The 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship set the stage for an unprecedented showcase of emerging talent, with the “Best Young Player Award” Presented by Lidl at its centre. Reserved for the top Under-21 competitors, this puts the spotlight on young excellence. 

After the quarter-finals, the experts in the Commission of Coaches and Methods at the IHF have reduced the shortlist to only four players who can still win the award. The recipient of the “Best Young Player Award” Presented by Lidl will be included in the All-Star team of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship.

 

Julie Scaglione – Denmark

Returning after a knee injury, Scaglione confirmed her fantastic talent at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, being Denmark’s second best scorer in the competition, with 32 goals in seven matches, or an average of 4.57 goals per match.

The 21-year-old left back made her senior debut in 2022 and quickly became integral to Denmark's team, already in the squad which won the bronze medal at the 2023 IHF Women's World Championship. Scaglione’s best outing came in the main round match against Senegal, with 11 goals, but she also had six goals against Croatia and five goals against Japan in the preliminary round. 

Overall, at Germany/Netherlands 2025, Scaglione contributed directly to 45 of Denmark’s goals, assisting 13 goals and drawing seven suspensions from her opponents.

 

Nina Dury – France

At 21, she captained France's junior squad to victory at the 2024 IHF Women's Junior World Championship and her senior debut quickly followed, in March 2025 against Germany. 

Germany/Netherlands 2025 represents her first major international tournament with the senior team. And she provided some excellent performances, scoring 12 goals from 20 shots, for a shooting efficiency of 60%. Dury also had a great performance in defence, with five steals, while also scoring half of her goals via fast breaks.

 

Nieke Kühne – Germany

The HSG Blomberg-Lippe left back represented Germany across all youth age categories, and made her senior national team debut in 2024, accelerating her pathway towards greatness. Germany/Netherlands 2025 is her maiden World Championship appearance and she helped her side qualify for the semi-finals with excellent performances. 

Operating at the left back position, Kühne scored 22 goals out of 36 shots, while also dishing seven assists. Her breakthroughs are difficult to stop, with 17 of the goals coming by dominating the defensive line with her speed and agility.

 

Viola Leuchter – Germany

The 21-year-old right back earned the Best Young Player award Presented by LIDL at the 2023 IHF Women's World Championship, but saw her campaign in that competition ending early due to a knee injury. In just a few months’ time, Leuchter came back and took part at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and at the EHF EURO 2024.

She is now again on the shortlist, as her performances were once again excellent. By the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship semi-finals, Leuchter had accumulated 123 goals across 50 matches for Germany's senior team. At Germany/Netherlands 2025, Leuchter is already a starter and a key player for Germany, scoring 19 goals in her first seven matches, also dishing eight assists, stealing five balls and drawing three suspensions.