Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has picked Brazilian talisman Lucas Ribeiro Costa as a clear candidate to win the prestigious footballer of the season award, stating that it would only be fair for the forward to be honored in that category.

The 26-year-old star has been one of the standout players in the 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign, with his impressive exploits prompting player of the season shouts as early as mid-season – a testament to the player’s qualities.

Ribeiro is currently the league’s top goal scorer with 13 goals and seven assists provided in 24 matches.

In addition, this means the Santa Helena-born star has directly contributed 20 goals to Sundowns’ 57 goals scored in the league – a new PSL record, surpassing Downs’ 2021/22 record of 56 goals scored. 

However, the Sundowns’ go-to man is enduring a barren run of five games without finding the back of the net in the league. Despite that, the Portuguese mentor is adamant that Ribeiro is the outright favorite to be named player of the season.

“Look, I think that a player like Lucas [Ribeiro] is clearly the player of the league this season, that has expressed himself not only this year, but this year he exploded the way that he exploded, he just brings good things for the [team],” said Cardoso.

Backing his claim, Cardoso says Ribeiro has shown his class by carrying the Chloorkop-based outfit throughout the course of the season, asserting that he is head and shoulders above the rest of the players in the league.

“If we look at the goals that he [Lucas Ribeiro] scored, the beautiful goals that he scored, the moments that he helped to carry the team forward – obviously it’s always a team that promotes a player but also Lucas had moments that he helped the team a lot,” added the 52-year-old mentor.

“I think for me, he is the favorite candidate, I don’t see anyone expressing such a level like Lucas did for so long, and even in the previous years. It is important that, of course, we relate to the season, but Lucas has been a consistent player in the last years.

“And this season he expressed things that are very difficult to see, that have to do obviously with the work of the team, but also due to his capacities. I will be very happy because I think it is completely fair if he becomes the player of the season.” 

Masandawana will return to action with a visit from Stellenbosch FC at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday. The Tshwane giants are on course to clinch their record-extending eighth consecutive championship as they only need four points to achieve the feat.