Neymar wins French league's Player of the Year award

Posted May 13, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

PSG player Neymar looks at the photographer during celebrations for clinching the French League One title after the soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Rennais at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday May 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - Neymar won the French League's Player of the Year award on Sunday, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain teammates Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe.

Marseille winger Florian Thauvin, the other nominee, finished fourth in Sunday's Ligue 1 awards ceremony in Paris.

"I would like to thank all of my teammates," Neymar said on beIN Sports television. "I'm honored and very happy with our season. I couldn't have won this trophy without my teammates."

Neymar scored 19 league goals and set up another 13 in only 20 games for French champion PSG.

He has not played since cracking a metatarsal in his right foot against Marseille on Feb. 25. He had surgery in Brazil in March and has resumed light training and ball work as he bids to be ready for the World Cup, which starts next month in Russia.

Second-place Cavani won the award last season and is the league's top scorer again this season with 28 goals, while Thauvin is next with 22. Mbappe has netted 13 since joining from deposed champion Monaco.

PSG coach Unai Emery, who is leaving at the end of the season, won Coach of the Year after guiding PSG to a domestic treble.

However, PSG once again fell short in Europe after going out in the last 16 of the Champions League for the second straight season.

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More AP Ligue 1 coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/Ligue1

PSG's Neymar, poses as he arrives at the UNFP (Union of French Professional Footballers) ceremony, in Paris, Sunday May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) The Associated Press

PSG's Edinson Cavani holds the French League One trophy after the soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Rennais at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday May 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) The Associated Press

PSG's Kylian Mbappe poses as he arrives at the UNFP (Union of French Professional Footballers) ceremony, in Paris, Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) The Associated Press

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