Local sports journalists have chosen Leipzig’s French striker Christopher Nkunku as the best player in the German Football League for the 2021-2022 season, adding this award to his best selection also by his peers and coaches.
Nkunku collected 134 points, six points ahead of the holder of this award for two consecutive seasons, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who left Bayern Munich this summer after eight seasons in his ranks to join Barcelona.
The 24-year-old, who extended his contract with Leipzig for two seasons until 2026, according to a statement published by Kicker magazine, which launched this award in 1960 with 700 sports journalists participating in the vote, said he was “very proud and I know how to fully appreciate this reward.” Above all, I have to thank my team, my coaches and all who help me. Without their support, it would have been impossible to have a season of this nature, adding, “I am now looking forward.”
Nkunko, who lost with Leipzig on Saturday the German Super Cup match against Bayern Munich 3-5, but scored from a penalty kick, became the second French player to win this award after Franck Ribery in 2008.