The ESPN Player of the Month award, now in its fourth iteration, celebrates the top performers from Europe’s five premier leagues. After recognizing exceptional talent in October, November, December, and January, we now shine a spotlight on the stars of February.
In LaLiga, one name stood out above the rest. Barcelona‘s Lamine Yamal was unanimously voted the best player for the second consecutive month, asserting his position as Spain’s finest.
Harry Kane of Bayern Munich also made headlines, netting eight goals across four Bundesliga matches.
In Serie A, a surprise contender emerged, securing the title of the league’s best player for the first time with unanimous support.
ESPN also honored standout players from Ligue 1 and the Premier League.
How It Works
The selection process is straightforward: three ESPN journalists from different countries vote for the players they believe performed best in each league. Each month, these experts nominate their top three players, awarding points—three for third place, five for second, and ten for first. A player can achieve a maximum of 30 points if recognized as the best by all three voters.
In case of a tie, the player with the most first-place votes is declared the winner.
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Forward | Paris Saint-Germain and France | 23 years old | 18 points
The winger played a crucial role in PSG’s success, helping them secure four wins in five Ligue 1 matches throughout February.
He scored during a 3-0 triumph over Metz and netted the decisive goal in a narrow 1-0 victory against Le Havre. These accomplishments propelled PSG to the top of the table with 57 points, four ahead of second-placed Lens.
Second place:
‐ Folarin Balogun: FW, AS Monaco (16 points)
Third place:
‐ Denis Zakaria: MF, AS Monaco (10 points)
Forward | Bayern Munich and England | 32 years old | 30 points
Kane has been sensational in the Bundesliga, consistently showcasing his abilities. The English striker was the unanimous choice as the league’s best player, scoring two goals in each match he played in February, totaling eight in just four matches.
Thanks to Kane’s contributions, Bayern clinched victories against Hoffenheim (5-1), Werder Bremen (3-0), Eintracht Frankfurt (3-2), and Borussia Dortmund (3-2).
Currently, Bayern leads the league with 63 points, 11 ahead of Dortmund. If Kane maintains his form in March, another title may soon be theirs.
Second place:
‐ Deniz Undav: FW, Stuttgart (8 points)
Third place:
‐ (tie) Alexis Claude-Maurice: MF, Augsburg
‐ Yan Diomande: FW, RB Leipzig (5 points)
Defender | Internazionale and Italy | 29 years old | 30 points
Inter was perfect in February, winning all five Serie A matches, including victories against Cremonese (2-0), Sassuolo (5-0), Juventus (3-2), Lecce (2-0), and Genoa (2-0). This run enabled them to maintain a strong lead at the top of the table with 67 points, ten ahead of rivals AC Milan.
Dimarco was integral to their success, starting every match in this streak and even scoring in the last victory over Genoa. His unanimous selection stands out as the only non-attacker in this list of honorees.
Second place:
‐ Donyell Malen: FW, AS Roma (10 points)
Third place:
‐ Nico Paz: MF, Como (5 points)
Right Winger | Barcelona and Spain | 18 years old | 30 points
Lamine Yamal was the clear standout in LaLiga for February, receiving unanimous recognition from all three ESPN reporters, mirroring his achievement from January. At just 18 years old, he’s poised for a remarkable future in 2026 and beyond.
Yamal kicked off the month with a goal against Mallorca. Despite a brief scoring lull against Girona and Levante, he capped off February with his first professional hat trick against Villarreal.
Second place:
‐ Vinícius Júnior: FW, Real Madrid (8 points)
Third place:
‐ (tie) Antony, FW, Real Betis (5 points)
‐ Fer López: MF, Celta Vigo (5 points)
Midfielder | Manchester United and Slovenia | 22 years old | 20 points
Sesko has become a beacon of hope for Manchester United fans, as his performances throughout February illustrated.
In his first match of the month, he stunningly scored in stoppage time to seal a 3-2 victory over Fulham. His scoring prowess continued against Tottenham Hotspur—where he found the net despite coming off the bench—and later provided a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United.
He capped off February with a decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Everton, securing him the ESPN Player of the Month title.
Second place:
‐ Bruno Fernandes: MF, Manchester United (10 points)
Third place:
– Viktor Gyökeres, FW, Arsenal (10 points)