As you spend the last couple of weeks readying your life for the holiday season, it’s awards SZN in the sports world.
Canada Soccer announced the eight men’s and women’s players up for this year’s Player of the Year award on Thursday and there are a few names that jump right off the page.
If you told Moïse Bombito at this time last year that he’d be up for the 2024 award and arguably be one of the podium favourites alongside Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, the centre-back probably wouldn’t have believed you. Bombito has quickly become a star for Jesse Marsch’s CanMNT and a stellar Copa América earned the former Colorado Rapids defender a Ligue 1 move to OGC Nice.
The men’s award nominees:
- Moïse Bombito
- Maxime Crépeau
- Jonathan David
- Alphonso Davies
- Stephen Eustáquio
- Alistair Johnston
- Cyle Larin
- Jacob Shaffelburg
Davies is a four-time winner with David’s 2019 award win sandwiched by Phonzie’s first in 2018 and his Canada Soccer POTY pandemic three-peat from 2020-2022.
David became the CanMNT’s all-time leading goal scorer in 2024, scoring five goals and chipping in with four assists in 14 international games. He recently reached the 100-goal milestone at Lille. The Ottawa native currently leads the Ligue 1 Golden Boot race with 11 goals in 14 matches. He’s hit the back of the night for Les Dogues 17 times across all competitions.
CanMNT vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio won the award last year and has had another strong year for both club and country, particularly since Vitor Bruno took over at FC Porto to start this 2024/25 season.
Like Bombito, Jacob Shaffelburg is another rising star whose stock has vaulted since Marsch’s arrival. The Nashville winger had an off-year for his club, by his own admission, but thrived in 13 appearances for Canada this year.
Related Read: EXCLUSIVE: Canada’s Stephen Eustáquio on CanMNT leadership, being a complete midfielder, and his club future
There’s arguably not as definitive a favoured trio amongst the women’s nominees this year, although in the absence of serial winner Christine Sinclair, there’s plenty of valuable candidates.
- Simi Awujo
- Kadeisha Buchanan
- Jessie Fleming
- Vanessa Gilles
- Ashley Lawrence
- Jade Rose
- Kailen Sheridan
- Evelyne Viens
Jessie Fleming has won the last three awards and the CanWNT captain is up for her fourth, as is fellow three-time winner Kadeisha Buchanan.
Buchanan tore her ACL last month and will spend considerable time in the new year on IR. She last was Canada Soccer POTY in 2020.
This could be Vanessa Gilles’ year. The star centre-back was the voice of the CanWNT during the Paris Olympics Dronegate scandal and has become a goal-scoring machine for Canada. The Lyon defender scored four times in 14 CanWNT games in 2024.
Simi Awujo’s stock continues to rise, as Canada Soccer searches for a new CanWNT head coach. The 21-year-old midfielder turned pro this year, leaving USC for Manchester United.
The three finalists for both the men’s and women’s awards will be announced on December 19, with the POTY winners announced the next day.
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