Luis Suárez Crowned Liga Portugal’s Most Valuable Player by A BOLA

The Portuguese sports newspaper A BOLA has released its highly anticipated final ranking for the most valuable player in the Liga Portugal for the 2025/26 season. Sporting CP's Colombian striker, Luis Suárez, has claimed the top spot, a significant achievement for a player who arrived with the challenging task of filling the boots of the previously prolific Viktor Gyokeres. This accolade also marks the eighth time a Sporting CP player has been recognized with this prestigious honor, reinforcing the club's consistent contribution of top-tier talent.

Suárez's Impactful Debut Season at Sporting CP

Luis Suárez, signed from Almería for an reported €22 million, quickly made his mark on Portuguese football. He not only met but exceeded expectations, demonstrating a versatile and team-oriented playing style that broadened Sporting CP's offensive capabilities. Suárez concluded the season as the league's top goal scorer with an impressive 28 goals. His diverse scoring methods included five penalties, four goals directly from corners, 18 with his right foot, seven with his left, one with his head, one with his chest, and even one with his shoulder. Crucially, three of his goals came in stoppage time, securing vital wins against Arouca and Nacional, and a hard-fought draw at the Estádio do Dragão, underscoring his clutch performance throughout the campaign.

Beyond Goal Scoring: A Complete Performance

Suárez's value extended beyond his remarkable goal tally. His commitment to the game was evident, even as physical fatigue became noticeable towards the end of the season. He played a pivotal role in the build-up to 17 goals, contributing seven assists, showcasing his playmaking abilities. Despite his constant presence in attacking plays, he drew only one penalty throughout the entire season. His individual brilliance, highlighted by a hat-trick against Rio Ave, directly contributed twelve points to Sporting CP's title defense. His consistent availability was also a key factor; Suárez missed only two league matches and was used as a substitute in just one other game, emphasizing his enduring importance to the team's success.

Trincão Secures Second Place with a Strong Finish

Sporting CP's Francisco Trincão secured the second position in A BOLA's ranking, propelled by an exceptional finish to the season. He managed to recover 18 points on Pavlidis in the final six matches, a notable turnaround from the previous season where he was overtaken by the Greek forward on the final matchday. Trincão was recognized as Man of the Match on five occasions throughout the season. Demonstrating remarkable consistency, he played in every league match for the second consecutive season, extending his impressive streak to 133 appearances out of a possible 136 games across his four seasons at Sporting. He contributed seven goals and provided 12 assists, making him the second-highest assist provider in the league.

Pavlidis Finishes Third Despite Late Season Dip

Benfica's Pavlidis completed the podium, securing third place in the ranking. His strong performance earlier in the season was somewhat overshadowed by a dip in form during the latter part of the campaign, where he accumulated only 12.5 points in the final 10 games. Despite this, he remained the league's second-highest scorer with 22 goals, with a significant 17 of those coming in the first half of the season. Pavlidis was named Man of the Match seven times, showcasing his individual brilliance in key moments.

A BOLA's Top 30 Most Valuable Players in Liga Portugal 2025/26

• 1: Luis Suárez | Sporting CP | 5
• 2: Francisco Trincão | Sporting CP | 133
• 3: Pavlidis | Benfica | 5
• 4: Victor Froholdt | FC Porto | 5
• 5: Ricardo Horta | SC Braga | 5
• 6: Rodrigo Zalazar | SC Braga | 5
• 7: Mathias de Amorim | Famalicão | 116
• 8: Diogo Costa | FC Porto | 5
• 9: Yanis Begraoui | Estoril | 5
• 10: Alberto Costa | FC Porto | 107
• 11: Luís Esteves | Gil Vicente | 103
• 12: Jan Bednarek | FC Porto | 5
• 13: Lazar Carevic | Famalicão | 5
• 14: João Carvalho | Estoril | 100
• 15: Pedro Gonçalves | Sporting CP | 98
• 16: Jesús Ramírez | Nacional | 98
• 17: Rodrigo Pinheiro | Famalicão | 5
• 18: Murilo Souza | Gil Vicente | 5
• 19: Justin de Haas | Famalicão | 5
• 20: Santi Garcia | Gil Vicente | 91
• 21: Otamendi | Benfica | 90
• 22: Larrazabal | Casa Pia | 5
• 23: Morten Hjulmand | Sporting CP | 89
• 24: Rui Silva | Sporting CP | 5
• 25: Gil Dias | Famalicão | 5
• 26: Maxi Araújo | Sporting CP | 5
• 27: Sidny Lopes Cabral | Benfica | 5
• 28: Gabri Veiga | FC Porto | 85
• 29: Schjelderup | Benfica | 85
• 30: André Luiz | Rio Ave | 5

This comprehensive ranking by A BOLA offers valuable insights into the individual player contributions that extend beyond mere statistics, reflecting their overall impact on matches and their respective teams' performances throughout the season. For enthusiasts of Liga Portugal, this list stands as a testament to the exciting talent and competitive spirit displayed during the 2025/26 campaign.

Source: O jogador + valioso da Liga: veja quem ficou nos 30 primeiros lugares (fotogaleria) – A Bola Futebol, https://www.abola.pt/noticias/o-jogador-valioso-da-liga-veja-quem-ficou-nos-30-primeiros-lugares-fotogaleria-2026052114314388877