by The MFPA Awards will kick-start the recognitions of the 2025/26 season with a record number of awards this evening. A reshaped shortlist in the women’s categories — with over half of last season’s nominees replaced — sits alongside an expanded awards structure, as the Malta Football Players Association extends recognition across competitions in this year’s ceremony.
Challenge League Best XI Marks Next Step
The Malta Football Players Association will stage its 2025/26 awards ceremony this evening at Villa Bologna in Attard, marking the start of this year’s awards cycle with a record 44 honours.
Among the changes is the introduction of the Challenge League Best XI and Best Challenge League Coach, extending the scope of recognition within the Maltese game.
The new categories bring the second-tier division in men’s football on par with the top tier in men and women’s football in award categories. Meanwhile, awards are also given the to Best Amateur League 1 Player and Best Amateur League 2 Player in the men’s game.
According to the recurring characteristic of the MFPA Awards, nominees were shortlisted by a panel of coaches before final voting was carried out by players, maintaining the peer-selection structure that underpins the awards.
All players shortlisted for the Best XI are eligible for the Best Player award, with the Best Young Player nominees to be announced during the ceremony.
Alongside the competitive categories, the Malta Football Players Association will also honour a former player or personality for their contribution to Maltese football, maintaining a feature of the awards that recognises impact beyond a single season.
The winners across all categories will be announced during this evening’s event.
The Women’s Landscape
Having secured three of the four available domestic honours, Mgarr United lead the nominations with nine players. Hibernians follow with five, while Swieqi United — winners of the Super Cup — have four representatives among the finalists.
The shortlist reflects a notable shift from last season, with thirteen of the twenty-two nominated players changed from last year, indicating a turnover of just over 50% in the league’s recognised performers.
In goal, reigning champion Patricia Araujo (Swieqi United) will be contested by Giulia D’Antuono (Mgarr United).
The centre-backs feature the consistency of Natalee Geren (Hibernians) and Leanne Cefai (Mgarr United) among the nominees, who are joined by veterans Abigail Camilleri (Mgarr United) and Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara).
On the flanks, Rebecca Bajada (Mgarr United) retains a nomination despite an injury-shortened campaign, having contributed in the early stages of the title-winning season. She is joined on the right by Georgiana Mifsud (Hibernians), while the left side is contested by Yanina Mendez (Mgarr United) and Calista Schechinger (Hibernians).
In midfield, Valletta captain Eliza Csik and San Gwann’s Morena Fanega are among the nominees, with Andjela Kricak recognised in her first full season at Swieqi United. Momo Ueda (Birkirkara) is also included following her contributions with the Stripes.
The midfield nominees feature two of last year’s Best XI. Amber Grech continued to earn her place among the nominees after coming up with several important contributions in Mgarr United’s run up to the league title, with Hibernians’ captain Nicole Sciberras also retaining her place in the nominees. Sciberras was also the recipient of the Best Young Player award last year.
The forward line includes the league’s leading scorer Salamatu Abdulai (Swieqi United), who finished the season with 22 goals, alongside teammate Sara Saliba with 16. Mgarr United’s Valeria Villegas Caly retains her place following 15 goal contributions, matching the output of Birkirkara’s Momo Ueda. Villegas Caly is joined by teammates Alejandra Villegas Caly and Yulya Carella, while Hibernians’ Sylivia Kabene completes the list of attacking nominees.
All players shortlisted for the Best XI are eligible for the Best Player award, with the Best Young Player nominees to be announced during the ceremony.
The Best Coach category features the coaches of the top three teams in the league: namely, debuting coach Martina Borg (Hibernians), together with Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United) and Ryan Vella (Mgarr United). The latter duo contested the award last year alongside Kenneth Costantino (then of Hibernians), with the first award clinched by Dorianne Theuma.
The full list of nominees in the women’s and men’s categories are listed below.
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeepers: Patricia Araujo Da Silva (Swieqi United); Giulia D’Antuono (Mġarr United).
Centre-backs: Abigail Camilleri (Mġarr United); Leanne Cefai (Mġarr United); Natalee Geren (Hibernians); Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara).
Right-backs: Rebecca Bajada (Mġarr United); Georgiana Mifsud (Hibernians).
Left-backs: Yanina Mendez (Mġarr United); Calista Schechinger (Hibernians).
Midfielders Eliza Csik (Valletta); Morena Fanega (San Ġwann); Amber Grech (Mġarr United); Andjela Kricak (Swieqi United); Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians); Momo Ueda (Birkirkara).
Forwards: Salamatu Abdulai (Swieqi United); Yulya Carella (Mġarr United); Sylivia Kabene (Hibernians); Sara Saliba (Swieqi United); Alejandra Villegas Caly (Mġarr United); Valeria Villegas Caly (Mġarr United).
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST PLAYER – All the candidates for the MFPA Women’s Best XI are eligible.
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST YOUNG PLAYER – Finalists will be revealed during the MFPA Awards event.
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST COACH – Martina Borg (Hibernians); Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United); Ryan Vella (Mġarr United).
MFPA MEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans); Matthias Debono (Naxxar Lions).
Centre-backs: Emerson Marcelina (Ħamrun Spartans); Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United); Iago Mendonca (Floriana); Sava Radic (Valletta).
Right-backs: Rafael Compri (Ħamrun Spartans); Juan Carlos Corbalan (Marsaxlokk).
Left-backs: Leandro Aguirre (Marsaxlokk);Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans).
Midfielders: Jake Grech (Floriana); Donovan Makoma (Birkirkara); Yuri Messias (Valletta); Brandon Paiber (Valletta); Federico Varela (Floriana); Dunstan Vella (Floriana).
Forwards: Thaylor Aldama (Valletta); Prince Emmanuel (Mosta); Mustapha Jah (Floriana); Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans); Jorge Soares (Marsaxlokk); Joao Souza Dos Santos – Vitinho (Naxxar Lions).
MFPA MEN’S BEST PLAYER – All the candidates for the MFPA Men’s Best XI are eligible.
MFPA MEN’S BEST YOUNG PLAYER – Finalists will be revealed during the MFPA Awards event.
MFPA BEST PREMIER LEAGUE COACH – Daniel Portela da Silva (Floriana); Thane Micallef (Valletta); Vincenzo Potenza (Marsaxlokk).
MFPA CHALLENGE LEAGUE BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeepers: Dylan Ciappara (Balzan); Reeves Cini (Pietà Hotspurs).
Centre-backs: Juan Bolanos Ramirez (Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s); Samuel Okoh (Swieqi United); Enzo Ruiz (Gudja United); Luis Gabriel Santos Silva (Balzan).
Right-backs: Isaac Davey (Swieqi United); Jake Engerer (Balzan).
Left-backs: Samir Arab (Balzan); Matteo Gambin (Fgura United).
Midfielders: Kurt Bondin (Melita); Samuel Buhagiar (Fgura United); Kian Leonardi (Swieqi United); Salam Mawuena (Swieqi United); Matthew Xuereb (Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s); Nicholas Pulis (Balzan).
Forwards: Oluwatobiloba Awosanya (Balzan); Alex De Souza Silva (Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s); Paul Lapira (Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s); Cristhyan Noto Souza (Mġarr United); Thiago Nonato (Sirens); Jesus Yepez (Melita).
MFPA CHALLENGE LEAGUE PLAYER – All the candidates for the MFPA Challenge League Best XI are eligible.
MFPA BEST CHALLENGE LEAGUE COACH – Manuel Caruana (Pietà Hotspurs); Andrew Cohen (Balzan); Edgar Degabriele (Birzebbuġa St. Peter’s); Liam Mangion (Swieqi United).
MFPA BEST AMATEUR LEAGUE 1 PLAYER – Luka Mijic (Mqabba); Rondinely Monteiro (Victoria Hotspurs); Precious Nwankwo (Attard).
MFPA BEST AMATEUR LEAGUE 2 PLAYER – Ronaldinho Daley (Dingli Swallows); Ryan Dalli (Kalkara United); Giovanni Galea (Mdina Knights).
