Cairó named world’s best women’s hockey player as De Waard misses out
Sofía Cairó has won the world’s best women’s hockey player award, ahead of Xan de Waard, who retired after last summer’s World Cup final. De Waard had won twice before.
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Argentina’s Sofía Cairó has been named the world’s best women’s hockey player, beating Xan de Waard in the Dutch midfielder’s final year in the sport. De Waard, 30, retired after the Netherlands lost the World Cup final on home soil last summer.
De Waard had won the award twice, in 2023 and 2025, and was one of three nominees this year. Dutch goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal also missed out: Argentina’s Cristina Cosentino took the women’s goalkeeper award for the fourth time in her career.
Argentina’s Tomás Domene was named the world’s best men’s player, while Spain’s Luis Calzado won the men’s goalkeeper award.
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