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Ligue 1 has been in the headlines this year for various reasons. Lille dethroned Paris Saint-Germain to conquer the French top-flight after 10 years.
France also welcomed Lionel Messi and showered him with all the love as he moved from Barcelona to PSG on a free transfer.
However, as the year progressed we became used to things and things restored themselves back. The stadiums were full again and crowds were allowed to watch games in the French top-flight. PSG restored their supremacy in Ligue 1 and are back at the top of the table as favorites to win the title.
Many Ligue 1 midfielders are being scouted by top European sides
Even the sight of Lionel Messi playing for the French giants has seeped in and does not garner as much marvel as it did at first. However, another thing that we have become used to is the brilliance of some of Ligue 1's midfielders this year.
Some have picked up the same form that they left last season, some have finally found their feet and are delivering on expectations. But many new names have emerged and, despite their tender age, have shown maturity beyond years. Many of these names are deservedly being courted by Premier League clubs and could be signed for big money.
Let's take a look at the five best midfielders in Ligue 1 in 2021.
#5 Boubacar Kamara
A product of the Olympique Marseille academy, Boubacar Kamara made his debut in Ligue way back in 2017. Since then he has slowly grown into stature and become one of the indispensable members of the French side. Kamara cemented his place in the side in the 2018-19 season despite being a teenager and has never looked back.
Unlike more modern versatile midfielders who can function as attacking midfielders as well as defensive ones, Kamara's style is completely defensive. This has seen him master the defensive midfield role and is utilized as a makeshift centre-back. The 22-year old is not the tallest of figures, but his defensive style of play is somewhat similar to Jules Kounde's.
The midfielder's contract ends in June 2022 and the Ligue 1 club will be incurring a major loss if they let him go for free. Kamara is comfortable with progressing the ball and beating the press and for a player who is usually known for sitting deep these are impressive traits.
Among his many suitors, Manchester United are considered the most interested given that the player suits Ralf Rangnick's style of play.
#4 Renato Sanches
Renato Sanches flopped at Bayern Munich and underwhelmed in the Premier League when the bar for him was set high. As a product of the Benfica academy, he was signed by the German giants for €35m, he wouldn't have imagined he'd end up in Ligue 1. But this was a fee too much for a young player still figuring out his ways, mostly being driven by aggression.
He was then exiled to Ligue 1 which in the Portuguese's case felt like a clear demotion and doubt about his abilities. However, over the course of last season, Sanches has really found his rhythm and composure in the middle of the park. His performances this year in Ligue 1 have seen him linked with big names like Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona again.
The midfielder has shown the ability to protect the ball and progress forward even when the press is high and intense. Sanches has shown the best version of himself, showing great dynamism and the flare to dribble past defenders. His goal-creating actions are among the highest in Ligue 1.
His contribution to the final-third has also seen a significant increase and now has a Ligue 1 winners medal to flaunt. The difference between Lille with Sanches in the team and without him on the field is absolutely immense.
#3 Benjamin Andre
To many, his name has been unheard of and that is why Benjamin Andre is seen as Ligue 1's best kept secret. The 31-year old will be spoken of in high regard whenever Lille remember their 2020-21 title triumph. Throughout this calendar year, Andre has missed only three games for Lille in Ligue 1.
The Frenchman mostly functions as a shield to the rearguard and does his job to great effect. Andre is among the top 3 players with the best tackles and interception rates in Ligue 1 in 2021. He uses his mobility extremely well to take intelligent positions and stops the opposition from building the play.
Despite being over 30, the intensity with which the Lille midfielder presses and leads the charge from the front is second to none. There are not many who can dispossess the opposition via their individual pressing as much as Andre does in Ligue 1. He is a true gem and will be remembered as a shrewd operator when Lille remember their title-winning team.
#2 Aurelien Tchouameni
If you had to look at French football and pick the next best thing from Ligue 1, after the performances in 2021, you wouldn't look past Aurelien Tchouameni. The winner of Ligue 1's Best Young Player award has everything going for him and more. At 21, he's topping the charts in the French top-flight.
The most number of tackles plus interceptions (206) last season and has already made 104 this season, just behind Benjamin Andre. Tchouameni has been the target of most passes this year for the Monaco team, which explains how things flow through him.
The midfielder's positional awareness is really quite exceptional and he occupies spaces to inhibit the opposition attack from flourishing. The hype around Ligue 1's young sensation is so great that he has been deemed a hybrid of N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
Comparisons to one of them are a milestone, and he's carrying comparisons to both of them. The Monaco midfielder is a do-it-all. He can drive forward with a strong run into the final third, or simply pick a clever pass from the deep.
His relentless pressing is a blessing and with his physicality he is one of the best ball-winners in Ligue 1. Tchouameni will soon be on the books of one of Europe's top sharks.
#1 Dimitri Payet
The fact that Dimitri Payet is 34-years old and his market value has come to as low as €5m, not too bad for that age, are things that hardly matter to him. Since his arrival in Ligue 1, the Frenchman has been one of the most entertaining figures to watch.
The attacking midfielder is quite easily Olympique Marseille's most important attacking asset. He has been undroppable for them in previous seasons and 2021 was no different for the Ligue 1 veteran. He registered 12 goals and 14 assists in the calendar year in the French top-flight.
Payet has played in almost every position in the attacking front-three and midfield and never fails to contribute. He was among the top players in the league for goal creating actions per 90 minutes last season and with a figure of 0.83 is the fourth best in Ligue 1 this season.
He is a shrewd operator given how many versatile positions he plays in and yet manages to stay deeply involved in the action. The 34-year old missed only four games for Marseille in 2021. His importance to that team is evident given they lost one and drew two without him. In fact, they could only score in one of those four matches.
