Alphonso Davies and Shelina Zadorsky named Canada Soccer Players of the Month

Alphonso Davies and Shelina Zadorsky have been named Canada Soccer’s Players of the Month for February 2021. Davies of Edmonton, Alberta became the first Canadian to win the men’s FIFA Club World Cup title with FC Bayern München while Zadorsky of London, Ontario featured in every minute of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team first international competition in 2021 in preparation for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Davies played every minute of FC Bayern’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Al Rayyan, Qatar. In the semi-final stage, Davies and the UEFA Champions League winners won 2:0 over CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly SC. In the FIFA Club World Cup Final, Davies and FC Bayern won 1:0 over Concacaf Champions League winners Tigres UANL.

Also in February, Davies and FC Bayern maintained first place in the German Bundesliga, with Davies scoring the 3:3 equalizer on 15 February against Arminia Bielefeld. In UEFA Champions League action, Davies helped FC Bayern win 4:1 over Lazio in the first leg of the Round of 16.

Across Europe, Scott Arfield and Rangers FC advanced to the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 while also maintaining first place in the Scottish Premiership. David Wotherspoon, meanwhile, helped St. Johnstone FC win the 2020-21 Scottish League Cup. In France, Jonathan David scored three goals as Lille OSC maintained first place in France’s Ligue 1. In Serbia, goalkeeper Milan Borjan set a club record with his 51^st appearance for Red Star Belgrade in UEFA club competitions while also keeping Red Star in first place in the SuperLiga standings.

At the international level, Zadorsky played every minute at centre back in Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team’s first matches since the global pause in play last year. Zadorsky, who captains Tottenham Hotspur FC, arrived from England and immediately anchored the backline for three SheBelieves Cup matches against USA, Argentina and Brazil, which included Head Coach Bev Priestman’s first victory with the 1:0 win over Argentina. Zadorsky also beat the goalkeeper but hit the post in the final game against Brazil.

While Priestman got her first win, other February milestones included Sophie Schmidt’s 200^th international match, Stephanie Labbé’s 75^th international match, and Deanne Rose’s 50^th international match. Sarah Stratigakis scored her first international goal while Samantha Chang, Jordyn Listro, Jade Rose and Evelyne Viens all made their international “A” debuts.

Looking ahead to the month of March, six women are taking part in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Round of 16, with Kadeisha Buchanan at FCF Olympique Lyonnais, Jordyn Huitema and Ashley Lawrence at Paris Saint-Germain FC, Janine Beckie at Manchester City FC, Jessie Fleming at Chelsea FC, and Stephanie Labbé at FC Rosengård.

In international competition, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team will kick off FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Bermuda in Orland, FL, USA on 25 March while the Men’s U-23 National Team will compete in the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying starting 19 March.

PLAYERS of the MONTH:
February 2021 – Alphonso Davies & Shelina Zadorsky
January  2021 – Cyle Larin & Ashley Lawrence