For the first time since the 2013 season, the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year shortlist contains no representatives from the traditional powerhouses Celtic or Rangers. Instead, the four nominees this year are Hearts forwards Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland, alongside Motherwell’s dynamic attacker Elijah Just and the prolific striker Tawanda Maswanhise.
The award is decided by a vote of the players competing in Scotland’s top division, making the nominations a clear reflection of peer respect across the league. Hearts sit atop the Scottish Premiership table, three points clear of Celtic, while Rangers trail by a further point after a disappointing defeat to Motherwell on Sunday.
The Jambos’ strong position has been underpinned by the contributions of the two nominated forwards. Braga, who arrived at Hearts in the summer and quickly established himself as the club’s leading marksman, has already found the net 14 times and supplied five assists.
Remarkably, he has featured in every one of Hearts’ 34 league fixtures to date, demonstrating both consistency and durability. Lawrence Shankland, the captain of Hearts and the previous year’s winner of the same honour, has also enjoyed a standout season despite a spell on the sidelines due to injury. In 25 league appearances he has recorded 13 goals, showing his ability to maintain a high level of performance even when returning from setbacks. His leadership on and off the pitch has been cited by teammates and opponents alike as a key factor in Hearts’ title challenge.
Motherwell’s Elijah Just, a New Zealand‑born winger, has been a revelation since his arrival at Fir Park. Over the course of 31 Premiership matches he has contributed seven goals and eight assists, directly influencing more than half of Motherwell’s attacking output. His pace, work‑rate and creative instincts have helped the Steelmen climb to fourth place in the current standings, and his performances have earned him recognition far beyond his club’s modest fan base.
The fourth nominee, Tawanda Maswanhise, has emerged as the league’s top scorer with an impressive 17 goals in 31 games. The 23‑year‑old joined Motherwell in 2024 and has flourished under the guidance of new manager Jens Berthel Askou. By contrast, Maswanhise managed only five goals in the previous campaign, highlighting the dramatic improvement in his goal‑scoring output. His clinical finishing and intelligent movement inside the box have made him a constant threat to opposition defences.
Beyond the four main nominees, the shortlist also includes several noteworthy players from across the Scottish football pyramid. Barney Stewart, a 22‑year‑old forward who broke through at Falkirk after a loan spell at Dunfermline, has already recorded eight Premiership goals for the Bairns, having previously scored six for the Pars in the Championship.
His rapid rise from university football just two years ago to top‑flight scoring underscores the depth of talent emerging in Scotland. Arbroath midfielder Findlay Marshall is the sole nominee from outside the Premiership.
The 19‑year‑old has tallied 11 goals and two assists for the part‑time Championship side, playing a pivotal role in securing a place in the promotion play‑offs. His performances have drawn attention from several Premiership clubs, suggesting a possible move in the near future. Defender Luke Graham has been a stalwart for Dundee, starting 33 of the team’s 34 league matches and providing a reliable presence at the back.
His consistency has helped Dundee maintain a respectable league position despite limited resources. On loan from Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers winger Mikey Moore is the youngest nominee at just 18 years of age. After a slow start to his Scottish adventure, Moore has become a key figure in Danny Röhl’s side, contributing six goals and two assists as Rangers push the title race alongside Hearts and Celtic. In the women’s game, Glasgow City’s Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova have been shortlisted for the PFA Scotland SWPL Player of the Year award.
They join Georgia Timms of Hearts and Rangers forward Katie Wilkinson on the shortlist. Rangers also have two players on the Young Player list, while Laura Berry and May Cruft represent the Young Player category alongside Hibernian’s Rosie Livingstone and Glasgow City’s Lisa Forrest.
Hearts currently lead the SWPL, two points ahead of Glasgow City, with Rangers a further two points back in third place. As the 2025/26 season approaches its climax, fans are invited to vote for the Scottish Premiership Goal of the Season.
The shortlist features twelve spectacular strikes, including efforts from Aberdeen’s Marko Lazetic, Celtic’s Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Hyun‑Jun Yang and Sebastian Tounekti, Dundee’s Ethan Hamilton, Dundee United’s Zac Sapsford, Falkirk’s Kyrell Wilson, Hearts’ Alex Kyziridis, Kilmarnock’s Ben Brannan, and Rangers’ Jayden Meghoma and Youssef Chermiti. Supporters can view all twelve goals and cast their votes via the official PFA Scotland website. Beyond the on‑field drama, the PFA Scotland awards ceremony also offers fans a chance to engage with the sport in other ways. A promotional Super 6 competition promises a prize fund of £250,000, with free entry for participants.
This initiative aims to boost fan interaction and add an extra layer of excitement to an already thrilling season. Overall, the absence of Old Firm players on the Player of the Year shortlist highlights a shifting balance of power within Scottish football. Hearts and Motherwell, traditionally seen as challengers rather than front‑runners, now boast the league’s most influential performers.
Whether Braga, Shankland, Just or Maswanhise ultimately lifts the trophy, the nominations underscore a season defined by emerging talent, unexpected breakthroughs, and a competitive landscape that is more open than it has been in over a decade.