The IHF Women’s World Championship 2025 sets 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 competitor, this puts the spotlight on young excellence.

The “Best Young Player Award” Presented by Lidl represents a shared commitment by the International Handball Federation and Lidl to nurture potential, promote healthy lifestyles and inspire the next generation of global handball icons.

The award’s significance continues to grow after its successful introduction in 2023, when Germany’s Viola Leuchter delivered a breakout performance to claim the first-ever trophy. More recently, at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, Portugal’s Francisco Costa was recognised as the competition’s best young player, reinforcing the value of cultivating new talent at the highest level.

This edition features over 80 players aged Under-21, as participating teams, at the dawn of a new Olympic cycle, have rejuvenated their rosters and prioritised long-term development.

Teams like Croatia, Montenegro, Austria or Czechia will likely bring at least six Under-21 players in their squad, while established powerhouses like Denmark and France also count on players aged Under-21. Debutants Switzerland have announced no less than nine Under-21 players in their extended IHF Women’s World Championship 2025 squad

Lidl has been a strong backbone of handball as a sport and a long-time partner of the International Handball Federation, with the first appearance being at the 2017 IHF Men’s World Championship. After 2023, this is the second time the company has become a partner for an edition of the IHF Women’s World Championship, with the introduction of the new award for the best young player in the competition.

The “Best Young Player Presented by Lidl”  will be selected in a process which will be carefully considered by the IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods (CCM), with the performances on the court being decisive, as the winner will be announced after the final of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship and will be part of the All-Star team of the competition.