Melbourne Victory’s Juan Mata has been voted by his peers as the Austraffic PFA Player of the Month winner for a third time this season, winning the peer-voted award alongside Melbourne City star Rebekah Stott who claimed the final A-League Women’s gong of the 2025-26 season.
The duo received the most votes from within their peer cohort, among the six players nominated for the Player of the Month in each the A-League Men and A-League Women competitions.
Mata’s amazing season continued throughout March, becoming the first player this season to win the award three times after doing so in December and February.
The Melbourne Victory superstar added another two goals and three assists during their three-game unbeaten stretch, as he helped his side take another huge step towards finals football.
His highlight of the month came in Victory’s 2-2 draw with Sydney FC, where he scored a stunning long-range free kick to open the scoring, adding to an already impressive showreel for this campaign where he has showcased his enormous ability.
The Spaniard now has 18 goal contributions for the season (five goals, 13 assists); topping both the goal contribution and assist charts heading into April.
Unfortunately, Mata is now on the sidelines due to an elbow injury which he suffered against Wellington Phoenix on Easter Sunday.
Meanwhile, Stott helped City secure a third consecutive A-League Women’s Premiership throughout the final rounds of the season, continuing a superb year at the heart of defence.
The City captain was a rock in the heart of their back-line as City extended its unbeaten run to six games en route to securing the first piece of ALW silverware of the season.
Stott even added an assist in their 3-1 victory over Canberra and played a key role as her side advanced to the next round of the AFC Women’s Champions League in a win over Nasaf.
The duo will receive a specially designed ball from PFA partners at Park SCC as a result of winning the Player of the Month. Both players will be able to choose to donate 10 balls to one of three charities – Football Empowerment, KitAid Australia and Football United.
2025-26 POTM winners
A-League Men
October/November: Joe Lolley (SYD)
December: Juan Mata (MVC)
January: Eli Adams (NEW)
February: Juan Mata (MVC)
March: Juan Mata (MVC)
A-League Women
October/November: Kirsty Fenton (SYD)
December: Sabitra Bhandari (WEL)
January: Teresa Morrissey (PER)
February: Josie Aulicino (CAN)
March/April: Rebekah Stott (MCY)
