Bruno Melnis of FK Liepāja has been named the “Sportland” Best Young Player of the second round of the Tonybet Virslīga, following a dominant performance both on the field and in the voting process. FK Liepāja secured four wins, three draws, and suffered two losses during the second round of the league.
In the vote, Melnis earned 23 out of 26 first-place votes, accumulating a total of 73 points, leaving little doubt about his standout performances.
The 21-year-old striker started in all nine matches for FK Liepāja in the second round, showcasing his attacking prowess with five goals. His goals proved crucial in victories against FC RFS, FS Jelgava, BFC Daugavpils, and SK Super Nova. He added another goal in a 1–1 away draw against FK Tukums 2000.
Beyond his club success, Melnis also made his debut for the Latvian National Team, coming off the bench in a friendly match against Azerbaijan — a significant milestone in the young forward’s career.
This marks the first time that Bruno Melnis has received the “Sportland” Best Young Player award. The first-round honor had previously gone to Niks Sliede from FC RFS.
Since 2015, the Best Young Player award has been given after each round of the Virslīga season. Candidates are nominated by the Latvian Football Federation’s (LFF) Coaches’ Council, with votes coming from sports media representatives and head coaches of the Virslīga clubs. To be eligible, players must fall within the U-21 age category.
This round’s nominees for the award included:
- Markuss Ivulāns (FK Metta)
- Kristaps Grabovskis (FK Metta)
- Bruno Melnis (FK Liepāja)
- Alans Kangars (FK Metta)
- Gļebs Mihaļcovs (BFC Daugavpils)
