- Women’s Player of the Year: Link van Waad (NED)
- Men’s Player of the Year: Tom Boon (BEL) 2024
Women’s Player of the Year – Xan de Waard (NED)
Xan de Waard has once again delivered an excellent campaign for the Netherlands, bringing together vision, technical precision and leadership at the highest level. Her crucial contributions and consistent performances during the FIH Hockey Pro League season and the EuroHockey Championships, both of which ended in triumphs for the world number one, have cemented her status as one of the world’s greatest midfield talents.
Key highlights of her year include a leading role in the Netherlands’ success at the European Championship, where her incisive passing remained the connective tissue of the attack, while her tireless defensive work-rate contributed greatly to the best defense in the competition, as the Dutch side won a record-extending 13th title in the continental competition!
She was also a standout in the FIH Hockey Pro League, consistently beating elite opposition, and driving her team’s momentum and success as captain. Under her leadership, the Dutch women’s team clinched their fifth Pro League title in six seasons of the competition’s history, finishing the season eight points ahead of second-placed Argentina.
Her rare combination of creative spark and disciplined execution make her an instrumental figure in the dominant Dutch side’s tactical identity and consistently delivers impressive results.
For her elite level of play, decisive leadership and unwavering consistency on the world stage, Xan de Waard is a deserving recipient of the FIH Player of the Year Award.
Men’s Player of the Year – Tom Boon (BEL)
Last year, Tom Boon once again showed why he is still one of the most dangerous attackers in international hockey. With a mix of razor-sharp goal-scoring instincts and the ability to deliver in the big moments, he has been at the heart of Belgium’s success for over a decade!
Boon was in rampant goalscoring form during the 2024/25 FIH Hockey Pro League season. By mid-season, several players were vying for the title of top scorer, but Boon’s second-half outburst left his competitors in the dust as he finished the season with 21 goals, 9 ahead of Sam Ward in second place!
His goals and assists proved decisive as Belgium finished second in the league, matching their best result in the league since winning the title in season two.
Tom Boon’s goalscoring streak continued in the 2025 EuroHockey Championship, where he finished second on the competition’s top scorer list. And while Belgium failed to secure a fifth consecutive podium finish in Europe’s premier competition, Boon’s scoring stick continued to function on overdrive.
Tom Boon’s leadership presence, through both seasoned experience and contemporary impact, anchors Belgium’s attacking ambitions and competitiveness on the world stage. His pivotal role in Belgium’s performance and his continued excellence make him a worthy recipient of the FIH Player of the Year Award.
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