The six-athlete shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year has been revealed with England’s Euro 2025 and Women’s Rugby World Cup heroes among those fighting for the prestigious prize.
The nominees have been confirmed just a week out from the ceremony in Salford on Thursday 18 December, where one sporting star will be crowned after a year of sensational drama and achievement.
Lionesses duo Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly are joined by Red Roses superstar Ellie Kildunne on the shortlist, with Masters champion Rory McIlroy, darts sensation Luke Littler and newly-crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris also nominated.
With 2025 defined by success for England’s female national teams, it is no surprise that Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses make up a good portion of the shortlist.
Goalkeeper Hampton was the breakout superstar of the tournament, filling the shoes left by Mary Earps and writing her own legendary legacy as she helped guide England to back-to-back European Championships.
Her most crucial contribution came in the tournament’s final act, saving two Spain penalties in the shootout to overcome the world champions in Zurich to seal silverware for her nation. She was included in the team of the tournament following a string of commanding performances that included another two shootout saves in their quarter-final.
At club level she played a key role in Chelsea’s domestic treble, with her spectacular 2025 culminating in her winning the Yashin Trophy for the world’s best female goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards.
She’s joined on the shortlist by Kelly, whose heroics off the bench were crucial to England’s success in Switzerland.
The match-winner of the Euro 2022 final showed she’s still England’s player for the big moments by scoring the decisive penalty as the Lionesses retained the trophy.
The Lionesses were joined by the Red Roses in reigning supreme in major tournaments this summer, with Kildunne earning a SPOTY nomination as the face of England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph.
Superstar Kildunne scored five tries and played a crucial role as England lifted the title for the first time since 2014, on home soil no less.
The year began in January with Littler’s historic victory at the World Darts Championships at the age of just 17, followed by McIlroy ending his quest to win the Masters at Augusta in April and completing golf’s grand slam - two standout achievements that have more than stood the test of time and warrant a nomination.
But with Lando Norris, his success is very much fresh in the mind after being crowned F1 world champion for the first time in his career at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 26-year-old became the 11th Briton to win a drivers’ championship after emerging victorious from the closest finish to a season for 15 years, holding off the resurgence of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to be crowned.
On the night, fans across the UK will have their say, as presenters Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott guide viewers through the stellar year of sporting success.
Audiences have until midday on Sunday 14 December to vote for their World Sport Star online via bbc.co.uk/spoty.
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