ESPN’s Players of the Month: October Highlights
By Jean Santos and Vinicius Garcia
November 4, 2025, 08:52 AM ET
ESPN is excited to introduce its inaugural Players of the Month awards, recognizing standout performances in Europe’s top five leagues: Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1. Our panel of experts has cast their votes, and we are ready to unveil the monthly winners.
BUNDESLIGA: HARRY KANE
Forward | Bayern Munich and England | 32 years old | 25 points
Since their 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals on July 5, Bayern Munich has enjoyed an impressive streak of 18 consecutive victories—three in preseason friendlies and 15 in competitive matches across the German Supercup, German Cup, Bundesliga, and UEFA Champions League. Key to this success has been Harry Kane, who has netted 22 goals and provided three assists in 15 matches this season.
In October, Kane scored twice across three league games, helping Bayern secure the top position in the Bundesliga standings with 24 points following wins over Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0), Borussia Dortmund (2-1), and Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-0). Interestingly, the latter match marked the first instance this season where Kane did not contribute a goal or an assist.
Having scored a league-high 12 goals, Kane was easily selected as the best player in Germany for October, racking up 25 out of a possible 30 points.
Second Place: Christoph Baumgartner, MF, RB Leipzig (10 points)
Third Place: Alejandro Grimaldo, DF, Bayer Leverkusen (8 points)
LIGUE 1: MASON GREENWOOD
Forward | Marseille and England | 24 years old | 20 points
Acquired from Manchester United in mid-2024, Mason Greenwood has swiftly established himself as a key player for Marseille. He earned the title of Ligue 1’s best player for October, garnering 20 out of 30 possible points after being rated first by two out of three voting journalists.
Throughout October, Greenwood participated in all four Ligue 1 matches, contributing significantly to two victories (3-0 against Metz and 6-2 against Le Havre), a draw against Angers (2-2), and a defeat to Lens (2-1). He scored five goals out of the team’s total of 12, placing Marseille third in the league standings with 19 points.
Second Place: Joaquin Panichelli, FW, Strasbourg (20 points)
Third Place: Ilan Kebbal, MF, Paris FC (5 points)
La Liga: KYLIAN MBAPPÉ
Forward | Real Madrid and France | 26 years old | 30 points
Kylian Mbappé has been a standout performer for Real Madrid this season, showcasing his world-class abilities in every match. He was unanimously voted as the best player in La Liga for October, earning a perfect 30 points from all three participating journalists.
In October, he directly contributed to four of Real Madrid’s six goals in three league victories. His remarkable contributions included scoring and assisting in a 3-1 win over Villarreal, netting the sole goal in a 1-0 victory against Getafe, and scoring first in the 2-1 win against Barcelona during El Clásico.
Real Madrid currently leads the league with 27 points, five ahead of Barcelona, and Mbappé is the league’s top scorer with 13 goals.
Second Place: Jorge de Frutos, FW, Rayo Vallecano (6 points)
Third Place: (tie) Jan Oblak, GK, Atletico Madrid; Thibaut Courtois, GK, Real Madrid; Vinicius Junior, FW, Real Madrid (5 points)
SERIE A: ANDRÉ-FRANK ZAMBO ANGUISSA
Midfielder | Napoli and Cameroon | 29 years old | 20 points
Anguissa has emerged as a vital member of Napoli, contributing to the team’s resurgence in the league after years of battling for the top. His strong showing in October helped Napoli secure a tie for the top spot in Serie A with Roma, both teams finishing with 21 points.
While he faced challenges during a 1-0 loss to Torino, Anguissa scored three goals in the other three matches, crucial to the wins against Genoa (2-1), Lecce (1-0), and a significant 3-1 victory against Internazionale.
As a result, Anguissa was recognized as October’s best player in Serie A, earning 20 out of 30 points.
Second Place: Nico Paz, MF, Como (16 points)
Third Place: (tie) Hakan Calhanoglu, MF, Inter Milan; Jari Vandeputte, MF, Cremonese; Mile Svilar, GK, AS Roma (5 points)
PREMIER LEAGUE: BRYAN MBEUMO
Forward | Manchester United and Cameroon | 26 years old | 30 points
Born in Avallon, France to a Cameroonian father and French mother, Mbeumo chose to represent the Cameroon national team. After a stint at Troyes, Mbeumo joined Brentford, where he played for six years before moving to Manchester United for nearly €81 million.
This season, he has proven to be a vital asset for manager Ruben Amorim. Mbeumo, alongside Mbappé, also received perfect recognition as the Player of the Month in the Premier League, achieving a flawless score of 30 points from all three journalists.
Throughout October, his decisive contributions included an assist in a 2-0 win over Sunderland, a goal in their narrow 2-1 victory against Liverpool, and a pair of goals in a 4-2 triumph against Brighton & Hove Albion. United ended the month with 16 points, placing them sixth in the league alongside crosstown rivals Manchester City.
Second Place: Erling Haaland, FW, Manchester City (15 points)
Third Place: (tie) Bukayo Saka, FW, Arsenal; Junior Kroupi, FW, Bournemouth; Senne Lammens, GK, Manchester United (5 points)
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