Canada Soccer recognizes the best in Canadian soccer through its awards and recognition program. Primary among them are the Canada Soccer Players of the Year awards.
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Awards
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Canada Soccer 2025 Player Awards
2025 Senior Men's Player of the Year
Jonathan David
David appeared in all 14 matches, contributing six goals and two assists. In 2025, J. David entered CANMNT’s Top 10 All-Time appearances leaders, currently sitting at 73, five off Mark Watson’s 78 appearances for country. He was named the 2024/25 Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year at November’s Concacaf Awards.
2025 Senior Women's Player of the Year
Vanessa Gilles
Gilles appeared in eight matches in 2025, starting six and scoring once. Her goal came in the 2-0 win over Mexico at the Pinatar Cup, a result that secured the tournament title and marked her 50th appearance with CANWNT.
2025 Young Men's Player of the Year
Luc De Fougerolles
For Canada, De Fougerolles made nine appearances, with 7 starts, contributing an assist and posting six clean sheets. He made his first goal contribution for Canada in their 4:2 win over Ukraine, assisting Tajon Buchanan’s goal in 82nd minute. At the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, he played 230 minutes across the four matches, picking up clean sheets against Honduras and El Salvador.
2025 Young Women's Player of the Year
Olivia Chisholm
Olivia Chisholm, 17, had an exceptional 2025 with Canada Soccer’s youth national teams, participating in five camps and competing in two Concacaf championships and a FIFA U-17 World Cup. She co-led Canada in scoring at the U-17 Concacaf qualifiers, played a crucial role in the U-20 team’s championship victory over Mexico, and captained Canada at the U-17 World Cup where they reached the quarterfinals. At the club level, she signed with AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League at age 16, making her professional debut in August and becoming the youngest player in the club’s history.
2025 Para Soccer Player of the Year
Duncan McDonald
McDonald had an excellent 2025 for Canada Soccer’s Para Soccer National Team (CANPARA) leading Canada to a fourth-place finish at the 2025 IFCPF Copa América in Moldonado, Uruguay this October. Leading the line at the back, he finished in the tournament lead in tackles and blocked shots. Canada produced stellar results, defeating Chile 3:2 and CP Soccer US 2:1 as they just missed the podium slots at the tournament. At the age of 25, McDonald has a bright future ahead of him as he looks to lead CANPARA at future tournaments.
2025 Futsal Player of the Year
Léa Palacio-Tellier
Léa Palacio-Tellier delivered an outstanding 2025 season with Canada’s Women’s National Futsal Team (CANWFUTSAL), playing a defining role in a historic year for the program. The Montréal, Quebec native captained Canada to a gold medal at the inaugural 2025 Concacaf W Futsal Championship in May, earning Best Goalkeeper honours after helping Canada concede just four goals in the Group Stage, the fewest of any team at that stage of the tournament. She followed that performance by captaining CANWFUTSAL at the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025™, where she started every match and anchored Canada’s defensive efforts as the program made its first-ever appearance on the world stage.
Canada Soccer 2025 Association Awards
2025 PRESIDENT’S AWARD
The Canada Soccer President’s Award provides recognition and appreciation to a person’s outstanding and unique efforts for an extended period of time, resulting in the positive and constructive development at the national level across Canada.
This years award winnner is:
Diana Matheson
2025 AUBREY SANFORD MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
The Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Service Award has recognised outstanding service and overall contribution in refereering, coaching, playing or administration.
This years award winner:
Greg Bay
2025 RAY MORGAN MEMORIAL AWARD
The Ray Morgan Memorial Award is presented to the referee who has shown the greatest progress at the national and international levels.
This years award winner:
Michael Barwegen
2025 TONY WAITERS COACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Tony Waiters Coaching Excellence Award recognises a person’s overall contribution to coaching in Canada for a minimum of 20 years.
This years award winner:
Linda Whitehead
2025 BRIAN BUDD AWARD
The Brian Budd Award recognizes outstanding individuals who have excelled both in soccer and in another endeavor, be it in sport or public life. The individual must exemplify good character, accomplishments, dedication and provide inspiration to present and future generations.
This years award winner:
Alex McKechnie
Teams & Organizations of Distinction
The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame has recognized 18 teams of distinction and 24 organizations distinction.
Hall of Fame
The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame celebrates the individual and team achievements as well as traditions in the game of soccer.