The French top-flight isn’t as highly respected by the other four big European leagues, due to the massive gulf in class in the division and their inability to compete on the European stage. A new lease of life was breathed into Ligue 1 last season with Monaco lifting the title to end Paris Saint-Germain’s four-year dominance, and there was hope of more competitiveness in France.
PSG flexed their muscles once again this season, and the astronomic signings of Neymar and then Kylian Mbappe from title rivals Monaco showed there was no messing around. The Parisians romped to their seventh Ligue 1 title, losing just twice, and they hold a 19-point gap over their closest challengers.
The season may appear to have been all about PSG, but both Marseille and Lyon have had fruitful campaigns. Marseille, in fourth place, have reached the Europa League final and Lyon are on course for their best season in three years.
So, who have been the best players in the French top-flight this season? 23 players from Ligue 1 will be selected for the Team of the Season on FIFA Ultimate Team and receive incredible TOTS cards with superb stats boosts. RealSport predicts the starting 11 for the side.
Anthony Lopes (OVR 84 – TOTS 88)
Anthony Lopes has been one of the finest goalkeepers in Ligue 1 this season, making the second-most amount of clean sheets (14) and the sixth-most saves (97). His heroics in goal have helped Lyon into second place as they begin to assemble a side that can fight for the title once again.
Lopes, from Portugal, has an 84 rating on Ultimate Team, and this should improve to a score of 88 for the Team of the Season. The ‘keeper’s base card is priced around 4,200 coins on both PS4 and Xbox One, with an 85 in-form costing 36,000 on PS4 and 40,000 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Baptiste Reynet
Djibril Sidibe (OVR 79 – TOTS 86)
Emerging as one of the best full backs on the planet, after another fine season, Monaco may struggle to keep hold of Djibril Sidibe this summer. The Frenchman is reliable at the back but he has also chipped in with seven assists to add to his two goals, lifting Monaco into the Champions League places.
Sidibe’s 79 overall rating should travel to a much more respectable 86 TOTS card, and you can currently pick up his base card for 1,100 coins on PS4 and 1,400 on Xbox One. His 82 in-form item costs 29,250 on PS4 and 28,250 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Kenny Lala
Kamil Glik (OVR 85 – TOTS 89)
An under-appreciated defender, there is no denying that Monaco centre back Kamil Glik is one of the best centre halves around. The 30-year-old added an attacking element to his game this season, scoring three times and grabbing four assists, becoming one of Monaco’s most well-rounded players.
Polish international Glik already has a very strong 85 rating on Ultimate Team but expect this to improve to around 89 for the Team of the Season. His base card is valued at 9,600 coins on PS4 and 9,800 on Xbox One, whilst an 86 in-form will set you back around 35,000 on both consoles.
Under threat from: Marquinhos
Damien Da Silva (OVR 77 – TOTS 84)
Someone a little less known is Damien Da Silva. The Caen centre back looks to have secured his side’s Ligue 1 survival, but he has also added an attacking threat with four goals. At the age of 29 the Frenchman is entering his peak and could find himself courted by bigger clubs this summer.
Da Silva’s 77 overall rating should improve to 84 for the best Ligue 1 side, and you can get his normal gold card for just 550 coins on PS4 and 950 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Marcelo
Florian Thauvin (OVR 83 – TOTS 90)
Florian Thauvin looks a completely different player to the one we saw at Newcastle. The right winger returned to Marseille in 2016, and has gone on to score 43 goals for the club. This season, he's recorded 20 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1, making him one of the most dangerous wingers in the division.
Thauvin, 25, has an 83 rating on Ultimate Team, and we expect this to increase to a fantastic 90 for the Team of the Season. The 25-year-old’s base card costs 4,200 on PS4 and 2,700 on Xbox One, whilst his incredible right midfield third in-form item is priced at 56,000 on PS4 and 63,500 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Rony Lopes
Benjamin Bourigeaud (OVR 70 – TOTS 83)
In central midfield, in comes Benjamin Bourigeaud. A surprise package this season, the Rennes man has scored eight goals and grabbed six assists as his side have climbed to sixth in the table. With three games to go, Rennes are just one-point off the Europa League places, and they may need one last bit of brilliance from Bourigeaud to get there.
The French Bourigeaud only has a FUT rating of 70, which should take a big jump to 83. That silver base card costs 3,200 coins on PS4 and 4,400 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Morgan Sanson
Nabil Fekir (OVR 84 – TOTS 91)
The captain of Lyon, and it is vital that Nabil Fekir stays with the club over the summer. The attacking midfielder scored a very impressive 17 goals and added seven assists this season, but the only disappointment will be to have not fought for silverware.
Fekir’s brilliant campaign should take his 84 overall rating to 91 on Ultimate Team, and you can pick up his normal gold card for 4,500 coins on PS4 and 4,700 on Xbox One. An 87 second in-form card will set you back 102,000 on PS4 and 90,000 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Pierre Lees-Melou
Memphis Depay (OVR 80 – TOTS 90)
Another man transformed in the French league is Memphis Depay. The Lyon left winger has scored 16 goals and bagged 12 assists this season, leading to him sometimes being deployed as a striker. If OL keep hold of him and Fekir, there is no reason they cannot challenge for the Ligue 1 title next season.
Depay’s 80 overall rating could climb to 90 for the Team of the Season, with his base card currently priced at 1,300 coins on PS4 and 1,400 on Xbox One. The Dutchman’s 81 Ultimate Scream card, which can be boosted to 87, costs 23,000 on PS4 and 26,500 on Xbox One, with his 85 striker second in-form costing 100,000 on PS4 and 89,000 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Neymar
Dimitri Payet (OVR 84 – TOTS 89)
Dimitri Payet looks at home back in Ligue 1, with the Marseille star setting up 13 goals in the league this season and adding five for himself. OM still have a fight to qualify for the Champions League with three games to go, but in reaching the Europa League final they have a route to Europe’s elite competition.
Payet’s 84 overall rating should rise to around 90 on Ultimate Team, and we also expect his left wing position to switch to attacking midfield. You can claim his normal gold card for 5,500 on PS4 and 5,800 on Xbox One, and his 86 European Man of the Match item is priced at 30,250 on PS4 and 32,750 on Xbox One. Payet’s Path to Glory item is a live version of the 86 card, and it will cost 86,500 coins on PS4 and 52,000 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Kwon Chang-hoon
Edinson Cavani (OVR 88 – TOTS 94)
He has his critics, but you cannot deny that Edinson Cavani just scores goals. The Paris Saint-Germain striker has bagged 27 goals this season, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer with 157. Not only that, the Uruguayan added eight assists as his side reclaimed the league title, and look to complete a domestic quadruple after winning the Trophee Des Champions and Couple De La Ligue with just the Coupe De France to go.
Cavani’s ruthlessness in front of goal means his 88 overall rating on Ultimate Team could improve to a stunning 94 rating for the Team of the Season. The striker’s base card costs 33,000 coins on PS4 and 30,500 on Xbox One, whilst his 90-rated second in-form card will set you back 124,000 on PS4 and 155,000 on Xbox One.
Under threat from: Radamel Falcao
Mariano (OVR 80 – TOTS 85)
Another Lyon player, striker Mariano has bagged an impressive 18 goals this season. The Dominican, who hopes to play for Spain, was relatively unknown following his switch from Real Madrid last summer, but what a first season he's had in Ligue 1. The forward has also added five assists to his goals, forming a valuable strike partnership with Memphis Depay.
Mariano’s 80 overall should improve to somewhere around 85 for the Team of the Season. His Ratings Refresh base card costs just 900 coins on both consoles.
Under threat from: Karl Toko-Ekambi
RealSport’s Ligue 1 Team of the Season prediction
