2025 European Aquatics Awards: Men’s Water Polo Athlete of the Year – Alvaro Granados

For the first time in his career, Spain’s Alvaro Granados has been voted the 2025 European Aquatics Men’s Water Polo Athlete of the Year. He led the charge for Spain to clinch the World Cup title and then to the gold medal at the World Championships, where he became the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Granados received the European Aquatics Athlete of the Year Award in men’s water polo at the Opening Ceremony of the European Water Polo Championships in Belgrade on Friday evening, accepting the trophy from EA First Vice President Josip Varvodic.

Granados enjoyed another outstanding year, especially with the Spanish national team. His performances in key games were even more remarkable given that he had to bounce back from a double shock the previous summer. Though he led Spain to their first European title in 2024, the national team failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics.

“Looking back at 2025, the first thing that comes to my mind is how hard it was for us to overcome the terrible loss we had suffered at the Paris Olympics, in the quarter-finals,” Granados recalled after receiving his award. “It was a challenge for all of us, the players and the staff members, but we managed to settle everything among ourselves and get ready for a new chapter.”

Granados also had to return to his former club, Barceloneta, after his contract with Recco was voided due to the Italian giants’ financial hardships. Still, he showed his class by leading Spain to a World Cup triumph and another world-title campaign in Singapore later in the summer.

In the World Cup, the master shooter stepped up in the final of the Division One tournament in Otopeni, dismantling the Hungarian defence almost single-handedly by scoring eight goals.

Then, in April, at the World Cup Finals in Podgorica, he carried on this tremendous form across all three games as Spain beat Germany, Croatia and Greece to clinch the gold medal, with Granados netting six, seven and four goals respectively.

He also helped Barceloneta sweep all domestic titles and reach the Champions League Final Four. However, a shootout loss to Novi Beograd prevented them from playing a rematch with FTC in the final, marking their only defeat in regular time throughout the entire season.

In the summer, Granados shone in Singapore at the World Championships, where Spain won all their games to return to the top step of the podium.

Once again, Granados was at his best in the final – once more against Hungary – scoring five goals and receiving the MVP Award of the Championships.

“What we achieved together last year cannot make me prouder,” he added while reflecting on the season.

“Our World Cup journey was already fantastic, then came the World Championships and the way we performed there.

“I should say it was simply a perfect end to a brilliant season, both for the team and for me personally.”

Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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