The France World Cup winner also finished ahead of his club mates Brazil's Neymar and Argentina's Angel Di Maria as well as Rennes and France's Hatem Ben Arfa.

The awards were given out by the French player's union, UNFP.

Pepe did earn a place on the Ligue 1 team of the year.

The 23-year-old has scored 22 league goals for Lille so far this season as he helped his side secure second place in Ligue 1 behind PSG.

He also scored on his last appearance for Ivory Coast in March as they beat Rwanda 3-0 in their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

At the same ceremony the former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba was given the UNFP's Trophy of Honour.

The France-born forward won the Marc-Vivien Foe Award on Sunday as the best African player in Ligue, a prize organised by Radio France International and TV channel France 24.