League: Ligue 1 Sport: Soccer Country: France Category: Scores & Results

Young talents to watch in Ligue 1 this season include Diaoune and Mesloub

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 2:20 PM

Last updated Aug 21, 2026

Young talents to watch in Ligue 1 this season include Diaoune and Mesloub

Summary

As Ligue 1 kicks off, several young players are expected to make an impact. Soriba Diaoune, a forward for Lille OSC, is seen as a promising talent despite limited appearances last season. Mezian Mesloub, a midfielder for RC Lens, recently signed a professional contract after a standout debut where he scored almost immediately. Other prospects include Pape Cabral of AS Monaco, who is expected to take on a greater role this season, and Xavier Mandza of OGC Nice, who has drawn interest from top clubs. These players represent a burgeoning generation for their respective teams as the new season unfolds.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Soriba Diaoune made 17 appearances last season, mostly as a substitute.
•Mezian Mesloub scored within five seconds of his competitive debut for RC Lens.
•Pape Cabral is expected to play a major role after a contract extension with AS Monaco.
•Xavier Mandza was sought after by Juventus but committed to OGC Nice.

Latest Updates

2:20 PMYahoo Sports — GFFN GUIDE | Which prospects could break through in Ligue 1 this season?

What they're saying

"
As part of this season’s GFFN Ligue 1 Guide (found HERE), we look at which young stars could have breakout seasons in France’s top flightSORIBA DIAOUNE (19) FORWARD – LILLE OSCA lasting criticis...
— Yahoo Sports

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