with Olympique de Marseille’s Mason Greenwood for the league lead.

Forward: Rayan Cherki

Rayan Cherki was at the heart of Olympique Lyonnais' attack as he recorded 11 assists this season, which tied him with AJ Auxerre's  Gaetan Perrin. Cherki also recorded 75 key passes for Lyon, 44 more than Corentin Tolisso, who was second on the OL team with 31. 

He also led the squad in progressive passes with 206, which was 40 more than Tolisso, so the 21-year-old was the motor that pushed Lyon's offense and allowed them to finish in the UEFA Europa Conference League spot for next season.

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>>Editor's Team of the Season: George