Best Forwards in the Ligue 1 2025/26
Per-90 performance rankings · Rising Transfers DNA Analysis · 17 players ranked
Based on per-90 statistics across 17 Ligue 1 forwards in 2025/26, Mason Greenwood leads the ranking as a Inside Forward with a composite score of 1.06. Joaquín Panichelli (Target Man) ranks second at 0.73, followed by Pierre-Yves Hamel (Target Man) at 0.72. All rankings are calculated using Rising Transfers' 47-dimension per-90 analysis methodology.
Methodology: Per-90 stats explained · DNA matching
Mason Greenwood
26 games · England
Joaquín Panichelli
27 games · Argentina
Pierre-Yves Hamel
23 games · France
Full Ligue 1 Forwards Rankings
| # | Player | Style | Goals/90 | Ast/90 | Shots/90 | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason Greenwood | Inside Forward | 0.67 | 0.18 | 4.26 | 26 |
| 2 | Joaquín Panichelli | Target Man | 0.66 | 0.04 | 2.38 | 27 |
| 3 | Pierre-Yves Hamel | Target Man | 0.50 | 0.00 | 2.98 | 23 |
| 4 | Allan Saint-Maximin | Dribbler | 0.34 | 0.22 | 3.13 | 16 |
| 5 | Lassine Sinayoko | Complete Forward | 0.29 | 0.12 | 2.60 | 25 |
| 6 | Ernest Nuamah | Complete Forward | 0.25 | 0.08 | 2.37 | 23 |
| 7 | Issa Soumaré | Forward | 0.24 | 0.08 | 2.40 | 26 |
| 8 | Ludovic Ajorque | Target Man | 0.29 | 0.29 | 1.76 | 25 |
| 9 | Maghnes Akliouche | Link-up Striker | 0.29 | 0.14 | 1.84 | 24 |
| 10 | Nouha Dicko | Forward | 0.07 | 0.20 | 2.50 | 31 |
| 11 | Ignatius Ganago | Target Man | 0.17 | 0.11 | 2.22 | 20 |
| 12 | Ally Samatta | Target Man | 0.00 | 0.09 | 2.53 | 20 |
| 13 | Lamine Gueye | Forward | 0.16 | 0.11 | 1.77 | 29 |
| 14 | Anthony Bermont | Forward | 0.13 | 0.06 | 1.88 | 28 |
| 15 | Rachid Ghezza | Link-up Striker | 0.19 | 0.12 | 1.54 | 23 |
| 16 | Jim Allevinah | Forward | 0.05 | 0.15 | 1.80 | 28 |
| 17 | Julien Lopez | Forward | 0.17 | 0.09 | 1.33 | 30 |
KP = Key passes · F3rd = Passes into final third · TW = Tackles won · Int = Interceptions · Clr = Clearances · GC = Goals conceded
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best forward in the Ligue 1 right now?
Based on per-90 data in 2025/26, Mason Greenwood is the top-ranked forward in the Ligue 1. Mason Greenwood is classified as a Inside Forward by Rising Transfers' DNA analysis system.
How are Ligue 1 forwards ranked on Rising Transfers?
Rising Transfers ranks forwards using a composite per-90 score across key performance dimensions specific to the position. All statistics are normalised per 90 minutes of play to allow fair comparison between players with different minutes. Only players with 450+ minutes are included.
What does the DNA archetype mean for forwards?
Each player is assigned a DNA archetype (e.g. Creator, Ball-Winner, Pressing Forward) based on their playing style vector — a 768-dimensional representation of their per-90 performance across 47 metrics. The archetype describes how the player plays, not just their position.
How often is the Ligue 1 forward ranking updated?
Rankings are recalculated weekly as new match data is processed into Rising Transfers' DNA pipeline. The underlying per-90 statistics are sourced from live match data across the Ligue 1 season.
Forwards Rankings in Other Leagues
Other Positions in the Ligue 1
Rankings are generated by Rising Transfers using per-90 statistics from the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season. Only players with 450+ minutes are included. Scores are computed using a position-specific composite formula across 47 performance dimensions. Data is refreshed weekly. Learn more about our methodology →