Lens' Sangaré wins the Prix-Marc-Vivien Foé!

RFI and France 24 have announced the winner of the 2026 Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, awarded to the best African player in Ligue 1 McDonald's. This year's honoree is Mali and RC Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré -- learn more about his story and the history of the award in our latest.

A first for Mali

It's awards season in French football, and ahead of tonight's Trophées UNFP, RFI and France 24 have announced the winner of the 2026 Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, awarded to the best African player in Ligue 1 McDonald's. Mali and RC Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré -- has been honored with the top prize, beating out fellow finalists Moussa Niakhaté (Olympique Lyonnais/Senegal) and Lamine Camara (AS Monaco/Senegal). 

Named for the late Cameroon international Marc-Vivien Foé, who played for both RC Lens and Olympique Lyonnais during his time in France, the award has been given out annually since 2009, and Sangaré has become the third player from his club to have won, following Gaël Kakuta (2021) and Séko Fofana (2022). He is, however, the first from his country, and the award is richly deserved, as his dynamic partnership with Adrien Thomasson has been key to Lens' sitting in second place. Despite Mali's rich footballing tradition, the best a Malian player had done was finish in second place in 2022, with Stade Rennais' Hamari Traoré. 

Sangaré is the Best African player in Ligue 1 💎 pic.twitter.com/onfeMbCUZn

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 11, 2026

Following on from Monday's honor, Sangaré will now look to lead his side to silverware. While Lens will need a massive swing in goal difference to pip Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 McDonald's title, next Friday sees them face OGC Nice in the Coupe de France final, giving Le Sang et Or a chance for another first. 

Past winners:

2009: Marouane Chamakh (Girondins de Bordeaux)

2010: Gervinho (LOSC Lille)

2011: Gervinho (LOSC Lille)

2012: Younès Belhanda (Montpellier HSC)

2013: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (AS Saint-Étienne)

2014: Vincent Enyeama (LOSC Lille)

2015:  André Ayew (Olympique de Marseille)

2016: Sofiane Boufal (LOSC Lille)

2017: Jean Michaël Seri (OGC Nice)

2018: Karl Toko-Ekambi (Angers SCO)

2019: Nicolas Pépé (LOSC Lille)

2020: Victor Osimhen (LOSC Lille)

2021: Gaël Kakuta (RC Lens)

2022: Seko Fofana (RC Lens)

2023: Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille)

2024: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Olympique de Marseille)

2025: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)

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