An impressive Takumi Minamino is the UNFP Player of the Month
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
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
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’! 🇯🇵