UNFP Trophees 20 September 2023, 15:28

An impressive Takumi Minamino is the UNFP Player of the Month

Unstoppable during the first month of competition in Ligue 1 with no less than three goals scored and two assists delivered in just three matches, the Japanese playmaker has won the first trophy for best player of the month Ligue 1 this season.

Who else but him? On top form since the start of the 2023-2024 season, Takumi Minamino has logically been rewarded for his performances. It must be said that the Monegasque number 18, already very impressive in preseason, started with a bang in Clermont as he set up Vanderson (in a 2-4 win). This was before scoring a double for the Rouge et Blanc at the Stade Louis-II against Strasbourg (3-0)!

Le premier but de la saison au Stade Louis-II signé… @takumina0116 🇯🇵☄️#MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/FJJpmuDX8a

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 21, 2023

I feel good in this position behind the striker, it’s really my favorite position. Coach Adi Hütter does not specifically give me instructions on this position, he asks me above all to play style of my football. I know how he likes to play, what style of play he wants to implement, because I have known him for a long time. This is why I feel good in this system.

Takumi MinaminoOn his role in the team

Three masterclass performances

The Japanese international also scored his first goal at home on this occasion, in addition to reaching the mark of 100 goals in his professional career. This was before once again delivering a decisive pass for his captain, Wissam Ben Yedder. As a result, the playmaker won his first MVP… before doing the same in Nantes! At the Beaujoire, it was in fact Taki’ who sounded the alarm to help earn a draw (3-3).

The most decisive player in France… and Europe!

With three goals and two assists, he completed the month of August as the most decisive player in Ligue 1… and the Big 5 leagues, tied with Jude Bellingham! Logically elected MVP twice, then named the Monégasque player of the Month, his partnership with Aleksandr Golovin gave his team a serious advantage against the Parisian Manuel Ugarte and the Montpellier winger Moussa Al-Tamari.

La mobilisation pour élire @takumina0116 Joueur @UNFP du mois d'août se poursuit 🔥🔝

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘇 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝘂𝗶 👉 https://t.co/z4ddnm9tMQ pic.twitter.com/HcpLQlohsV

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 15, 2023

Taki' had a very good pre-season, he worked a lot and notably scored against Real Betis and Bayern Munich. His physical condition is getting better and better every day and he has been decisive at the start of the league with goals and assists. He has regained confidence and is helping us a lot with his style of play and his movements.

Adi HütterOn Takumi Minamino

He’s following an illustrious compatriot…

It is therefore with the support of the large community of Monegasque supporters present throughout France and above all thanks to his performances, that Takumi has officially won the UNFP Trophy for best player in Ligue 1 in August. An award that had until then only been awarded to one other Japanese player in the history of the French top flight: Daisuke Matsui, during the 2005-2006 season!

TAKI TAKI, TAKI TAKI RUUMMBA 🕺🏽🇯🇵

L’attaquant monégasque a tout simplement été étincelant ce mois-ci ! Il devient le second lauréat japonais des Trophées UNFP du Joueur du Mois de @Ligue1UberEats après Daisuke Matsui lors de la saison 2005-2006 ☺️ #TropheesUNFP pic.twitter.com/JX4D8wXdLx

— UNFP (@UNFP) September 19, 2023

And Captain’ Wiss !

It’s a rarity and an honour, and he succeeds Wissam Ben Yedder, the last Monégasque to have won this award, in January. And one final point in this very impressive month, he has finished at the top of the ratings done by the newspaper L’Équipe with an average of 7.33, and is also part of the “Team of the month” across Europe as selected by Whoscored. Daghe Taki’! 🇯🇵