Originally published on June 7th ’17, this article can also be found on Guardian Sport.

Kylian Mbappé – Hype is common in football, but to understate the impact of Kylian Mbappes’ clinical finishing, terrifying pace and prodigious skill is not an easy task. His emergence this Spring has been the catalyst for Monaco to turn on the afterburners and intensify their already scintillating, breakneck form in taking the league crown and galloping into the Champions League last four. At just 18 he became the only man to score in his first 4 champions league knock out games while 12 of his 15 league goals came as part of 20 in his last 26 since early February, not to mention adding 8 assists. Young players regularly burst onto the French footballing scene, Sofiane Boufal and particularly Ousmane Dembele were last season’s trailblazers, but Mbappe is on another plane entirely. His fluid, graceful style and unerring finish draw natural comparisons with Thierry Henry but his warp-speed acceleration and bamboozling of defenders with his magical sleight of foot and change of direction make a young incarnation of Brazil’s Ronaldo a more accurate blueprint. Ronaldo was nicknamed ‘The Phenomenon’, it might be time to pass on that mantel.

Joris Gnagnon – This season has been a frustrating one for Rennes. Both wingers, prize asset Paul George Ntep and longtime super-sub Kamil Gosciski, were sold in the winter window and not replaced. With them went much of the Christian Gourcuff’s cutting edge and creativity. Since they have failed to realise their European ambitions as their campaign petered out, making the revelatory development of 20 year old defensive powerhouse Joris Gnagnon one of few bright spots in 2017. Gnagnon’s impressive physique is a clear asset but since forcing his way into the first team last October he has also proven to be an intelligent and wily operator, exhibiting superb positional play, anticipation and an astute covering of his colleagues. With Gourcuff now describing him as the leader of Rennes’ back four and bigger clubs circling, holding on to him this summer will be job one for a side with an uncertain future. Nevertheless, a sizeable offer may be inevitable and ultimately irrefutable.

Jean Seri – Monaco have Fabinho and PSG have Marco Verratti but Nice boast Jean Michel Seri. In much the same way Fabinho and Verratti dictate play for Ligue 1’s top two, the Ivorian does so for Nice and, in terms of ability, should be considered a peer as a deep lying playmaker and pass picker. Seri’s ability to pick up the ball from his centre backs and either control the pace of play with his unerring passing and close control or drive his team forward in attack has been crucial to Lucien Favre’s outfit this season. Meanwhile 10 assists also underlines shows his influence in the final third. Seri very rarely makes the wrong decision or gives the ball away, even when hounded by an aggressive press his knack of calmly wriggling away from danger or nonchalantly picking the perfect pass to negate the threat is often sublime and it has been crucial in Nice’s ability to keep possession and grind out results in a much more trying 2017. There’s a reason Barcelona are so keen on Jean Michel Seri.

Corentin Tolisso – Cut adrift of Champions League places in Ligue 1 and embarrassed defensively by Ajax in their Europa League semi final first leg, this year has been an underwhelming one for Lyon. But their have been bright spots; Alex Lacazette’s goal tally, young Lucas Tousart’s emergence at the base of the midfield and Mathieu Valbuena’s resurgence have all stood out but a breakthrough campaign from Corentin Tolisso is their headline. Comfortable in a range of central positions, holding, central or attacking midfield roles have all been handled masterfully by the 22 year old Frenchman this season, while his understanding with Lacazette has been the key to anything positive Genesio’s charges have managed in an attack this season. Perhaps most impressive is his ability to play insightful, deft through balls, expertly judging the timing and weight of a pass and selecting the right option on the counter. If Juventus follow through on their interest in the new French international, replacing him will be extremely difficult at Parc OL.

Ryad Boudebouz – Ryad Boudebouz is too good for Montpellier. While the club have meandered along in the lower reaches of mid table, this has been a watershed campaign for Boudebouz; without his goals and creativity, Montp’s relative security would have been difficult to come by. The Algerian’s skill, vision, ability on the ball, eye for goal and his trademark swish of the hips have made him a somewhat under the radar delight of Ligue 1 this year and have left Montpellier with little chance of holding onto their prized asset this summer. Previously, the Algerians form has fluctuated from the sublime to the anonymous through spells at Bastia and Sochaux but his talent has finally won out and, at 27, he has entered his prime. A top of six club will be waiting to snap him up this summer, assuming a foreign giant doesn’t beat them to it.

Alex Lacazette – Since an injury towards the end of his breakthrough campaign in 14/15, Alex Lacazette’s form, sharpness and stream of goals has fluctuated frustratingly but as the 16/17 season got into its stride, so did the Lyon forward. Lacazette exemplifies the possible path of promising Ligue 1 players if they aren’t rushed out of the door as soon as they show signs of realising their potential. The 25 year old now looks like the finished article after enjoying his most assured and consistent season to date. His finishing is pin sharp, his touch and awareness of space have been honed while his pace is as evident as ever. 28 Ligue 1 strikes in 30 outings as part of 37 in 44 across all competitions in 16/17 show that this summer is the perfect time for Lacazette to finally fly the nest and prove he’s capable of becoming a top tier European striker.

Fabinho – Without Fabinho it’s likely Monaco would not be Ligue 1 Champions. The difference between Leonardo Jardim’s side with and without the Brazilian is stark. The 4-1 drubbing Jardim’s men received from PSG with their midfield general suspended for the Coupe de la Ligue final exemplified how much they rely on his mobility, power, range of passing and his ability to dominate midfield battles, in tandem with Tiemoue Bakayoko, despite often being outnumbered. Fabinho is Jardim’s lynchpin, without him their freewheeling, relentless, high press 4-4-2 starts to fall apart. Consequently, the rangey Brazilian has comfortably been Ligue 1’s most influential player this season and finding a way to retain him will be top of Monaco VP Vadim Vasilyev’s summer to-do list. As, for Les Monegasques at least, he could prove to be irreplaceable.

Tiemoue Bakayoko – As Fabinho’s midfield Lieutenant, Tiemoue Bakayoko has been pivotal to Monaco’s success in 16/17. In his attacking, high press 442, Leonardo Jardim’s side can often be out-manned in central areas, pitted against more possession oriented 3 man midfields but with Fabinho dictating play, Bakayoko’s ability to intelligently protect his back four and their combined coverage, aggression and power Monaco may often be out-manned but they’re never outgunned. Although Bakayoko’s core skillset places him somewhere between Ngolo Kante and Claude Makelele in the spectrum of midfield sentinels, astutely shutting down burgeoning attacks and harrying forwards into mistakes, but his strong, leggy Patrick Vieira-like physique adds an extra dimension to his game his peers don’t possess. Although his concentration may yet require some finessing, at just 22 Bakayoko has all the qualities to become a world class midfielder. Some might say; he’s already there.

Issa Diop – In November 2015, Toulouse were floundering. After just a solitary win so far that season and barely surviving in recent years, in need of impetus then manager Domi Arribage threw lanky 18 year old centre back Issa Diop in at the deep end for the visit of Nice. Les Violets won 2-0 and although Arribage was soon gone, Diop has been a permanent fixture ever since. His pace, towering ariel ability, reading of play and assured, to-the-point defending were key to TFC’s miraculous survival under the inspirational Pascal Dupraz last season. This year Diop has developed into one of Ligue 1’s most consistent centre backs and in tandem with the equally superb Christophe Julien comprises arguably Ligue 1’s most eye-catching defensive partnership. Still just 20, Diop’s growing stature is already justifiably turning heads.

Ismaila Sarr – ‘How on Earth did Metz stay up?’, is the season’s biggest mystery in France. 72 goals conceded and a -33 goal difference, the worst defensive record in Ligue 1, usually equates to relegation form rather than 14th place. Fortunately for Phillip Hinchberger, that question has two answers. Cheick Diabate, 8 goals in 15 games since his winter loan move, is the first. The other being the emergence of teenage winger, Ismaila Sarr. Sarr’s explosive and direct wing play dragged his Metz counterparts towards safety in the latter part of the season but ‘raw’ is still very much the watchword for the Senegalese, signed from Metz’s partner club Generation Foot last summer. His style resembles that of a lightening quick Paulo Wanchope, all flailing limbs and unpredictability, but flashes of genuine brilliance have become increasingly evident in 2017. Superb strikes against Caen and Nancy gave his team crucial points and a virtually unplayable cameo was nearly enough to see off PSG, aiding in overhauling a 2-0 deficit only to lose 3-2 in injury time. He still has some way to go but the journey will be an enthralling one.