Braga, Shankland Among nominees for Scottish Player of the Year as Old Firm Stars Snubbed

In a stunning shake-up for Scottish football's individual awards, the Professional Footballers' Association Scotland has announced the shortlist for Player of the Year, with Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland among the nominees alongside Porto loanee Braga, St Johnstone's Dylan Shankland, and Kilmarnock's Regi Maswanhise.

Watch the highlights:

The omission of any Celtic or Rangers players from the six-man shortlist has sent shockwaves through Scottish football, with supporters and analysts questioning whether the traditional powerhouses have truly lost their grip on domestic superiority.

Braga, the Brazilian playmaker who has illuminated Tannadice with his creative brilliance this season, leads the nominations after contributing 12 goals and 8 assists for Dundee United. His performances have drawn interest from clubs across Europe, with scouts attending virtually every match since February.

"This shortlist tells the story of Scottish football in 2026," former Scotland internationalist James McFadden told Sky Sports. "The Old Firm have dominated for so long that we've normalised their presence in these awards. Now we're seeing genuine quality from outside Glasgow."

Dylan Shankland, no relation to Lawrence despite sharing a surname, has been equally impressive for Motherwell, scoring 14 league goals and nearly single-handedly keeping the club clear of relegation concerns. His nomination comes amid reports that several Premier League clubs are monitoring his situation.

Maswanhise's inclusion represents perhaps the most remarkable story of the season. The young winger has emerged from Kilmarnock's youth academy to become one of the most exciting prospects in Scottish football, with pace and directness that has left defenders grasping at air.

Voting closes on May 15, with the winner announced at the annual awards ceremony in Glasgow.