Kevin Carlos

Key strength: Link-up play

Target man

Perched precariously in 15th place with just one victory from their last five matches (WLLDL), OGC Nice find themselves staring into the relegation abyss. Amid this Riviera turmoil, 24-year-old Spanish centre-forward Kevin Carlos embodies both the club's grit and its quiet frustration. Despite racking up 27 appearances this campaign, Carlos has logged just 1,470 minutes—averaging a mere 54 minutes per outing as he's repeatedly summoned from the bench. His modest tally of 3 goals and 1 assist hardly tells the full story. Operating as a classic target man, Carlos provides the vital link-up play that feeds speedsters like Mohamed-Ali Cho, using intelligent hold-up play and physical presence to knit attacks together. What truly distinguishes him, however, is his remarkable discipline: zero cards in 27 appearances—a rarity for a centre-forward. Yet with teammate Elye Wahi favored as the starting No. 9, Carlos finds himself caught between utility and aspiration. Valued at €6 million, the Spaniard stands at a career crossroads. For Nice's survival hopes and his own future, these fleeting cameos must become commanding performances—or a January escape route may become inevitable.