Leading second place Olisse 110 votes! Wilz was elected Kicker Player of the Year with 191 votes

In the annual award selection of German "Kicker", former Leverkusen midfielder Werz bid farewell to the Bundesliga as the 2025 Football Player of the Year.

In the selection a year ago, Wilz lost to Cross, and this year he finally won the award and won by a huge advantage. The German national team's midfielder core has joined Liverpool this summer. 633 members of the German Sports Journalists Association (VDS) participated in the vote, one of which was invalid. The voting deadline was July 28, and Werz finally won 191 votes, 110 more votes than second-placed Bundesliga champion Bayern player Olisse (81 votes). The third place is Walter Mad (71 votes), who won the German Cup with Stuttgart, and the fourth place is Bayern legend Thomas Mueller (70 votes) who has left the Bundesliga to join the American League.

In an interview with "Kickers", Kroos commented to Werz: "I must say that I can't think of a more suitable successor than him. In many aspects, you are a special player. In my opinion, your decision to join Liverpool is very correct, which also confirms your mentality and belief."

Werz also emphasized in an interview with "Kickers" that it makes you feel particularly proud to be able to take over the baton of "player benchmark" like Kroos. In addition, he also thanked the sports reporter for his vote and believed that it was a collective honor. Wilz thanked all the teammates, coaches and staff at Leverkusen and Germany’s national team and claimed this honor on behalf of everyone who helped him on his own path to growth.

Wilz added: "I know very well that I am only 22 years old and there is still a lot of work to do in the future to live up to expectations - including the expectations of Player of the Year. In any case, I will continue to put higher demands on myself."