Five national team players are in the running to win the 2025 MFA Footballer of the Year award.
Ħamrun Spartans goalkeeper Henry Bonello, Alex Satariano, of Birkirkara, Hibernians midfielder Bjorn Kristensen, and Floriana duo Dunstan Vella and Carlo Zammit Lonardelli have been shortlisted for the prestigious award.
The list of nominees was announced by the Malta FA during a press conference at the Centenary Hall which was addressed by vice-president Adrian Casha.
With last year’s winner Luke Montebello not among the players shortlisted for the top award, a new name will be inscribed on the prestigious trophy.
“This year is special, because aside from the awards that we usually hold, we will also be awarding the Best XI of All Time to mark the occasion of the Association’s 125th anniversary. This will be the highlight of Friday’s event,” Casha said.
The Malta Best XI of All Time selection includes votes from fans, administrators, coaches, match officials, journalists, researchers, writers, and also presenters of sports programmes. During the voting process, the public could submit their preference for each position. Mr Casha commended the positive response to the award, with over 800 public votes being received.
With regards to the MFA Footballer of the Year award, Mr Casha stated that this will be 70th time that the award will be given. For the Top Scorers awards, goals scored in the play-off phases of the respective competitions were not taken into account.
The 2025 Malta FA Awards Night will be held on Friday at Doubletree by Hilton Malta.
The full list of nominees for the MFA Awards 2025:
MFA Footballer of the Year
Henry Bonello (Hamrun Spartans); Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians); Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara); Dunstan Vella (Floriana); Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana).
MFA Female Player of the Year
Haley Bugeja (Inter); Maria Farrugia (Sheffield United); Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians)
Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United); Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).
Coach of the Year
Darren Abdilla (Floriana); Stefano De Angelis (Birkirkara); Paul Zammit (Sliema Wanderers).
Young Player of the Year
Nathan Agius (Mosta); Jake Micallef (Zabbar St Patrick); Sven Xerri (Hamrun Spartans).
Foreign Player of the Year
Maxuell Maia da Silva (Birkirkara); Franklin Sasere (Floriana); Alex de Aguiar Gomes (Marsaxlokk).
BOV Challenge League Best Player
Jake Azzopardi (Valletta); Sulahmana Mamadu Bah (Zurrieq); Brandon Paiber (Valletta).
IZIBET Amateur League 1 Best Player
Julian Azzopardi (Birzebbuga St Peter’s); Brandon Bray (Qrendi); Ricardo Velasquez (San Gwann).
IZIBET Amateur League 2 Best Player
Ferdinando Apap (Victoria Hotspurs); Matthew Gauci (St George’s); Timothy Thomas (Kalkara United).
Best Youth League Player
Zak Barbara (Valletta); Jayden Farrugia (Mosta); Silas Alfred (Hibernians).
Female Youth League Best Player
Lara May Azzopardi (Birkirkara); Maia Gauci (Birkirkara); Eva Koneva (Swieqi United).
The full list of nominated Best XI of All Time players:
Goalkeeper
John Bonello, David Cluett, Alfred Mizzi.
Right-back
David Carabott, Alex Muscat, John Privitera.
Left-back
Jeffrey Chetcuti, Lolly Debattista, Edwin Farrugia.
Centre-back
Andrei Agius, Joe Cilia, John Holland.
Sweeper
John Buttigieg, Anton Camilleri, Kris Laferla.
Defensive Midfielder
Joe Brincat, Stefan Giglio, Gareth Sciberras.
Central Midfielder
Louis Arpa, Willie Vassallo, Raymond Vella.
Right Winger
Gilbert Agius, Ronnie Cocks, Noel Turner.
Left Winger
Michael Degiorgio, Sammy Nicholl, Carlo Seychell.
Forwards
Carmel Busuttil, Joe Cini, Michael Mifsud, Tony Nicholl, Andre Schembri, Raymond Xuereb.
The list of Top Scorers for the MFA Awards 2025:
360 Sports Malta Premier
Maxuell Maia da Silva (Birkirkara) – 22 goals.
BOV Challenge League
Sulahmana Mamadu Bah (Zurrieq) – 20 goals.
IZIBET National Amateur League 1
Joshua Ojelabi (Marsaskala) – 20 goals.
IZIBET National Amateur League 2
Timothy Thomas (Kalkara United) – 17 goals
Assikura Women’s League
Hailey Russell (San Gwann) – 27 goals
