After 35 years.. Sinayoko approaches George Weah's historic Ligue 1 record
Mali international Lassine Sinayoko has joined an exclusive chapter of African football history, becoming the first African player since George Weah in the 1991 /92 season to score at least eight goals in the opening nine rounds of France's top division.
The 26 year old striker reached the milestone after scoring twice and providing an assist in Paris FC's 3-1 victory over AS Monaco on Sunday 1 November, taking his tally to eight goals and five assists in nine Ligue 1 appearances.
The remarkable start has also placed Sinayoko at the top of the league's goalscoring charts, with his performances drawing comparisons to former Liberia international and 1995 Ballon d'Or winner George Weah.
Eight goals and five assists: Sinayoko inspires Paris FC against Monaco
Sinayoko delivered another decisive performance at the Stade Jean-Bouin scoring twice before half time to put Paris FC firmly in control.
The Malian opened the scoring in the 38th minute after receiving a pass from Maxime Lopez, before doubling the advantage six minutes later following an assist from Nigerian international Moses Simon.
Monaco briefly threatened a comeback when Folarin Balogun reduced the deficit in the 65th minute.
However, Sinayoko responded with another important contribution, creating Paris FC's third goal for Pablo Pagis in the 74th minute.
The victory lifted Liam Rosenior's team to fourth place with 17 points, three behind leaders Paris Saint Germain.
The performance was not an isolated achievement.
Two weeks earlier, Sinayoko scored twice and provided two assists against Rennes, contributing directly to all four goals in a dramatic 4-3 victory.
George Weah's 1991 /92 record: How close is Sinayoko?
Sinayoko's impressive start has revived memories of one of African football's greatest players.
The Malian is the first African footballer to reach eight Ligue 1 goals after nine rounds since George Weah achieved the feat with Monaco in the 1991 /92 campaign.
However, the Liberian legend had actually recorded an even more impressive tally at the same stage.
The historical comparison stands as follows:
- George Weah (Monaco, 1991/92): 10 goals after nine rounds
- Lassine Sinayoko (Paris FC, 2026/27): 8 goals after nine rounds
Weah eventually finished the 1991 /92 season with 18 league goals, before continuing his career at Paris Saint Germain and AC Milan.
In 1995, he became the first African footballer to win the Ballon d'Or, a distinction he remains uniquely associated with among African players.
While Sinayoko has not equalled Weah's exact goalscoring tally after nine matches, he has achieved a level of early season productivity unmatched by an African player in France's top division for 35 years.
The comparison is particularly interesting because Sinayoko reached the milestone against Monaco, the club where Weah established his remarkable record.
Rosenior explains the secret behind Sinayoko's remarkable form
Sinayoko's performances have attracted considerable praise from Paris FC coach Liam Rosenior.
Speaking after the victory over Monaco, the English manager highlighted the striker's development and his contributions beyond goalscoring.
"Lassine has been consistently exceptional since the start of the season" Rosenior explained.
The coach revealed that the club had worked extensively with the Malian on his positioning, praising his ability to adapt and absorb tactical instructions.
Rosenior also emphasised Sinayoko's defensive commitment, pressing and willingness to contribute to the collective effort.
The striker's statistics support that assessment.
With eight goals and five assists, he has already registered 13 direct goal contributions in nine league matches, averaging approximately 1.44 per appearance.
His ability to combine finishing with chance creation has made him one of the most influential attacking players in Ligue 1.
As Foot Africa previously highlighted in its ranking of Africa's most decisive players in Europe's leading leagues, Sinayoko was already leading the continent's attacking statistics before his latest performance.
From Auxerre to Paris FC: A remarkable transformation
Sinayoko's outstanding form follows an important career decision during the summer transfer window.
The Mali international joined Paris FC from Auxerre in July 2026, signing a contract until June 2029.
The transfer was reportedly worth approximately €8-9 million, following a successful campaign in which he scored 12 Ligue 1 goals for Auxerre.
As Foot Africa reported when the agreement was completed, Sinayoko arrived as an important reinforcement for Paris FC's attacking project.
His adaptation has exceeded expectations.
After only nine league appearances, he is already just four goals away from matching his entire league total from the previous season.
The Malian's development has also strengthened Paris FC's ambitions, with Rosenior's side emerging among the leading teams during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Can Sinayoko match Weah's 18 goal season?
Sinayoko's immediate challenge will be maintaining his remarkable efficiency as the season progresses.
His next league fixture is scheduled for 7 November against Auxerre providing an opportunity to extend his scoring run against his former club.
With 8 goals already recorded, the Malian needs ten more to equal Weah's final tally of 18 from the 1991/92 campaign or 11 to surpass it.
However, maintaining his current scoring average across an entire season would be an exceptional achievement, and the historical comparison does not guarantee a similar outcome.
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