Ligue 1's Best XI of the Season

So that's it, the Ligue 1 season is over, Paris Saint-Germain are champions, Marseille and Lyon join them in Champions League next season while Nice and Saint-Etienne will be in the Europa League.

Troyes, Nancy and Brest fell through the relegation trap door and are preparing for life in Ligue 2 next term.

There have been thrills, spills and some outstanding performances in the French top flight this campaign, and many players could easily have staked a claim for a place in the best team of the season.

Only 11 can make it however, and here we take you through those men who did enough to earn a place in Bleacher Report's Best Ligue 1 XI of the season.

Salvatore Sirigu

There were many goalkeepers who made an impression in France this season.

Indeed, Marseille's Steve Mandanda, Saint-Etienne's Stephane Ruffier and Bordeaux's Cedric Carrasso could all have taken their place in the side, but in the end one man stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Salvatore Sirigu has been a revelation ever since joining PSG from Palermo in 2011, ousting Nicolas Douchez to become the number one keeper and never once showing signs of relinquishing that spot.

It has been another fine season for the Italy international, who has made a string of key saves throughout the campaign whenever the Parisians' impressive defense was breached.

The fact that Carlo Ancelotti's side conceded just 23 goals in their title-winning season is testament to Sirigu's quality, and he was an easy choice as the best goalkeeper in the division.

Rod Fanni

Far from being the most free scoring team in Ligue 1, the strength of Marseille's defense has been imperative to their return to the Champions League.

Rod Fanni has been a key member of a back four which kept 16 clean sheets this season and provided an excellent platform for OM, who executed an excellent revival to finish second following a disappointing league campaign last term.

Strong, physical and with a decent burst of pace, Fanni is a right-back ideally suited to the world of European football and will hope to make an impact in the continent's premier club competition next season.

The 31-year-old veteran is proficient in attack as well as defense, scoring twice and laying on three assists for his team-mates in a campaign worthy of a place in the team of the season for the France international.

Thiago Silva

Few would have doubted that Thiago Silva would have been an excellent signing for PSG, but the impact he has had has still been quite startling.

Thiago Silva has been nothing short of spectacular at the back for the newly-crowned champions, displaying great physicality, awareness and intelligence on the ball in a superb debut season in French football.

The statistics make for impressive reading, with the Brazilian averaging over six clearances a game, and winning just under 75 percent of his aerial duels this season.

The former AC Milan defender's aerial strength also made an attacking threat from set-pieces and, although both of his goals this term came in the Champions League, his impact has been crucial to PSG's success and he was undoubtedly the best centre-back in the league this term.

Loic Perrin

An underrated component of a highly successful Saint-Etienne defense, 27-year-old Loic Perrin has played a huge role in Les Verts' return to European competition.

Perrin has spent his entire 10-year career at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard and has once again been a mainstay in the spine of the Saint-Etienne side, making 34 league appearances.

Afforded ample opportunity to showcase his excellent defensive capabilities, Perrin has quietly established himself as one of the top defenders in Ligue 1.

Averaging almost seven clearances per game and adept at producing vital tackles and interceptions, Perrin is an experienced figure whose presence has proved to be a steadying influence at the back.

The former France U21 international has also made an impact as an attacking presence, and because of his versatility, Perrin is likely to be an integral part of the Saint-Etienne set-up for years to come.

Lucas Digne

A player tracked by the likes of Manchester United (Daily Mail) and Liverpool (Daily Mirror) in recent times, Lucas Digne has made a big impression in his second season at Lille.

The left-back has produced a string of excellent performances in both domestic and European competition this term, and has been one of the highlights of a side which has endured a disappointing campaign.

Digne is proficient in both defense and attack. The 19-year-old has shown maturity beyond his years, helping Les Dogues to one of the best defensive records in the league whilst also scoring two goals going forward.

The Lille youngster was almost an automatic selection in the team of the season, but it is Digne's age which makes him such an exciting prospect, and further development is to be expected from this extremely talented defender.

Maxime Gonalons

One of the many new talents to emerge from Lyon's prolific academy, Maxime Gonalons has developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in Ligue 1.

Gonalons' emergence as a first-team regular has been gradual, but despite the odd disciplinary concern, there can be no doubt that the 24-year-old is now a vital part of a Lyon side which booked their place in the Champions League on the final weekend of the season.

Composed and efficient on the ball, Gonalons offers a calming and competitive presence in the middle of the park, and he is likely to be an important figure in Les Gones' European assault next term.

Gonalons also contributed three goals this campaign, and manager Remi Garde will hope that he can build on a promising season and grow into a midfielder capable of having an impact going forward and in front of the defense.

Blaise Matuidi

There are few archetypal box-to-box midfielders still competing in world football, but in Blaise Matuidi there is certainly one of the best.

The former Saint-Etienne man has enjoyed campaign with the Parisians, displaying excellent energy in both attack and defense throughout the season.

Matuidi's energy, ability to dispossess other midfielders and distribute the ball effectively has been invaluable to PSG's success this season, and the 26-year-old can now be considered to be among one of the top midfielders in the European game.

Two of Matuidi's five league goals this season came in vital wins over Troyes and Lyon, and the France international will be expected to be a key contributor again next term.

Mathieu Valbuena

Perhaps a surprising selection considering Marseille's lack of goals, Mathieu Valbuena just keeps delivering the goods regardless of who is around him.

Marseille have sold off many first-team players in recent times, and yet Valbuena continues to find a way to get the best out of himself and his team-mates.

The France international midfielder only found the net three times, but provided a hugely impressive 12 assists, developing an excellent connection with striker Andre-Pierre Gignac.

The 28-year-old is in the prime of his career and will deservedly be playing in the Champions League football. If OM can perform on the European stage, then Valbuena may finally receive some long overdue recognition on a grander stage.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Few players have been more important to their respective teams than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been to Saint-Etienne.

The Gabon international showed signs of what he is capable of last term, but this season can certainly be considered to have been a breakout campaign for the forward.

Aubameyang netted 19 league goals in total for Les Verts and was a key player in their surge to Coupe de la Ligue triumph.

The 23-year-old has been impressive in almost every aspect of the game and also notched nine assists in a superb campaign.

It remains to be seen whether we have seen the last of Aubameyang in Ligue 1, but regardless of what takes place in the off-season, the striker is likely to be remembered among Saint-Etienne fans for a long time to come.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Winner of both the golden boot and Player of the Season awards, Paris Saint-Germain striker was the first name on the teamsheet in this campaign's team of the season.

The Swede was irrepressible for PSG in his first season in French football, becoming the first man since Jean-Pierre Papin in 1990 to score 30 goals in a Ligue 1 season.

Wonderfully arrogant, self-assured, petulant and with a penchant for the spectacular, Ibrahimovic has lit up Ligue 1 as both a player and a personality.

Nobody knows where Ibrahimovic's future lies next term, but there can be no question that the 31-year-old has already left his mark on yet another league in his own controversial fashion.

Dimitri Payet

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of this past Ligue 1 season, Dimitri Payet has become a dependable attacking outlet for Lille.

The loss of Eden Hazard to Chelsea was always going to be a blow to Rudi Garcia's 2011 champions but, although Les Dogues missed out on Europe and could only secure a sixth placed finish, Payet has taken the brunt of the creative burden and has helped to ease the loss of the Belgian to the Premier League.

The former Saint-Etienne winger enjoyed a tremendous season, scoring freely and setting-up on team-mates on multiple occasions.

His statistics of 12 goals and 13 assists in the league are unquestionably some of the best in European football, and the hierarchy at the Grand Stade Metropole will be hoping they can hang on to the 26-year-old despite the lack of continental competition in Northern France.