Buchanan Makes History | Canadian Weekly Rankings (Aug 21–27, 2025)
Another exciting week of soccer has wrapped up, and Canadian players across the world once again made headlines with standout performances. From history-making hat tricks in Europe to dominant displays in MLS and the CPL, Canadians are continuing to raise the bar and prove their quality on the global stage. In this edition of our weekly rankings, we’re looking at matches played between August 21–27, 2025. This week’s list highlights not only established stars like Tajon Buchanan and Jonathan David but also rising talents and overlooked names making their mark in domestic leagues. With so many strong performances, narrowing it down to a top five was no easy task — and that’s why we also included several honorable mentions who deserve recognition.
for last weeks rankings read – https://cafeterodelnorte.com/canadian-soccer-weekly-rankings-august-14-20-2025/#Honorable_Mentions
5. Shaan Hundal
A relatively unknown name unless you closely follow the CPL, but this week Shaan Hundal made sure fans knew who he was. The York United forward put in an astonishing performance, scoring four goals in his team’s 5-1 home win over Pacific. He was ruthless in front of goal, converting four of his five shots, with the lone miss being a big chance. On top of that, Hundal created two chances for his teammates and was absolutely crucial in sealing the victory. With this result, York United stays firmly in the fight for automatic playoff qualification, and Hundal’s name deserves to be highlighted after such a dominant showing.
4. Liam Fraser
Although he hasn’t been called up to the Canadian men’s national team in some time, Liam Fraser is quietly making a case for himself with consistent performances in England. His week started with a short 10-minute appearance in Reading’s 2-2 away draw against Wycombe, where he still managed to get involved and even had a decent chance. The bigger impression came in the EFL Cup against Wimbledon, where Reading won 2-1 at home. Fraser not only scored Reading’s opener with a banger, but also controlled the midfield with authority. He finished the match with 82% pass accuracy, created a big chance, won 2 of 3 tackles, and came out on top in all seven of his duels — earning himself Man of the Match honors. It’s only one standout game and the competition level isn’t the highest, but if Fraser keeps producing performances like this, he might just force his way back into consideration for Canada’s World Cup squad next year.
3. Jacob Shaffelberg
Another strong week from Jacob Shaffelberg sees him climb a spot higher in the rankings. The winger played a key role in Nashville’s emphatic 5-1 home win over Orlando, a result made even more impressive considering Orlando is a solid side. Shaffelberg assisted twice in just 63 minutes of action, making the most of his time on the pitch. He also completed his only dribble, won 5 of his 8 duels, and nearly capped things off with a goal but narrowly missed a big chance. Nashville is one of the best teams in MLS right now, and Shaffelberg continues to prove why he’s such an important piece of their system heading into the playoffs.
to see his assists visit:
https://x.com/LFCYussef6/status/1959426897718194334
https://x.com/LFCYussef6/status/1959427935863021792
2. Jonathan David
For the second straight week, Jonathan David finds himself in the top five — this time climbing higher with a strong Serie A debut for Juventus. In their 2-0 home win over Parma, David not only scored his first-ever Serie A goal but also played an all-around excellent striker’s game across his 80 minutes on the pitch. He created five chances, completed his only dribble, and could have had another goal had he converted a big chance. Playing and scoring for a club as big as Juventus is a major step forward in his career, and if he keeps up this level, he’ll continue to cement his spot in the lineup. The only concern is competition from Vlahović, who is also in form — but with displays like this, David is making a strong case to remain the starter.
1. Tajon Buchanan – Canadian of the Week
For any Canadian soccer fan, this week’s number one spot was an obvious choice. Tajon Buchanan put on an unforgettable performance in his first start of the season for Villarreal, scoring a stunning hat trick in their 5-0 home win against Girona. He played the full match and was unstoppable, completing all five of his dribbles (the most in the match), winning 8 of 11 duels, and passing at an 85% accuracy rate while also creating a chance. With this performance, Buchanan made history: he became the first Canadian to ever score a hat trick in La Liga and only the second Canadian to do so in any of Europe’s top five leagues. He also now sits as joint top scorer in La Liga — an incredible way to start the season. More importantly, this display could secure him a permanent place in Villarreal’s starting eleven. Canadian fans will be hoping this is just the beginning of what could be a breakout season for Buchanan.
Honorable Mentions
Zorhan Bassong
Although Kansas City suffered a tough 5-2 loss to the Seattle Sounders, Zorhan Bassong delivered a strong individual performance. He was heavily involved with 81 touches and showed great efficiency with 93% pass accuracy, completing 71 passes and creating one chance. Defensively, he was solid as well, winning all three of his tackles and coming out on top in 56% of his duels. Despite the poor team result, Bassong’s display was impressive and he looks to be coming into the Canadian national team in excellent form.
Daniel Jebbison
The young Canadian striker featured twice this week for Preston North End. In the first match, he had only a few minutes during their 1-0 home win against Ipswich in the Championship, not enough time to make a major impact but still valuable minutes to his development. In the second match, Jebbison played 61 minutes in Preston’s 3-2 EFL Cup defeat to Wrexham. While the result wasn’t ideal, Jebbison looked sharp, creating two chances and nearly scoring himself with a shot that struck the woodwork. It’s encouraging to see him gaining more minutes, and with continued opportunities, he has the potential to grow into a top player.
Mathieu Choinière
After making the top five last week, Mathieu Choinière falls just short this time but still produced a noteworthy performance. Though he’s not yet earning consistent starts, he played 65 minutes in Los Angeles’ 1-1 draw away to Dallas, largely due to circumstances. In those minutes he impressed, completing 89% of his passes, creating a chance, and winning all of his aerial duels. With Igor Jesus now sidelined through injury, Choinière should have more chances to prove himself, and if he can seize them, he could become a key contributor for Los Angeles moving forward.
Luc de Fougerolles
The young Canadian defender continues to gain valuable experience in Belgium with Dender. Although the team fell 1-0 at home to OH Leuven, de Fougerolles stood out with a solid performance. He maintained an 87% pass accuracy, completed his only dribble, and won 7 of his 11 duels. Already earning consistent minutes for both club and country, de Fougerolles is showing promising development and will look to build on this foundation as the season continues.
Tiago Coimbra
Another name familiar mostly to CPL followers, Tiago Coimbra is quickly making himself known thanks to his scoring form. Currently the second-highest goal scorer in the league behind fellow Canadian Samuel Salter, Coimbra had a standout week, netting a hat trick in HFX Wanderers’ 4-1 home win over Valour. Beyond the goals, he put in a complete performance, winning 60% of his duels and helping secure Wanderers’ first victory in seven matches. With this result, HFX remain in contention for automatic playoff qualification, and Coimbra’s form could be the key to their late-season push.
Final Thoughts
From Villarreal to Juventus, Nashville to York United, Canadian players showed once again that their talent is shining at every level of the game. This week gave us history-making performances, clutch goals, and breakout moments that will only fuel excitement for what’s to come. With World Cup qualifiers on the horizon and club seasons heating up, it’s encouraging to see so many Canadians in top form.
What did you think of this week’s rankings? Did anyone deserve a higher spot, or was someone left out that you would’ve included? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we want to hear your take on Canada’s best performers from August 21–27, 2025.
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