As another season reaches its climax, the Malta Football Players Association recognised the standout performers of 2025-26 during its annual awards night, held at Villa Bologna in Attard on Monday night.
Widely regarded as one of the most talented Maltese players of his generation, Mbong, 29, capped another strong campaign in which he played a key role for Ħamrun Spartans in their ongoing bid to retain the Premier League title. He also helped the club achieve a historic qualification to the group stage of the UEFA Conference League.
In the women’s competitions, Kricak was instrumental for Swieqi United, who finished second in the Assikura Women’s League and won the Women’s Super Cup in September. The 27-year-old Serbian midfielder scored eight goals and was also named MFPA Women’s Player of the Month for January.
Valletta and Malta midfielder Jake Azzopardi was voted MFPA Men’s Best Young Player after an impressive season. The 20-year-old helped Valletta re-establish themselves among the leading Premier League clubs, winning the Jubilee Cup besides reaching the Final Four of the Yo Health Malta Premier as well as the final of the Meridianbet FA Trophy.
Malta international Yulya Carella, 21, was named MFPA Women’s Best Young Player in recognition of her contribution to Mġarr United’s outstanding season, which saw them win the Assikura Women’s League, the Knock-Out and the Jubilee Cup. Carella was also named in the MFPA Women’s Best XI.
A total of 44 awards were presented during the 2026 edition, marking a record after the introduction of two new categories – the MFPA Challenge League Best XI and the MFPA Best Challenge League Coach.
The MFPA Men’s Best XI, representing the top division, includes players from five clubs. Ħamrun Spartans lead with four nominations, followed by Valletta with three and Floriana with two, while Marsaxlokk and Naxxar Lions have one player each.
Floriana’s Daniel Portela Da Silva won the MFPA Best Premier League Coach award.
In the MFPA Women’s Best XI, Mġarr United dominate with seven players, reflecting their consistency throughout the season. Kricak is one of two Swieqi United players included, with Birkirkara also contributing two players.
The MFPA Women’s Best Coach award went to Ryan Vella, who guided Mġarr United to atreble of honours.
CHALLENGE LEAGUE AWARDS
Nigerian forward Oluwatobiloba Awosanya won the MFPA Best Challenge League Player award after playing a prominent role in Balzan’s march to the title in the second tier of Maltese football.
Awosanya was also named in the MFPA Challenge League Best XI, which includes four Swieqi United players and three from Birżebbuġa St Peter’s, who secured promotion to the Premier League and won the BOV Challenge Cup. Fgura United, Mġarr United and Pietà Hotspurs have one player each in the selection.
Manuel Caruana, who led Pietà Hotspurs this season, was named MFPA Best Challenge League Coach.
In the Amateur League categories, the best player awards went to Precious Nwankwo, top scorer in BOV Amateur League 1 with 32 goals for champions Attard, and Ryan Dalli. The latter spent the first half of the season with St George’s before joining Kalkara United, where he won the BOV Amateur League 2 title.
RAYMOND VELLA HONOURED WITH MFPA MERIT AWARD
Raymond Vella, widely recognised as one of Malta’s finest players, received the Assikura Merit Award.
A former Malta captain and key member of the successful Ħamrun Spartans side of the 1980s and early 1990s, Vella earned 67 caps for the national team between 1984 and 1994. Known for his vision, technique and passing, Vella was named MFA Footballer of the Year twice, in 1987 and 1991.
Raymond Vella’s nomination as the MFPA Merit Award recipient for 2026 was greeted with appreciative applause by the audience during another successful event hosted by Keith Demicoli and Dorianne Mamo.
MFPA AWARDS 2026 – THE WINNERS
MFPA MEN’S BEST PLAYER
Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans)
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST PLAYER
Andela Kricak (Swieqi United)
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST YOUNG PLAYER
Yulya Carella (Mġarr United)
MFPA MEN’S BEST YOUNG PLAYER
Jake Azzopardi (Valletta)
MFPA MEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans)
Centre-backs: Emerson Marcelina (Ħamrun Spartans); Sava Radic (Valletta)
Right-back: Rafael Compri (Ħamrun Spartans)
Left-back: Leandro Aguirre (Marsaxlokk)
Midfielders: Jake Grech (Floriana); Yuri Messias (Valletta); Federico Varela (Floriana)
Forwards: Thaylor Aldama (Valletta); Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans); Joao Souza Dos Santos – Vitinho (Naxxar Lions)
MFPA BEST PREMIER LEAGUE COACH
Daniel Portela Da Silva (Floriana)
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeepers: Giulia D’Antuono (Mġarr United)
Centre-backs: Abigail Camilleri (Mġarr United); Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara)
Right-back: Rebecca Bajada (Mġarr United)
Left-back: Yanina Mendez (Mġarr United)
Midfielders Amber Grech (Mġarr United); Andela Kricak (Swieqi United); Momo Ueda (Birkirkara)
Forwards: Salamatu Abdulai (Swieqi United); Yulya Carella (Mġarr United); Valeria Villegas; Caly (Mġarr United)
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST COACH
Ryan Vella (Mġarr United)
MFPA CHALLENGE LEAGUE BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeepers: Reeves Cini (Pietà Hotspurs).
Centre-backs: Juan Bolanos Ramirez (Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s); Samuel Okoh (Swieqi United)
Right-back: Isaac Davey (Swieqi United)
Left-back: Matteo Gambin (Fgura United)
Midfielders: Kian Leonardi (Swieqi United); Salam Mawuena (Swieqi United); Matthew
Xuereb (Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s)
Forwards: Oluwatobiloba Awosanya (Balzan); Paul Lapira (Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s); Cristhyan Noto Souza (Mġarr United)
MFPA BEST CHALLENGE LEAGUE PLAYER
Oluwatobiloba Awosanya (Balzan)
MFPA BEST CHALLENGE LEAGUE COACH
Manuel Caruana (Pietà Hotspurs)
MFPA BEST AMATEUR LEAGUE 1 PLAYER
Precious Nwankwo (Attard)
MFPA BEST AMATEUR LEAGUE 2 PLAYER
Ryan Dalli (Kalkara United)
MFPA ASSIKURA MERIT AWARD
Raymond Vella
