Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) has unveiled the players nominated for the annual 2026 Austraffic PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year awards.
The player-voted annual honours celebrate the best performing men’s players in Australian football, according to their peers, throughout the 2025-26 season in the following categories Men’s Footballer of the Year and the Young Men’s Footballer of the Year (Harry Kewell Medal).
The Women’s Footballer of the Year and Young Women’s Footballer of the Year nominees will be announced tomorrow.
The nine nominees – which include three players nominated in two categories – were selected based on performances between July 2025 and June 2026 in both club and international competitions, including the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Players must be PFA members to be eligible for the award.
Nominees include a host of Australia’s stars including Mat Ryan, Jordan Bos, Alessandro Circati, Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure. Former Spanish World Cup winner Juan Mata, who won the A-League Men’s Johnny Warren Medal during the 2025-26 season, is also among the nominees for the top men’s award.
They are joined by Australia’s stars of the future, including Lucas Herrington, who made his English Premier League debut with Hull City on Saturday, Paul Okon-Engstler and Patrick Beach.
The nominees were selected by an expert panel of former players and media representatives. The final winners will be determined by a vote of PFA members.
Last year’s winners included Socceroo Aziz Behich (Men’s Footballer of the Year) and 2024-25 Johnny Warren Medallist Nicolas Milanovic (Young Men’s Footballer of the Year).
2026 Nominees
PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year
Previous Winners: Aziz Behich (2025), Jackson Irvine (2024), Craig Goodwin (2023), Tom Rogic (2022), Jamie Maclaren (2021), Mat Ryan (2020, 2019, 2015), Aaron Mooy (2018–2016), Mile Jedinak (2014), Robbie Kruse (2013), Brett Holman (2012), Matt McKay (2011), Mark Schwarzer (2010), Tim Cahill (2009)
PFA Young Men’s Footballer of the Year (Harry Kewell Medal)
Previous Winners: Nicolas Milanovic (2025), Alex Paulsen (2024), Jordan Bos (2023), Denis Genreau (2022), Connor Metcalfe (2021), Liberato Cacace (2020), Chris Ikonomidis (2019), Daniel Arzani (2018), Alex Gersbach (2017), Jamie Maclaren (2016), Mat Ryan (2015, 2014, 2012), Marco Rojas (2013), Robbie Kruse (2011), Mitch Langerak (2010), Nikita Rukavytsya (2009)
About the Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards
Established in 2009, the PFA Awards are the only accolades in Australian football determined exclusively by the players. The Women’s Award was introduced in 2010, with Servet Uzunlar as the inaugural winner.
About Austraffic
Founded in 1983, Austraffic has delivered thousands of traffic, transport, and pedestrian studies across Australia and New Zealand. With a reputation for precision and reliability, Austraffic supports clients with expert data collection, analysis, and presentation. Learn more at austraffic.com.au.
