Marseille's 2025-26 season review 💥 | OneFootball

The 2026-25 Ligue 1 season came to a close last weekend after the Matchday 34 multiplex. So now it’s time to take stock of a chaotic campaign for OM.

The big talking points of the season ⚠️

It’s hard to know where to begin, such was the Marseille season marked by one chaotic event after another.

First of all, there was that unlikely fight between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe on the very first Ligue 1 matchday after a defeat to Rennes despite having an 11-on-10 advantage. That altercation could have remained a dressing-room matter, but OM chose to make a strong statement and moved both players on right at the end of the transfer window.

Despite that surreal start to the season, OM had managed to get back on track, but everything blew up again in early February. The day after the heaviest defeat in the club’s history against PSG (5-0), and after a run of disappointing results, Roberto De Zerbi throws in the towel and leaves Marseille.

That marked the beginning of the collapse of the project led by Pablo Longoria, who was then dismissed by Frank McCourt. A few days later, Medhi Benatia also publicly handed in his resignation, but after being persuaded by the American owner to stay until the end of the season, Benatia made a highly surprising U-turn.

Despite the appointment of Habib Beye, OM never recovered from that apocalyptic month of February.

The verdict in France 📝

After a completely failed opening match in Ligue 1, OM bounced back well, notably earning a prestigious home win over PSG on Matchday 5.

But despite some good results, the club from Marseille still dropped points that had seemed theirs, conceding avoidable goals in stoppage time (Toulouse, Paris FC, Strasbourg, Angers).

Still on the heels of the Parisian club and Lens up to Matchday 20, OM then saw the institutional crisis irreparably affect matters on the pitch. Despite a show of pride against OL (3-2), the Marseillais slowly sank in Ligue 1.

Gradually surrendering in the race for the Champions League, the Olympiens then tried to turn toward a possible Coupe de France triumph after PSG’s elimination. But another penalty shootout defeat, this time against Toulouse, sent OM crashing toward another trophyless season.

Not far from missing out on Europe altogether, Marseille still managed to clinch a Europa League place on the final day, a long way short of their lofty ambitions at the start of the season. OM even suffered one more heartbreak, losing the Trophée des Champions to PSG after leading 2-1 with less than a minute to go.

The goals conceded late in games cost Marseille very, very dearly this season.

The verdict in Europe ⭐️

Before the start of the Champions League, the stated objective was not to make the Top 24 but simply to qualify for next season’s edition. But just like on the domestic stage, nothing went as planned.

After a frustrating defeat in Madrid (2-1), OM crushed Ajax Amsterdam at home (4-0). That win was followed by two defeats with absurd storylines against Sporting (2-1) and Atalanta (0-1), once again with goals conceded late on.

Even so, OM got back on track with two gutsy wins against Newcastle (2-1) and Union Saint-Gilloise (2-3).

OM then needed just one point from their last two matches to seal a playoff place, but first suffered a heavy home defeat to Liverpool (0-3).

Then came the nightmare. Away on Club Brugge’s pitch, OM lost 3-0 and were eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference, following a Benfica goalkeeper goal in the dying moments of the match against Real Madrid.

They delivered 🤩

It’s hard to find names who stayed above the fray throughout the entire OM season, with the players seeming mentally drained very early in the campaign. 

Timothy Weah was nevertheless one of the few players to consistently perform all year, notably thanks to his tireless work down the right flank. One of the rare players to be applauded during the final home game of the season at the Vélodrome.

The most expensive signing in OM history, Igor Paixao delivered despite a slightly slow start. In the end, he posted 12 goals and 7 assists in all competitions, including strikes in important matches.

Despite a casualness that remains just as frustrating, Mason Greenwood is still this OM side’s number one attacking weapon and proved it again this season with 26 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

They raised questions 🤔

Much like what happened behind the scenes, this season was also one of the senior players collapsing on the pitch. Leonardo Balerdi is the best example. Crushed by the weight of the captain’s armband, the Argentine defender struggled all season long. His extraordinary collapse in Le Classique was the most striking example.

Pierre-Émile Hojbjerg also found it tough throughout the season. Despite getting the armband back under Habib Beye, the Dane finished exhausted and only too rarely was the leader OM needed.

After an exceptional first year, Geronimo Rulli also came to symbolize the Phocéens’ collective meltdown. Less decisive and often at fault, the goalkeeper still managed to rally for the final two wins of the season.

Finally, a good number of new signings failed to produce the expected return, as was the case with Arthur Vermeeren, Himad Abdelli, Benjamin Pavard, Hamed Traoré, Ethan Nwaneri and CJ Egan-Riley.

Summer 2026 ☀️

For now, it’s hard to know what awaits OM this summer, aside from an inevitable period of austerity due to the absence of Champions League football.

After Medhi Benatia’s departure, the appointment of Grégory Lorenzy as sporting director seems to be dragging on.

However, several key players are expected to leave this summer, with Pierre-Émile Hojbjerg and Leonardo Balerdi leading the way. On his side, Benjamin Pavard has already returned to Milan. Bilal Nadir, too, will leave the club on a free.

What about Quinten Timber and Mason Greenwood, OM’s rare marketable assets? The former could bring in a handsome profit, having been bought for just four million euros this winter, while the latter has publicly expressed his desire to stay in Marseille.

In any case, the room for maneuver will be limited, given that OM must also make the signings of Nayef Aguerd and Facundo Medina permanent this summer.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

📸 NICOLAS TUCAT - AFP or licensors