Halifax Wanderers striker Tiago Coimbra named 2025 CPL Best U-21 Player

Halifax Wanderers striker Tiago Coimbra has been named the Canadian Premier League’s Best Canadian U-21 Player for the 2025 season.

He was presented with the award at the 2025 CPL Awards in Ottawa on Friday night.

Coimbra scored 12 goals in the CPL regular season, tied for the second most in the league this year. That tally tied the single-season CPL record for most goals scored by a U-21 player with Tristan Borges (2019) and Osaze De Rosario (2022).

The Fortaleza-born Canadian youth international also had three assists this season, and led the league in goals per 90 with an incredible 0.87. He led all forwards in aerial duels won (50).

Coimbra is the first Halifax Wanderers player to win the award. Previous winners, including Forge’s Tristan Borges (2019), Cavalry FC’s Mo Farsi (2020), Pacific’s Alessandro Hojabrpour (2021), Valour duo Sean Rea (2022) and Matteo de Brienne (2023) and Forge FC’s Kwasi Poku (2024).

This year was the first season where five players were nominated for the award. Joining Coimbra were Atlético Ottawa pair Noah Abatneh and Gabriel Antinoro, Vancouver FC’s Thierno Bah and Forge FC attacker Hoce Massunda.

The winner of the Best Canadian U-21 Player is awarded a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, conceived by artist Taqialuk Nuna and carved by artist Ruben Komangapik.