Mariona Caldentey: Arsenal's Rising Star Shortlisted for BBC World Sport Star 2025
In a landmark moment for women’s football, Arsenal and Spanish international star Mariona Caldentey has been nominated for the esteemed BBC World Sport Star of the Year award at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. Her nomination marks a potential historic win, as she could become the first women’s footballer to clinch this title since its inception in 1960. Previously, only Simone Biles in 2016 and Rachael Blackmore in 2021 secured this accolade from the female athlete pool.
Stellar Performance at Arsenal
Caldentey’s nomination follows an electrifying debut season with Arsenal, where she left a remarkable imprint by scoring 19 goals across 41 appearances, propelling the team to victory in the Women’s Champions League. An impressive showing in the Women’s Euro 2025 final against England even saw her find the net, although Spain succumbed to England in the penalty shootout.
Caldentey’s prowess was also recognized on a broader scale when she stood as a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, ultimately finishing as a close second to Aitana Bonmati. Cementing her position as a footballing icon, her talent also earned her the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award alongside formidable adversary Mohamed Salah from Liverpool.
The Elite Shortlist
Joining Caldentey on this prestigious shortlist are sports luminaries like Terence Crawford, Armand Duplantis, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Shohei Otani, and Mohamed Salah. The rigorous competition underlines the elite company she keeps in this list—a testament to her outstanding achievements in 2025.
Accolades and Achievements
The year 2025 has been a monumental one for Caldentey, who claimed both the WSL Player of the Season and the PFA Players’ Player of the Season for her consistent brilliance in the realm of football. She was also honored in the PFA WSL Team of the Year and the Champions League Team of the Season. Notably, her striking goal against Lyon in the semi-finals earned the coveted Champions League Goal of the Season accolade.
Arsenal’s Award Prospects
Arsenal’s glory doesn’t rest solely on Caldentey’s shoulders; Michelle Agyemang is strongly poised to win the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. Chloe Kelly is another name creating waves with her pivotal performances for England during Euro 2025, while Chelsea’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton finds herself in the running for her stellar domestic league contributions.
Excitement Building for the Year-End Ceremony
The anticipation builds as sports enthusiasts await the results of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, where all eyes will be on Caldentey, rooting for her to make history. According to SheKicks, her inclusion on this shortlist already celebrates a significant milestone in her career and women’s sports at large.
Stay tuned for more updates on this and similar stories as we continue to celebrate groundbreaking achievements in women’s football.
