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Ivory CoastAfrican Stars Sinayoko and Zabiri Take Ligue 1 and La Liga by Storm
Lassine Sinayoko and Yassir Zabiri are surprising European football with extraordinary goalscoring sprees in France and Spain.
Sinayoko Powers Paris FC Push
Lassine Sinayoko is making a massive impact in Ligue 1. The 26 year old Malian international has nine goals in 10 appearances for Paris FC, leading the French top flight in scoring. He signed for a reported €8 million in the offseason on a three year deal, and his form has pushed his new club up the table.
Sinayoko recently scored the winner in a 1-0 victory against his former team Auxerre, choosing not to celebrate. His season includes a hat-trick against Olympique de Marseille in a 3-2 win, plus strong displays against Rennes and Monaco. He is the first African player to score eight goals in the first nine matchdays of a Ligue 1 season since George Weah in 1991. Paris FC, owned by the Arnault family and managed by Liam Rosenior, currently sit third in the table.
Zabiri Shines on Loan in Spain
Over in Spain, Moroccan forward Yassir Zabiri is enjoying a breakout season. The 21 year old has scored nine goals in 12 La Liga matches for Racing Santander. Only Raphinha, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal have scored more in the division.
Zabiri signed for Rennes in January but played just 42 minutes before joining Racing on loan in July. He has quickly become essential, scoring more than half of Racing's 17 league goals. His recent strike sealed a 2-1 come from behind victory over Malaga. The young attacker also helped Morocco win the 2025 U-20 World Cup, scoring twice in the final against Argentina. Racing do not have a purchase option in his loan deal.
Strong Underlying Stats Point to Lasting Success
Both players are producing impressive underlying numbers. Sinayoko and Zabiri each average roughly 0.72 expected goals per 90 minutes. This suggests their high output is backed up by consistent chance creation and smart positioning rather than luck.
At 26, Sinayoko provides physical presence and creativity, linking up well with Paris FC teammates like Moses Simon and Pablo Pagis. Meanwhile, Zabiri is proving his scoring touch in Portugal was no fluke. Whether Rennes decide to keep Zabiri next season or sell him, and whether Sinayoko attracts bigger European suitors, both players are currently key figures for their teams.
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