Aston Villa have several players who get recognised globally for their exploits in claret and blue.
Unai Emery has one of Europe’s best strikers in the shape of Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa, who helped fire his side into the Champions League last term.
While Watkins performance levels have dropped in 2024/25, he’s still Emery’s talismanic figure, scoring six and assisting twice in the Premier League.
As a result, the 28-year-old is one of the shortlisted forwards in the best FIFA men’s XI for 2024 alongside the best goalkeeper in the world, Emi Martinez.
Watkins and Martinez, meanwhile, aren’t the only Aston Villa stars to get nominated for a prestigious FIFA award, with winger Jaden Philogene the other.
Jaden Philogene nominated for FIFA’s Puskas award
11 jaw-dropping goals are in contention to win the 2024 FIFA Puskas Award. The accolade is named after legendary Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskás, who was famed for his glorious individual strikes.
Philogene is one of the nominees shortlisted for the coveted award for his incredible goal for Hull City in their victory over Rotherham United last season.
Cutting back inside his defender, Philogene dinked a ‘ridiculous’ rabona effort over the goalkeeper from a tight angle, helping the Tigers secure a 2-1 victory at the New York Stadium.
The goal was one of several audacious goals he scored during his only season in East Yorkshire, including a backheel in the return fixture against Rotherham and an amazing solo run in the victory over Preston.
When Philogene returned to Villa in the summer, supporters were expecting to see him showcase his flair on the pitch but unfortunately, they are yet to see the best of him.
Philogene’s Aston Villa career waiting to take off
Stepping up from the second tier was always going to be a struggle for the 22-year-old, who has mostly seen his game time restricted at Villa Park.
| Competition | Matches played | Goals | Assists | Yellow | Second yellow | Red card | Total mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Premier League | 8 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 204′ |
 | UEFA Champions League | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | 119′ |
 | EFL Cup | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 90′ |
| Total 24/25: | 12 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 413′ | |
Philogene hasn’t looked quite right this term, and despite the poor form of Leon Bailey, the Englishman has still failed to take any minutes off him.
Whether it’s only the left wing or right, the fans want to see more from their £13 million arrival, who will perhaps target the hectic Christmas schedule as a chance to finally write his name up in lights.
