AS Monaco App 23 March 2026, 13:31

"Magic" Maghnes Akliouche is MVP against OL and in l’Équipe's Team of the Round

Unstoppable in the second half—where he scored the equalizer and won a penalty—the Academy gem was deservedly named MVP of the 2–1 victory secured in Lyon, while also earning a spot in the Team of the Round for Matchday 27.

He was the key man in yesterday’s comeback. While AS Monaco trailed Olympique Lyonnais after conceding the opening goal just before halftime to Pavel Sulc (42′, 1-0), Maghnes Akliouche to thinks into his own hands in the second half to help the Rouge et Blanc stage a comeback for their sixth win in a row in Ligue 1 (1-2).

I feel good right now. I’m happy to have helped the team with this goal and the penalty I won. I simply want to help my teammates, whether with the ball or by defending. It worked out well; I just need to keep going like this until the end of the season.

Maghnes AklioucheOn his performance

Cutting inside on his right with a rocket under the crossbar 🥵

But even before those final 45 minutes, Monaco’s number 11 was already finding his stride—as evidenced by the chance where he was denied by Dominik Greif just past the quarter-hour mark (16′). It was a warm-up attempt before he left the Slovakian goalkeeper with absolutely no chance: after executing a perfect cut past his defender, he blasted the ball right under the crossbar (1–1, 62′) to notch his sixth league goal of the season!

L'enchaînement MAGISTRAL de Maghnes Akliouche 🥵 pic.twitter.com/U6PzqfPb3F

— Ligue 1 McDonald's (@Ligue1) March 23, 2026

An incontestable penalty 🌪️

Having thus scored the equalizer, the player—who is set to rejoin the French national team over the break—did not stop there; barely six minutes later, he won a penalty that was converted immediately thereafter by Folarin Balogun (1-2, 72′). Elusive going forward —notably completing two successful dribbles—”Magic” Maghnes also proved invaluable defensively, for instance by preventing Afonso Moreira from getting into a shooting position (82′).

If you have a player like that who puts in so much defensive effort—not just tracking back, but also pushing forward—since he is the one who wins back the most balls high up the pitch in Ligue 1, it means he is a unique and modern player.

Sébastien PocognoliOn Maghnes' defensive work

A defensive display praised by the coach👌

It was a valuable tracking back—symbolic of a player giving his all for the collective—to which can also be added an interception and five duels won; a highly satisfying performance for coach Sébastien Pocognoli. “If we have a player like that who puts in so much defensive effort, not just going back but also going forward, because he’s the one who wins back the most high balls in Ligue 1, it means he’s an atypical and modern player,” he said post-match.

⚽️ #Ligue1McDonalds
🗨️ Maghnes Akliouche : "Ce match c'était comme une finale, on était déterminé à gagner jusqu'à la dernière minute !"#OLASM pic.twitter.com/eNzTdv17Ti

— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) March 22, 2026

It is therefore logical to see the Academy-trained gem indisputably elected MVP with 96% of the vote, while also being named in l’Équipe’s team of the round for matchday 27 grâce with a score of 8. Bravo Maghnes! 👏

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🏆 2025-2026 MVP Recap

Second half:

Coupe de France – Round of 32: US Orléans 1-3 AS Monaco: George Ilenikhena (1)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 18: AS Monaco 1-3 FC Lorient: Aleksandr Golovin (2)
Champions League – Matchday 7: Real Madrid 6-1 AS Monaco: Jordan Teze (2)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 19: Le Havre 0-0 AS Monaco: Kassoum Ouattara (1)
Champions League – Matchday 8: AS Monaco 0-0 Juventus: Aleksandr Golovin (2)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 20: AS Monaco 4-0 Stade Rennais FC: Denis Zakaria (1)
Coupe de France – Round of 16: RC Strasbourg Alsace 3-1 AS Monaco: Maghnes Akliouche (7)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 21: OGC Nice 0-0 AS Monaco: Denis Zakaria (2)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 22: AS Monaco 3-1 FC Nantes: Simon Adingra (1)
Champions League – Playoffs, first leg: AS Monaco 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Folarin Balogun (4)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 23: RC Lens 2-3 AS Monaco: Denis Zakaria (3)
Champions – Playoffs, second leg: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 AS Monaco: Maghnes Akliouche (8)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 24: AS Monaco 2-0 Angers SCO: Denis Zakaria (4)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 25: Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 AS Monaco: Lamine Camara (2)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 26: AS Monaco 2-0 Brest: Aleksandr Golovin (3)
Ligue 1 – Matchday 27: Olympique Lyonnais 1-2 AS Monaco: Maghnes Akliouche (9)