The Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced on Thursday the finalists for its 2025 Players’ Player of the Year award, the lone award in the league voted on by its players.
The Players’ Player of the Year shortlist recognizes the best players of the 2025 CPL Regular Season as judged by their peers. Each CPL player is asked to provide a three-man shortlist, and that voting is subsequently used to determine the 10 finalists, as well as the ultimate winner.
Players are not able to vote for themselves or include a teammate on their ballot. 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.
Ten players from five CPL clubs were named the 10-man shortlist for Players’ Player of the Year:
- Julian Altobelli, York United FC
- Nana Ampomah, Forge FC
- Manuel Aparicio, Atlético Ottawa
- Kyle Bekker, Forge FC
- Tiago Coimbra, Halifax Wanderers FC
- Ali Musse, Cavalry FC
- Daniel Nimick, Forge FC
- David Rodríguez, Atlético Ottawa
- Samuel Salter, Atlético Ottawa
- Ballou Tabla, Atlético Ottawa
Voting for the Players’ Player of the Year award is based on performances during the 2025 CPL Regular Season, not including the TELUS Canadian Championship, Concacaf Champions Cup or 2025 CPL Playoffs action.
The winner of the Players’ Player of the Year award will receive a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, conceived and carved by artist Ruben Komangapik. The Muskox statue was chosen to honour the Players’ Player of the Year award winner because the animal earns the respect of his herd through his leadership and organization, and gains recognition from his peers for his commanding presence in the heat of battle.
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.
