Players of the Month for January Announced

The ESPN Player of the Month award is now in its fourth edition, celebrating the most remarkable performers from the top five European leagues. Following earlier recognitions in October, November, and December, this installment showcases the standout talents of January, marking the beginning of the 2026 calendar year.

In Ligue 1, Brazilian international Endrick is making headlines with just two appearances for Lyon, but that’s already enough for him to claim the top spot. The Premier League’s honors go to another Brazilian, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, who has made an impressive impact by scoring five goals. Meanwhile, in La Liga, Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal secured the honor for the first time, following a previous third-place finish in November. ESPN also recognized the top players from Serie A and the Bundesliga.

How the Selection Works

The evaluation process is straightforward: Three ESPN journalists from various countries cast their votes for the top-performing athletes in each league. Each journalist selects their three best players monthly—third place earns three points, second place five, and first place ten. Consequently, the maximum points a player can garner is 30 if all three journalists vote for them as the best player of the month in their league.

In case of a tie, the deciding factor is the number of first-place votes received.

Ligue 1: Endrick

Forward | Lyon and Brazil | 19 years old | 20 points

The French league has a fresh talent in Endrick, who made his Ligue 1 debut on January 18 and has already been awarded Player of the Month, even with just two matches under his belt. In his debut against Brest, he assisted in a 2-1 win and showcased his skills in a striking hat trick during a commanding 5-2 victory over Metz.

Currently on loan from Real Madrid, Endrick appears unfazed by the pressure of a new club and looks eager to impress, particularly in hopes of being called up for the Brazil national team. Lyon supporters are enthusiastic about his potential contributions.

Second place:

• Ousmane Dembélé: FW, Paris Saint-Germain (20 points)
  Third place:
• (tie) Martial Godo: FW, Strasbourg
• Wesley Saïd: FW, Lens
• Pavel Sulc: MF, Lyon (3 points)

Bundesliga: Michael Olise

Winger | Bayern Munich and France | 24 years old | 23 points

The Bundesliga’s top player in January is Michael Olise, an attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich. Over five matches, the Frenchman scored three goals and provided eight assists, contributing significantly to his team’s performance as Bayern led the league with 51 points.

Having joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in mid-2024, Olise has consistently performed well, having finished third in the previous month’s Player of the Month votes.

Second place:

• Andrej Kramaric: FW, Hoffenheim (15 points)
  Third place:
• Alexis Claude-Maurice: FW, Augsburg (10 points)

Serie A: Lautaro Martínez

Center Forward | Internazionale and Argentina | 28 years old | 20 points

In Serie A, Lautaro Martínez emerged as a key player, securing 20 points and being named Player of the Month. Inter, sitting atop the league with 55 points, competed in six matches in January, winning five and drawing one, with Martínez scoring three times against Bologna, Udinese, and Pisa.

A crucial player for Inter since 2018, Martínez continues to demonstrate his impact on the team.

Second place:

• Mike Maignan: GK, AC Milan (13 points)
  Third place:
• Federico Dimarco: DF, Inter (10 points)

LaLiga: Lamine Yamal

Right Winger | Barcelona and Spain | 18 years old | 20 points

After several months of strong performances, Lamine Yamal finally claimed the title of LaLiga’s top player for January. At only 18, he proved his worth by scoring two goals and providing an assist over four matches, significantly aiding Barcelona in maintaining their lead in the league standings.

Yamal’s contributions helped Barcelona secure 55 points, surpassing rivals Real Madrid by one point.

Second place:

• Mikel Oyarzabal: FW, Real Sociedad (18 points)
  Third place:
• Kylian Mbappé: FW, Real Madrid (8 points)

Premier League: Igor Thiago

Forward | Brentford and Brazil | 24 years old | 20 points

Igor Thiago has shone brightly in the Premier League, earning the title of Player of the Month. At 24 years old, he is now the league’s second-highest scorer, with 16 goals, trailing only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

In five matches during January, Thiago scored twice, including a hat trick against Everton and two goals in a victory over Sunderland. His performance has been pivotal to Brentford’s current seventh-place position in the league.

Second place:

• Antoine Semenyo: FW, Bournemouth/Manchester City (13 points)
  Third place:
• Florian Wirtz: MF, Liverpool (8 points)