Sinayoko joins Weah in history books with eight goals in nine matches for Paris FC

Lassine Sinayoko guided Paris FC to a 3-1 victory against AS Monaco on Sunday at Jean-Bouin, during Matchday 9 of Ligue 1, scoring two goals and providing an assist. The result propels PFC to fourth place in the standings, three points behind the Paris leader.

The 26-year-old Malian striker first converted a service from Maxime Lopez (38’), before doubling the lead with a precise finish (44’). Folarin Balogun reduced the deficit for Monaco (65’), but Sinayoko sealed the win by setting up Pablo Pagis for the 3-1 (74’) following a masterclass of ball control in the opposition box.

His statistics since the start of the season — 8 goals and 5 assists in 9 matches — place Sinayoko in very select company. According to Stats Foot, he is the first African player to reach this goal tally after nine Ligue 1 matchdays since George Weah, who had scored 10 with AS Monaco during the 1991-1992 season, finishing with 18 goals. The Liberian later won the Ballon d’Or in 1995, the only African player to date to have won the award.

Formed at Entente Sannois-Saint-Gratien in Val d’Oise and then at AJ Auxerre, Sinayoko burst onto the scene last season by scoring 12 goals with AJA before being recruited by Paris FC for 8 million euros. Two weeks earlier, he had already signed a brace — two goals and two assists — in the 4-3 victory against Rennes. At this rate, Paris FC has in Sinayoko far more than just a finisher.