Halifax Wanderers striker Tiago Coimbra has been nominated for the Canadian Premier League's Best Canadian U-21 Player award.
Coimbra’s 2025 campaign with the Wanderers was among the most prolific ever by a young CPL striker. The 21-year-old led all U-21 domestic players with 12 goals — second-most among all CPL players — and ranked first in goals per 90 minutes (0.87), setting a new league record for the highest goals-per-90 rate ever recorded by a CPL player with at least 500 minutes played. He also led all forwards in aerial duels won (50), underscoring his dominance inside the box. This is Coimbra’s first nomination for the award.
The winner will be decided through voting by technical leadership from all eight CPL clubs, as well as by select media members, representing local and national outlets, who consistently covered the 2025 CPL Regular Season. The winner will be revealed at an in-person ceremony in Ottawa, Ont., on Friday, Nov. 7, as part of the 2025 CPL Final festivities.
Voting for the CPL’s Best Canadian U-21 Player award is based on performances during the 2025 Regular Season, not including the TELUS Canadian Championship, Concacaf Champions Cup or 2025 CPL Playoffs action.
Atlético Ottawa’s Noah Abatneh and Gabriel Antinoro; Vancouver FC’s Thierno Bah; and Forge FC’s Hoce Massunda, are also nominated for the award this year.
The winner of the Best Canadian U-21 Player will be awarded a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, conceived by artist Taqialuk Nuna and carved by artist Ruben Komangapik. The Polar Bear statue is awarded annually to the CPL’s Best Canadian U-21 Player because, like a developing player, the animal grows from a playful young cub to one of the most respected and formidable animals roaming Canada’s North.
The 2025 CPL Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on dedicated soccer channel OneSoccer beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, with appearances by OneSoccer personalities, current and former CPL players and coaches, as well as special guests from the Canadian soccer community.