Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) have announced that Jordan Bos has been voted the 2026 Austraffic PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year, recognising an outstanding 12 months for the Socceroo and Feyenoord defender.
The prestigious award is determined exclusively by a vote of PFA members and honours the male player who, in the eyes of his peers, has delivered the most outstanding performances across club and international football.
Bos received the highest number of votes ahead of fellow nominees Alessandro Circati, Nestory Irankunda, Juan Mata, Mathew Ryan and Mohamed Toure.
The award caps a remarkable year for the 23-year-old, who continued his rise as one of Australia’s brightest talents while competing in Europe and establishing himself as a key figure for the CommBank Socceroos.
The full-back starred in his first season for Dutch giants Feyenoord, making 35 appearances across all competitions and scored four goals.
He was the first Australian to be named Eredivisie Player of the Month last September after a blistering start to the campaign.
Bos was just as prolific for the national team, scoring twice in the FIFA Series against Cameroon and Curaçao, before earning a place in Australia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad where he started in all four of the Socceroos’ matches.
“To win this award is a huge honour and to be recognised by my peers in this way is incredibly special,” Bos said.
“There are so many outstanding players who have had big years so to be nominated alongside them, let alone win it, is such a big achievement.
“It’s been a big year playing with Feyenoord and playing at my first World Cup, and although it ended with an injury, it’s given me so many positives to build on.
“I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me along my journey so far, including my teammates, coaches, family, and friends.
“I’m proud to receive this award and motivated to keep improving and representing Australian football at the highest level.”
The award is the second peer-voted PFA award Bos has received in his young career, having won the Harry Kewell Medal (PFA Young Men’s Footballer of the Year) in 2023 during his time at Melbourne City.
Bos was also nominated for the Harry Kewell medal again this year, which his Socceroos teammate Lucas Herrington was named the recipient of last week.
PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year Winners
Jordan Bos (2026), 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)
About the Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards
The Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards have been awarded annually since 2009, when former Socceroo Tim Cahill won the inaugural PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year. The PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year was introduced the following season, which was won by Servet Uzunlar in 2010.
