For the first time since 2013, no Celtic or Rangers players are nominated for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year. Hearts' Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland face competition from Motherwell's Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise.
Key points
No Celtic or Rangers players nominated for Player of the Year
Nominees include Hearts' Braga and Shankland
Motherwell's Just and Maswanhise also nominated
Hearts currently lead the Premiership
Rangers are one point behind after a recent loss
HeartsCelticRangersMotherwell
For the first time since 2013, there are no Celtic or Rangers players nominated for PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year.
Hearts duo Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland are up against Motherwell's Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise for award, which is voted for by players across the top flight.
The Jambos are currently three points clear of Celtic at the top of the Premiership, with Rangers a further point behind after losing to the Steelmen on Sunday.
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Hearts 2-1
Claudio Braga has impressed since his move to Hearts last summer, scoring 14 times in the league so far
Braga has impressed since joining title-leading Hearts in the summer and is currently the club's top scorer.
The Portuguese striker netted 14 times and provided five assists, featuring in all 34 of the Jambo's league games so far this season.
Captain Shankland, who won the award in 2024, has thrived despite missing a spell through injury. He has scored 13 goals in 25 league appearances.
New Zealand winger Just has been a revelation since joining Motherwell, registering seven goals and eight assists in his 31 Premiership matches to help fire his side up to fourth in the table as it stands.
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Q&A
Why are there no Celtic or Rangers players nominated for Scottish Player of the Year?
This is the first time since 2013 that no players from Celtic or Rangers have received nominations for the award.
Who are the nominees for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year?
The nominees are Hearts' Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland, along with Motherwell's Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise.
What is the significance of Hearts being three points clear of Celtic?
Hearts leading the Premiership indicates a strong performance this season, especially given their current position over traditional rivals Celtic.
How is the PFA Scotland Player of the Year winner determined?
The award is voted on by players across the top flight of the Scottish Premiership.
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Motherwell's Tawanda Maswanhise celebrates after making it 2-0 against Dundee Utd
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Motherwell's Tawanda Maswanhise is the Scottish Premiership's current top scorer
Striker Maswanhise, who joined the Fir Park club in 2024, is the league's top scorer so far this season with 17 goals in 31 games.
The 23-year-old has thrived under new Well manager Jens Berthel Askou after he netted just five times last season.
Who could win the Young Player of the Year award?
YPOTY
Barney Stewart made his breakthrough at Falkirk after spending the first five months of the season on loan at Dunfermline.
The 22-year-old, who was playing university football just two years ago, has scored eight Premiership goals for the Bairns after netting six for the Pars in the Championship.
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FALKIRK, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 24: Falkirk's Barney Stewart poses with the match ball at full time after scoring a hat trick during a William Hill Premiership match between Falkirk and Hibernian at the Falkirk Stadium, on January 24, 2026, in Falkirk, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Falkirk striker Barney Stewart on his rise from university football to a Scottish Premiership hat-trick against Hibernian, plus a new deal and much more!
Arbroath midfielder Findlay Marshall is the only nominee from outside the top-flight.
The 19-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided two assists to help the part-time Championship side secure a place in the promotion play-offs.
Findlay Marshall is on loan at Arbroath from Aberdeen
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Findlay Marshall is on loan at Arbroath from Aberdeen
Defender Luke Graham has had a standout season with Dundee, consistently providing a strong presence at the back, starting 33 of their 34 top-flight matches.
On loan Rangers winger Mikey Moore is the youngest nominee at just 18.
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Rangers' Mikey Moore has eight goal contributions in the Premiership
After a slow start following his move from Spurs, he has become one of Danny Röhl's key players with six goals and two assists as they push Hearts and Celtic for the Premiership title.
SWPL nominees revealed
PFA Scotland SWPL
Glasgow City duo Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova are nominated for PFA Scotland's SWPL Player of the Year award.
They are shortlisted with Georgia Timms of Hearts and Rangers forward Katie Wilkinson.
Rangers also have two on the Young Player shortlist.
SPWL PFA Scotland
Laura Berry and May Cruft have been nominated with Hibernian's Rosie Livingstone and Lisa Forrest of Glasgow City.
Hearts are currently top of the SWPL, two points ahead of Glasgow City with Rangers a further two behind in third place.
With the 2025/26 season nearing a dramatic conclusion, we're giving you the chance to vote for your Scottish Premiership goal of the season so far.
Aberdeen's Marko Lazetic, Celtic's Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Hyun-Jun Yang and Sebastian Tounekti, Dundee's Ethan Hamilton, Zac Sapsford of Dundee United, Falkirk's Kyrell Wilson, Hearts' Alex Kyziridis, Ben Brannan of Kilmarnock, plus Rangers pair Jayden Meghoma and Youssef Chermiti are up for the award.
Click here to see all 12 goals and vote for your favourite!
