Canada Soccer reveals three men’s and women’s finalists for Player of the Year

Canada Soccer has announced its shortlist for its 2025 Players of the Year Award, leaving three men and three women in contention from the original list of eight nominees.

The three women’s finalists are Bayern Munich’s Vanessa Gilles, last year’s winner, San Diego’s Adriana Leon and Manchester United’s Jayde Riviere. The men’s finalists are Vancouver’s Ali Ahmed, Villarreal’s Tajon Buchanan and Juventus’ Jonathan David.

Promise David, Richie Laryea, Tani Oluwaseyi, Niko Sigur and Dayne St. Clair were among the nominees, as were Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Emma Regan, Janine Sonis, Holly Ward and Shelina Zadorsky on the women’s side.

The two winners are recognized as co-winners of the award.

The men’s and women’s nominees were chosen by the respective national team coaching staffs. The winners, to be decided by a vote of Canadian sports media and coaches, will be announced Friday.

David and Canada captain Alphonso Davies have combined to win the award six of the last seven years, with Davies honoured four times and David twice. Stephen Eustaquio won the award in 2023.

Davies, who only recently returned to action with Bayern Munich after a 262-day absence due to a knee injury, was not nominated this year. Neither was women’s captain Jessie Fleming, who won the award from 2021 to ’23.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2025