Malian midfielder Mamadou Sangaré has been named the winner of the 2026 Marc-Vivien Foé Award. The RC Lens player succeeds Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, who won the 2025 edition.
The Marc-Vivien Foé Award recognizes the best African player in the French Ligue 1 championship. For the 2026 edition, Sangaré topped the voting with 219 points. Lamine Camara of Monaco came in second place, followed by Senegalese player Moussa Niakhaté, who completed the podium.
In his first season in Ligue 1, Mamadou Sangaré becomes the first Malian player to win this award. The 23-year-old Lens midfielder scored three goals and provided four assists in the league, contributing to his club's qualification for the next Champions League. The trophy pays tribute to Marc-Vivien Foé, who passed away 23 years ago.
Visibly moved after his victory, Mamadou Sangaré shared his joy on social media: "This trophy represents all the sacrifices, all the efforts, the difficult moments and the long years of hard work. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart my teammates, the Lens technical staff, my family, my loved ones and all those who have supported me from the beginning. Without you, none of this would be possible."
The RC Lens midfielder also sent a message to young players, encouraging them to persevere: "Never stop believing in yourselves."
