RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku named 2021/22 Bundesliga Player of the Season
Christopher Nkunku has been voted 2021/22 Bundesliga Player of the Season, the RB Leipzig talisman beating the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland and Patrik Schick to the prize.
Nkunku was one of six different Player of the Month winners of the course of the campaign. The only difference is he won the award a single-season record four times - in October 2021, February, March and April 2022.
The award, created by the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga in 2018/19 in cooperation with the Bundesliga's official licensing partner, EA Sports, is decided by via the Team of the Season fan votes (40 percent), clubs (30 percent) and experts (30 percent).
Needless to say, Nkunku is a worthy winner. The 24-year-old scored 20 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, whilst producing 13 assists to help Leipzig recover from their worst ever start to a top-flight season and finish fourth. He was the first player to reach double digits in both categories, while only 35-goal top scorer Lewandowski had a direct hand in more goals over the course of the campaign (38).
It was Nkunku's most productive season of Bundesliga football by a mile, the former Paris Saint-Germain attacker having scored or assisted 20 goals in 2019/20 and 13 in 2020/21. He received his maiden senior international call-up for his efforts, and earned his first France caps during the March 2022 international break.
Watch: Christopher Nkunku - tactical analysis
Want more Bundesliga Action?
Nkunku also played a blinder on the European club scene, registering 11 goals and three assists across 12 UEFA Champions League and Europa appearances. Among his highlights was a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League groups, and a brace away to Italian outfit Atalanta that took Leipzig through to the Europa League semi-finals.
Nkunku added the DFB Cup to his Player of the Season award after Leipzig overcame Bundesliga rivals Freiburg on penalties in the final. A runner-up in 2020/21, he scored his fourth tournament goal of the campaign to send the game into extra-time, netted in the shootout and assisted three across the previous rounds. Victory represents Leipzig's first piece of major silverware.
Related news
The best French Players in Bundesliga history
Bixente Lizarazu, Franck Ribery, Kingsley Coman and more - we take a look at the standout French nationals to play in Germany's top flight...
Christopher Nkunku, made in the Bundesliga
The France international leaves Leipzig as a household name in world football, having honed his talents in Germany's top division.
Christopher Nkunku's Bundesliga career in numbers
bundesliga.com looks at the numbers behind Nkunku's stunning performances at the Red Bull Arena...