The next votes for the Total Player Award come from Aquafeed24, Greece’s leading aquatic sports portal.
Although it covers a wide variety of water sports, the Greek portal is particularly strong in water polo, which is a sport that is highly valued in Greece, and by Aquafeed.
Aquafeed24’s Top 5 of 2022
The new highly exciting season may have already started, but we’re still thrilled by all the tournaments and games we got to watch during summer! Greek League, Euroleague, World and European Championship, all packed-up in a timeline of 2-3 months and our team was pretty much everywhere, catching every moment and every goal, also being present in some outstanding finales!
We got the chance to be around a lot of top players, chat with them and even interview some people, who determine crucial outcomes! From from Athens to Budapest and Split, #Aquafeed24 team managed to travel a lot this past few months and finally, sit down making his exceptional summary vote!
Top 5 - TPA'22 Female
1. Rita Keszthelyi (HUN)
Hungary National Team Player/Club: Mataro /Position: Driver
Both a legendary person for the women's Hungarian waterpolo and an exceptional personality for the world aquatics. Rita Keszthelyi is by far, one of the most charismatic scorers of the european waterpolo and outstands for her talent in every match and competition (she scored 9 goals in the Bronze medal match, Final4 Euro league, got also to the Top-7 of the tournament). As a very faithful player to her National team, Rita Keszthelyi-Nagy was the key-player to Hungary's journey in the home-WC, did everything she could to the big final against USA and claimed Silver after a thrilling game.
2. Bea Ortiz (ESP)
Spain National Team Player/Club: Sabadell/ Position: Driver
If we should talk about consistency in the Spanish - women's waterpolo, we would focus on one name this year: Bea Ortiz. The 27-year-old driver really has some experience and talent that keeps unfolding throughout her astonishing career, while her transfer to Sabadell really means more spectacular performances for the Spaniard star.
3. Maddie Musselman (USA)
United States National Team Player/Club: UCLA /Position: Wing
A USA girl made of gold! Maddie really impressed everyone, with her exciting performances and goals in the World Championship of Budapest, while she also claimed the well-deserved title of the MVP of the tournament. Her way of playing and understanding the game shows a wonderful, updated and dynamic version of women's waterpolo. We really can't wait to see her playing in a great European club in the future!
4. Eleni Xenaki (GRE)
Greece National Team Player. Club: Olympiacos. Position: Centre-Forward
Olympiacos left-hander Centre-forward was definitely in her peak this past few months. She stood out in LEN Eurol eague, pairing perfectly in Greece's National team with Maria Myriokefalitaki, while being one of the strongest players in the 2m, both in Greek League and internationally.
5. Eleftheria Plevritou (GRE)
Greece National Team Player. Club: Olympiacos Position: Wing
The middle of the Plevritou sisters, with champion mentality and incomparable explosiveness! Eleftheria is a very valuable and consistent player, both for Olympiacos and for the Greek National Team, working hard and evolving in every competition. She's a fast swimmer, great scorer from the right wing where she plays and had a massive impact on Greece's Silver medal in Split, therefore she claimed the MVP title!Top 5 - TPA'22 Male
1. Unai Aguirre (ESP)
Spain National Team Player. Club: Barceloneta Position: Goalkeeper
It's so precious and emotional to witness such a young and talented goalkeeper having a great - passionate impact on his National team, all the way to the "redemption" final of Spain. Being a World Champion at the age of 20, coming after Lopez Pinedo's wonderful career and winning the Most Valuable Goalkeeper of the WC in Budapest is really something else...
2. Gergo Zalanki (HUN)
Hungary National Team Player. Club: Pro Recco Position: Wing
One of the Hungarian stars that shine throughout the year is definitely Gergo Zalanki. Very steady and formidable scorer in Champions League, he "signed" Recco's b2b title in CL by his last penalty execution in Belgrade Final this past June, against Novi Beograd (also scored another 5 goals during the 4 quarters). Continuing in the World and European Championship, Gergo also showed a remarkable improvement between these two competitions, heading to the European Final, where he made a special performance, although Hungary claimed Silver in Split.
3. Angelos Vlachopoulos (GRE)
Greece National Team Player. Club: Novi Beograd. Position: Driver
Novi's Greek star and one of the most crucial players of the National Team of Greece! Aggelos really got Belgrade going crazy in the Champions League semifinal, with his winning goal against Brescia, while he also had a great impact on Novi's journey conquering the Serbian and the Adriatic League last season. Adding to that, he's statistically confirmed, the Greek player with the most game-participations, both in clubs' and international competitions.
4. Felipe Perrone (ESP)
Spain National Team Player. Club: Barceloneta. Position: Driver
Felipe is #AQF24's "waterpolo genius". He's definitely one of the best "play-makers" of our sport this past few years, his ball-handling skills are from another planet and the way the Spaniard is dealing with the power-play and generally, the attacking game, is charismatic.
