Ligue 1, 2025-2026 best pitch award winner revealed | OneFootball

For several years now, the Ligue de Football Professionnel has organized the “pitch championship” in Ligue 1. Often first in sporting results and on the pitch as well, Paris Saint-Germain only comes in 4th here when it comes to the quality of the surface at the Parc des Princes. OGC Nice came out on top.

The ranking is based on evaluations from the clubs, the central referees, and the TV director, using 5 criteria:

• For the clubs and the central referee: – Ball trajectory on the ground, – Ground softness/hardness, – Quality of footing (change of direction, acceleration, stopping while running, etc.), – Quality of the grass surface (density, color, uniformity, etc.), – Overall assessment of the playing area and its surroundings (assistant referees’ lanes, warm-up areas, markings, etc.). • For the TV director: – Color (quality of the green, uniformity, etc.) – Pitch density (presence of damaged or patched areas, etc.) – Mowing pattern (clearly distinct transverse stripes, respecting the markings) – Behavior during tackles (stability underfoot, presence of divots) – Overall assessment of the playing area and its surroundings (quality of the markings, technical areas, etc.)

The standings at the end of the 2025-2026 season:

For a while, we had grown used to seeing PSG in first place, so it is almost strange to see them in 4th. However, there is a positive way to look at it. Paris has not really dropped in quality; there is still an excellent pitch at the Parc des Princes. Even if the overall season could have been better. What really stands out is that the Ligue 1 average has risen tremendously in recent years.

Moreover, the LFP points out that the 2025-2026 season ends with the best average for Ligue 1 since this Pitch Championship has existed. That is excellent news for the standard of Ligue 1, and it is great to see the work done by every club. It also shows once again that it is not just a question of budget or region.

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