The 2025 Canadian Premier League campaign was a special one, featuring perhaps more breakout individual performances than any other.
We saw more goals than ever before, a phenomenal cast of young stars, and a litany of dazzling moments.
So, the time has come to look back at the year that was, and honour 11 of the top performers from the 2025 season.
As selected by the CPL's soccer department, here is this year's Best XI, fuelled by Gatorade.
Goalkeeper
Jassem Koleilat (Forge FC)
The Forge keeper not only collected Golden Glove honours at this year's CPL Awards, he also set a new league record for clean sheets in a single season with 13. Koleilat helped Forge win 15 games and conceded just 21 goals in 27 matches in the regular season.
Defenders
Rezart Rama (Forge FC)
Rama, typically a full-back, slots into a back three in this Best XI. The hard-nosed Albanian defender was outstanding up and down the right flank for Forge, leading the CPL in interceptions (39) and duels won (143). He was second in the league in forward passes completed (605) and fourth in passes into the final third (227), demonstrating his ability to progress the ball as well as defend.
Dan Nimick (Forge FC)
In his first year in Hamilton, Nimick was outstanding en route to winning the CPL's Defender of the Year honour. He led the league in progressive carries (282) and recoveries in the defensive third (99). He scored two goals and provided four assists, also anchoring Forge's defence as they won the CPL Shield and conceded a league-fewest 22 goals.
Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa)
Arguably the keystone of Atleti's formidable back three this year, Abatneh was strong all-around as part of a very young defensive group. He was nominated for both the Defender of the Year and Best U-21 Canadian Player awards, and ended the year with the best prize of all: the North Star Cup. At just 21 years old, Abatneh finished second in the CPL in progressive carries (257) and led the league in both passes completed (1,855) and passing accuracy (95.6 per cent).
Midfielders
Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
Forge's 35-year-old captain was perhaps better than ever in his seventh year with the club. Bekker helmed the Hamilton side to a second consecutive CPL Shield, finishing fourth in chances created (50). With three goals and four assists as well, Bekker was the heart of Forge's imposing midfield.
Manny Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)
Occasionally an unsung hero on a star-studded Ottawa team, Aparicio seemed to cover every single inch of the field this year for Atleti in their championship campaign. He finished third in the league in both passes completed (1,562) and tackles won (47), and second in duels won (159) and interceptions (39). With a goal and five assists as well, Aparicio was a key contributor in every part of the game in 2025.
David Rodríguez (Atlético Ottawa)
What's left to be said about Atleti's heroic winger? The diminutive Mexican-American is well remembered for his dazzling two-goal performance in the CPL Final (including the 'Icicle Kick'), but Rodríguez was a superstar all year in the capital. The 23-year-old tied a CPL record for assists in a regular season with nine, also scoring nine goals. He led the league in chances created (67) and touches in the box (147) as well.
Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
In what was arguably his strongest season for Cavalry, Camargo was one of the few constants at the heart of the Cavs' attacking midfield in the regular season. He delivered six assists for the Cavs and scored eight himself, both of which were single-season career highs. He created 32 chances, and finished third in the CPL in expected goals with 9.45.
Nana Ampomah (Forge FC)
One of the most dynamic attacking forces in the league when healthy, Ampomah was Forge's most dangerous weapon up front for most of this year. He scored six and had three assists, finishing fourth in dribbles completed (42) and second in big chances created (13), despite only starting 16 games in the regular season.
Forwards
Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers FC)
Coimbra fully emerged as a CPL star in 2025, winning the Best Canadian U-21 Player award. He scored 12 goals to finish second in the Golden Boot race, tying the CPL record for goals by a U-21 player. He led all forwards in aerial duels won (5), and also provided three assists, and also set a new CPL record for goals-per-90 among players with at least 500 minutes played, with 0.87.
Samuel Salter (Atlético Ottawa)
This year's CPL Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner, Salter was the greatest star of this season. He blew away the competition in the scoring race, setting a new CPL record for goals in a season with 19 — none of them from the penalty spot. His 23 total goal contributions was also a CPL record, as was his 45 shots on target. He was the point of the spear in Ottawa's league-best attack.
