Estéban Lepaul: Rennes’ late bloomer lighting up Ligue 1

Estéban Lepaul is Rennes top scorer this season with eight goals – and arguably their biggest revelation.

“There’s one player who’s even better than I expected: Estéban. In front of goal, he’s a real killer,” smiled Habib Beye back in early September, speaking to a few reporters after one of his first training sessions in charge. Coming from a former international defender, that’s high praise.

Last Sunday, Lepaul produced a complete centre-forward performance in Rennes’ first truly convincing outing of the campaign – a 4-1 win over Strasbourg. His opening goal combined clever movement with the hunger to throw himself at the near post and divert a deflected cross into the net. For his second, he ghosted in at the back post to finish off fine work from Kader Meïté, before completing his hat-trick with a stunning first-time strike into the top corner from a Valentin Rongier pass.

“The first one’s the most like me, but the third is my favourite,” he grinned afterwards in the mixed zone.

The Roazhon Park favourite

Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior, who crossed paths with Lepaul at that very moment, jokingly pretended to strangle him – a fair reaction considering the 25-year-old has now scored seven times in just three games against his team, following two braces for Angers last season.

As tradition dictates, Lepaul was handed the match ball and led the post-match “clapping” in front of the Rennes ultras, who chanted his name long after the final whistle.

“I don’t know if I’m the Roazhon Park favourite,” he said modestly. “I just try to give my best every match. Some games you’re less sharp, but I always try to make up for it with effort and determination.”

Beyond his goals, Lepaul’s late rise to the professional game, his modest build and old-school style make him instantly endearing. When he joined from Angers at the end of August, many saw him as a gamble — not Rennes’ first-choice target, with only 50 senior appearances (29 starts) to his name despite 17 goals across all competitions last season.

A striker who lives for goals

He wasted no time silencing doubts. Scoring on his debut against his former club Angers (1-1), Lepaul has since been involved in a goal every 74 minutes on average, with seven goals from just 12 shots on target and three assists.

“He’s obsessed with scoring, even in training, and his work ethic is exceptional,” said Beye, who had already tried to sign him when managing Red Star, at a time when Lepaul was impressing with Épinal in the National.

“People say strikers are attracted to the ball, but if you look closely, Estéban is attracted to the space that allows him to finish in one touch with spontaneity. He has an amazing ability to read the flight of the ball and position himself in the best possible spot.”

On Friday, Rennes travel to the capital to face Paris FC — the same club against whom Lepaul opened his Ligue 2 account for Angers last season. “We’ll try to get another win to start a run,” he said. “And go into the break with clear heads.”