PFA announces 2026 Footballer of the Year nominees

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has announced the nominees for the 2026 Footballer of the Year and Young Footballer of the Year awards. The selections are based on performances between July 2025 and June 2026 in both club and international competitions, including the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

In the women’s categories, the shortlist for Footballer of the Year includes Matildas stars Sam Kerr, Alanna Kennedy, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, and Holly McNamara, alongside Winonah Heatley. The Young Footballer of the Year nominees feature Isabel Gomez, Charlize Rule, Pia Vlok, Leticia McKenna, Talia Younis, and Willa Pearson.

For the men’s awards, Melbourne Victory’s Juan Mata is among six nominees for Footballer of the Year, joined by Nestory Irankunda, Jordan Bos, Mohamed Toure, Alessandro Circati, and Mathew Ryan. The Young Footballer of the Year shortlist includes Lucas Herrington, Paul Okon-Engstler, and Patrick Beach, with Irankunda, Bos, and Circati also nominated in the youth category.