The 2022/23 Ligue 1 season drew to a close on Saturday with PSG once again finishing top of the pile in France's top tier. The champions have two players make the WhoScored team of the season, while Monaco, Reims, Nantes, Nice, Rennes, Lorient, Montpellier and Lille are also represented.
Reims ended the 2022/23 campaign in 11th and a key reason behind their respectable finish were the performances of Yehvann Diouf between the sticks. Only Brice Samba (15) kept more clean sheets than Diouf (14), while the latter's save success rate of 76.4% was the third best in the division. 107 saves in total ranked ninth and helped the 23-year-old to a WhoScored rating of 6.94.
The first of two Monaco players to make the cut, Vanderson routinely exhibited statistically calculated WhoScored strengths of both 'tackling' and 'ball interception' having ranked 14th for tackles and interceptions combined (132) despite only starting 27 of 38 matches. The Brazilian also chipped in with four assists, a solid return from full-back, to help return a rating of 6.93.
Andrei Girotto (Nantes) - 7.09
Nantes beat the drop on the final day of the season after their 1-0 win over Angers and a crucial performer in their campaign was centre-back Andrei Girotto. The 31-year-old put in a series of solid displays when out of possession having made more tackles and interceptions combined (195) than any other player in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season. Girotto also ranked third for clearances (171) to help return a WhoScored rating of 7.09.
Partnering Girotto at the heart of the defence is compatriot Dante. The Brazilian warhorse was again vital in turning defence into attack for Nice having ranked fifth for passes per game (71), all the while returning the 18th best pass success rate (90.1%) in the division. In addition, only Nice teammate Jean-Clair Todibo (175) won possession in the defensive third more times than the 39-year-old (157) as Dante ended the campaign with a WhoScored rating of 6.94.
Rounding off the backline is the second Monaco player in the side. Caio Henrique didn't need a second invitation to get forward when needed, finishing the season with nine assists to his name, that the fifth most in Ligue 1. 52 key passes was more than any other defender to contribute towards his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 6.92.
Benjamin Bourigeaud (Rennes) - 7.15
The sole Rennes player in the side features on the right flank. Benjamin Bourigeaud earned a WhoScored rating of 7.15 in France's top tier this term, with his attacking output a key reason behind his inclusion in the XI. Indeed, the 29-year-old scored seven times and provided 10 assists, with 98 key passes the second best return in Ligue 1.
Enzo Le Fee will leave Lorient this summer and there should be a lengthy queue to secure his services. The Frenchman was excellent for Lorient this season, as noted by a WhoScored rating of 7.26. The 23-year-old scored five and registered five assists in 2022/23, while 108 tackles was the third best return in Ligue 1. Suitors should be scrambling to sign Le Fee.
Teji Savanier (Montpellier) - 7.28
A driving force in the Montpellier midfield, Teji Savanier features alongside Le Fee in the middle of the park in this XI. Savanier finished the season sixth for successful dribbles (72) and 14th for key passes (56), while 12 goals was also an impressive return. The 31-year-old may have received three red cards, but is still good value for his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 7.28.
Like Bourigeaud on the right, Remy Cabella also ended the campaign with seven goals and 10 assists to his name as the Lille winger rolled back the years to return a WhoScored rating of 7.38. Cabella made more key passes (101) than any other player in Ligue 1 to feature on the left flank with a WhoScored rating of 7.38.
With a WhoScored rating of 8.28, Lionel Messi is the Ligue 1 player of the season. Fans won't lose sleep over the Argentine's exit, with PSG's 3-2 loss to Clermont Foot marking his final game for the Parisian side, but Messi still leaves having scored 16 and registered more assists (16) than any other player in France's top tier this term. The 35-year-old also completed more dribbles (102) and won more WhoScored man of the match awards (14) than any other player.
Messi's PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe rounds off the XI. Mbappe finished the season with 29 league goals, more than any other player, as was his return of 149 shots. The France star also provided five assists, while 74 successful dribbles was the fifth most as the 24-year-old garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.80.
