Basketball player Emma Meesseman has won the Belgian National Sports Merit Award 2025. The award, created and awarded by the City of Brussels, is a prize for Belgian athletes or sports teams.
The jury of the National Sports Merit Award chose Emma Meesseman for her many successes in 2025. Thanks to their second European title, the Belgian Cats were clear favourites this year. Although a collective award was possible, in the end the team's most iconic player was crowned.
It is also the first time in the history of the trophy that a basketball player wins the award.
Sports award of the City
The National Sports Merit Award (Trophée National du Mérite Sportif) exists since 1933. The City of Brussels, the capital of Belgium, decided to create the prize for Belgian athletes or sports teams who distinguished themselves. A jury of former sports champions like Eddy Merckx and Paul Van Himst, chaired by the Mayor of Brussels, selects a winner each year. An athlete can win the prize only once.
Laureats of the National Sports Merit Award since 2000
- 2000: Joël Smets (motocross)
- 2001: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin (tennis)
- 2002: Marc Wilmots (football)
- 2003: Stefan Everts (motocross)
- 2004: Axel Merckx (cycling)
- 2005: Tom Boonen (cycling)
- 2006: Kim Gevaert and Tia Hellebaut (athletics)
- 2007: Kim Gevaert, Hanna Mariën, Olivia Borlée and Elodie Ouédraogo (athletics)
- 2008: not awarded
- 2009: Philippe Gilbert (cycling)
- 2010: Philippe Le Jeune (equestrian)
- 2011: Kevin Borlée (athletics)
- 2012: Evi Van Acker (sailing)
- 2013: Frederik Van Lierde (triathlon)
- 2014: Daniel Van Buyten (football)
- 2015: 4x400m relay (athletics)
- 2016: Nafissatou Thiam (athletics)
- 2017: David Goffin (tennis)
- 2018: Nina Derwael (gymnastics)
- 2019: Red Lions (hockey)
- 2020: Wout van Aert (cycling)
- 2021: Bashir Abdi (athletics)
- 2022: Remco Evenepoel (cycling)
- 2023: Bart Swings (speed skating)
- 2024: Lotte Kopecky (cycling)
- 2025: Emma Meesseman (basketball)