Karim Benzema is Ligue 1’s Player of the Year

By: Inara | May 11th, 2008

Remember when I mentioned the UNFP Awards? Today, the ceremony took place.

Unsurprisingly, Karim Benzema won Player of the Year, beating out teammate Jeremy Toulalan, Marseille’s Mahamadou Niang, and Bordeaux’s Wendel. He’s the fourth Lyonnais in a row to win the award - Florent Malouda in 2007, Juninho in 2006, and Michael Essien in 2005, . However, unlike the others, Benzema is only 20 years old. So it’s just exciting to imagine just what he’ll accomplish next.

Hatem Ben Arfa took home the Young Player of the Year. Samir Nasri preceded him in 2007, Franck Ribery in 2006, and Toulalan in 2005.

The Female Player of the Year was awarded to Lyon’s Sonia Bompastor, who succeeded another Lyon player, Camile Abily in 2007. This is the second year in a row when Lyon won both best male and female player.

(Also, how cute is Zizou presenting the award to Benzema? They look so alike…are so alike in many ways that it gives me shivers.)

However, in the Team of the Year, Lyon are represented by only two players, Benzema and Toulalan. I’m not complaining since no one else from the squad stood out consistently all year long, but what I don’t get is how fourth place Marseille (who spent have the year in the bottom half of the table) have six players on the team while Bordeaux, who have been consistently challenging Lyon all season (and are still in the hunt for the title) have only one player on the team. That doesn’t make any sense, if you ask me.

Equipe type:

Mandanda
Bonnart - Puygrenier - Hilton - Taiwo
Valbuena - Toulalan - Cheyrou - Wendel
Niang - Benzema

For Goal of the Year, Mathieu Valbuena took home the prize. Of course, this was voted by the fans, so no surprise there. And for the first time in a long time, Lyon are not represented among the nominees for Coach of the Year. That doesn’t bode to well for Alain Perrin…

And for those of you who missed the awards show:

Benzema’s award:

Ben Arfa’s award: