10 potential candidates for the CPL's 2025 Player of the Year award

It is officially the start of award season in the Canadian Premier League.

With the regular season concluding on Saturday, we now have a full picture of how players performed. That will lead to plenty of debate about who should take home various league honours, including the hotly contested race for the 2025 CPL Player of the Year award.

Past Player of the Year award winners include: Forge's Tristan Borges (2019, 2024), Forge's Kyle Bekker (2020), Halifax Wanderers' João Morelli (2021), Atlético Ottawa's Ollie Bassett (2022) and Cavalry FC's Daan Klomp (2023).

The official list of 2025 Player of the Year nominees, along with those for the league's other awards, will be revealed throughout the CPL Playoffs, leading up to the 2025 CPL Awards ceremony on Friday, Nov. 7.

Here, in alphabetical order, are ten players who are in the conversation for being the league's top player this year.

Julian Altobelli, York United

Altobelli burst onto the scene by scoring a brace in his very first match of the campaign and quickly proved himself to be one of the CPL's most lethal attackers. The 22-year-old finished with 10 goals and three assists, leading the Nine Stripes in scoring. He also, crucially, had five match-winning goals, which was tied with Sam Salter for the league lead.

Nana Ampomah, Forge FC

Few players, if any, are as dynamic as Ampomah on their day in the CPL. He was the difference maker for Forge this season in attack, scoring six goals and adding three assists. He finished fourth in dribbles completed, with 42, and created 13 big chances, behind only Atlético Ottawa's David Rodríguez.

Manny Aparicio, Atlético Ottawa

Once again this season, likely nobody in the Canadian Premier League covered more ground than the Atleti midfielder. He was involved in all facets of the game, finishing with the third most passes completed (1,562), second most duels won (159), third most tackles won (47) and second most interceptions (39). Add a goal and five assists, and Aparicio had a strong body of work this season.

Kyle Bekker, Forge FC

Forge's ageless wonder continues to be among the league's best in his seventh season in Hamilton. Bekker finished the season fourth in the league in chances created (50), and passes into the final third (424) – remaining the heart of their championship midfield. He had three goals and two assists while starting all but four games for the Hammers as they lifted the CPL Shield.

Sergio Camargo, Cavalry FC

Camargo is another CPL original still at the top of his game in year seven. With eight goals and six assists, he was Cavalry's most consistent player this season, starting 27 of their 28 matches. Cavalry's fantastic number 10 created 32 chances, and finished third in the league in expected goals with 9.45.

Ali Musse, Cavalry FC

A former CPL Players' Player of the Year, and Player of the Year nominee, Ali Musse actually had his best statistical season ever in 2025. With nine goals and seven assists, only Atlético Ottawa duo Sam Salter and David Rodríguez had more goal contributions this year. Those seven assists were the second most in the league, behind only David Rodríguez and Musse finished sixth in chances created with 42.

Dan Nimick, Forge FC

Forge conceded just 22 goals in 28 matches this season, and a big reason for that was the play of Dan Nimick. In his first season in Hamilton, Nimick led all players in the CPL in blocks (24), possession won in the defensive third (93) and successful long passes (197). He won a stunning 73 per cent of his 159 duels contested. He also finished with two goals and four assists. Three of those assists were on match-winning goals.

David Rodríguez, Atlético Ottawa

Few players in CPL history have had the instant impact of 23-year-old attacker David Rodríguez. On loan from Atlético San Luis, Rodríguez tied the CPL record for most assists in a season with nine. He also added nine goals, all of which were from open play; only teammate Sam Salter had more open play goals. He led the league in expected assists (7.56), chances created (67) and touches in the opposition box (147). On his day, he was unplayable, and a huge catalyst behind Atleti setting the CPL single-season goal record.

Sam Salter, Atlético Ottawa

When you shatter the CPL's single-season goals record, your name is always going to be in the awards conversation. With 19 goals this season, and four assists, Salter also set the league record for goal contributions. Salter, of course, already has an award to his name this season with the Golden Boot, but he has certainly made a strong case for Player of the Year as well.

Ballou Tabla, Atlético Ottawa

Not to be forgotten in Atlético Ottawa's tremendous attacking trio, Tabla set a career high in goals with the 11 he scored in 2025 -- good for fourth most in the league. He added four assists, led the league in penalty goals (four) and created 29 chances.