Brazilian Blitz and Yamal's Breakthrough: ESPN's January Player of the Month Stars Shine Across Europe
ESPN's January Player of the Month awards see Brazilians Endrick (Lyon, Ligue 1) and Igor Thiago (Brentford, Premier League) lead the charge, with Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, LaLiga), Lautaro Martínez (Inter, Serie A), and Michael Olise (Bayern, Bundesliga) also crowned. Each winner earned top points from three journalists' votes after standout performances. The awards highlight emerging stars and key contributors across Europe's elite leagues.
Brazilian Invasion and Young Guns Dominate ESPN's Player of the Month
Picture this: it's the depths of winter, but Europe's top leagues are heating up with fresh talent grabbing the headlines. ESPN's Player of the Month award, now in its fourth outing, has doled out the gongs for January across the big five leagues. Three pundits from different corners vote – 10 points for top pick, 5 for second, 3 for third – and ties get broken by first-place nods. Simple, innit?
Original reporting by Daniel Servidio and Vinicius Garcia at ESPN Italy highlights a month where Brazilians ran riot and a certain teenage wizard finally nabbed his crown. Let's crack on with the winners, shall we?
Ligue 1 Sensation and Premier League Hotshot
Over in Ligue 1, meet Endrick, the 19-year-old Brazilian loanee from Real Madrid who's turned Lyon into his playground. Just two games in, and he's already Player of the Month with 20 points. Debut assist against Brest, then a hat-trick in a 5-2 demolition of Metz? Blimey, the lad's settling faster than a pint at last orders. Lyon fans are buzzing – could this be the spark to drag them up the table?
Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) nipped at his heels on 20 points too, but Endrick's first-place votes clinched it. Third spot? A messy tie between Martial Godo (Strasbourg), Wesley Saïd (Lens), and Lyon's own Pavel Sulc.
Switch to the Premier League, and it's another Samba star stealing the show: Brentford's Igor Thiago, 24, topping the charts on 20 points. The Brazilian's the league's second-top scorer with 16 goals, trailing only Haaland's haul. Hat-trick vs Everton, brace against Sunderland – no wonder Brentford sit seventh with 36 points. Scouted from Brazil via Bulgaria and Belgium, he's got Ancelotti's Brazil scouts drooling.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth/Man City? Wait, loan drama there) took silver on 13, with Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) bronze on 8.
LaLiga Lad, Serie A Stalwart, and Bundesliga Blinder
LaLiga's crown goes to Barcelona's prodigy Lamine Yamal, 18, bagging his first win on 20 points after podium finishes galore. Two goals, one assist in four games – strikes vs Oviedo and Elche helped Barca edge Real Madrid at the top (55 to 54 points). The kid's a right menace down that flank.
Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) was close on 18, Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) third on 8.
In Serie A, Inter's captain fantastic Lautaro Martínez, 28, romped to 20 points. Three goals in six games as Inter won five and drew one, keeping their 55-point lead. The Argentine's been a rock since '18 – Bologna, Udinese, Pisa all felt his boot.
Milan's Mike Maignan second on 13, Inter teammate Federico Dimarco third on 10.
Finally, Bundesliga: Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, 24, the French wizard with 23 points. Three goals, eight assists in five – Bayern's 51 points keep them clear of Dortmund's 45. Signed from Palace last year, he's been class since, third last month too.
Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim) silver on 15, Alexis Claude-Maurice (Augsburg) bronze on 10.
What a month, eh? Endrick and Thiago proving Brazil exports gold, Yamal living up to the hype, Olise assisting like it's his job (it is), and Lautaro steady as ever. February's round the corner – who'll top the next poll? Fancy a wager down the pub?