Vanessa Gilles and Jonathan David have secured the Canada Soccer Players of the Year accolade for the second consecutive year. Gilles, a central defender representing Germany’s Bayern Munich, emerged victorious over Adriana Leon from the San Diego Wave and Jayde Riviere from Manchester United. On the other hand, David, a forward playing for Juventus in Italy, triumphed over Ali Ahmed from Vancouver Whitecaps and Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal.
Both Gilles and David are jointly recognized as the winners of the award, which was determined through a vote by the media and Canada Soccer coaches. David, who was previously honored as the 2024/25 CONCACAF Men’s Player of the Year, previously clinched the Canada award in 2019. Gilles celebrated her 50th appearance for Canada by scoring a goal in a 2-0 triumph over Mexico during the Pinatar Cup, securing the tournament championship.
Expressing her gratitude, Gilles stated, “It’s a true honor to be selected as Canada Soccer’s women’s player of the year once more.” She reflected on her journey, acknowledging the incredible role models she was nominated alongside. In 2025, Gilles featured in eight matches for Canada, starting six, and played a pivotal role in the team’s performance, particularly when Kadeisha Buchanan was sidelined due to injury.
David, who made appearances in all 14 Canada matches this year, scored six goals and provided two assists. With 73 caps, he leads all Canadian men with 37 goals. Prior to joining Juventus, David showcased his talent at Lille, contributing eight goals and seven assists. Coach Casey Stoney commended Gilles for her commanding presence on the field, highlighting her intelligence, leadership, and composure under pressure.
Furthermore, Coach Jesse Marsch praised David’s professionalism and commitment to the national team. Marsch emphasized David’s dedication, citing his participation in the Gold Cup even before securing a professional contract. The winners of the Young Players of the Year, Para Soccer Player of the Year, Futsal Player of the Year, and the Allstate Good Hands Award were also announced recently.
The Canada Soccer Players of the Year award has a rich history, with notable winners from past years including Alphonso Davies, Christine Sinclair, and Atiba Hutchinson.
