Sports Personality of the Year 2025 live: Rory McIlroy battles Chloe Kelly and Lando Norris for prestigious BBC award | OneFootball

The 2025 Sports Personality of the Year nominees (Getty/iStock)

Rory McIlroy is the favourite to win tonight’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, but the Masters champion faces stiff competition from Lionesses Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton, England rugby star Ellie Kildunne, as well as darts phenomenon Luke Littler and the newly crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris.

McIlroy enjoyed a stunning year in which he finally completed the grand slam, winning that elusive first Green Jacket via a dramatic play-off against his friend Justin Rose at Augusta National. McIlroy and Rose teamed up in New York a few months later to win the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, and victory in the Race to Dubai capped arguably the greatest season of the Northern Irishman’s glittering career.

England Women’s Euro 2025 triumph in Switzerland this summer captured the public’s imagination, with goalkeeper Hampton their outstanding player and Kelly their hero in crucial moments, including scoring the winning penalty kick. England’s Rugby World Cup win was another inspirational story, sparked by the magical Kildunne, following a heartbreaking defeat by New Zealand in 2021.

Littler will struggle to produce a better season, sweeping up a string of major darts titles including his first World Championship crown, although its distant place in the sporting calendar – the world final was way back in January – may count against him in the public vote. Norris’s world title was far more recent as he became Britain’s 11th F1 champion in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.

There are a number of other awards this evening, including Young Sports Personality – in which Littler is the favourite – and prizes for the outstanding coach, team and world star, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented to the great Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

Young Sports Personality of the Year

The nominees are Michelle Agyemang, Luke Littler, and Davina Perrin.

Darts star Littler won last year’s Young Sports Personality of the Year award and, as detailed above, is in the running for the main award after winning the World Championship before turning 18 and becoming the sport’s youngest World No 1.

Lionesses striker Agyemang was the breakout star of England’s summer, scoring key goals to rescue Sarina Wiegman’s side against Sweden in the quarter-finals and Italy in the semi-finals. The 19-year-old was named young player of the tournament after England won the Euro 2025 final on penalties.

Perrin blasted a record-breaking 42-ball century for the Northern Superchargers as the England cricketer recorded the fastest ever ton in the women’s Hundred. The 19-year-old, considered the rising star of English cricket, was also named the Professional Cricketers' Association young player of the year.

Sport 2025 nominees: Ellie Kildunne

In a transformative, triumphant summer for the Red Roses, in which they reclaimed the Women’s World Rugby Cup and lifted it high in front of a record 80,000 at Twickenham, it was the magical, twinkling feet of Ellie Kildunne that often led the way.

In a team sport, Kildunne possesses the individual brilliance and highlight reel that may prove popular among SPOTY voters, from her outrageous second against France in the semi-finals to powering through to score England’s first against Canada in the World Cup final. It may make the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year an outside shot for the main award.

Ellie Kildunne helped England to Women’s Rugby World Cup glory this summer (Ben Whitley/PA) (PA Wire)

Spoty 2025 nominees: Hannah Hampton

There are two Lionesses on the SPOTY shortlist, which could mean they take votes from each other. That said, Hampton is here because she was England’s best player throughout the whole of Euro 2025 and was arguably the player of the tournament ahead of Spain’s Aitana Bonmati. The goalkeeper was under huge pressure following the shock retirement of Mary Earps but made key stops throughout England’s run to the final and was then the hero in the shootout as she saved from Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey.

Of course, there would be plenty of irony in Hampton following Earps in becoming SPOTY, given the former goalkeeper said in her recent autobiography. Hampton, though, did her talking through her performances on the pitch, and can also claim to have had a more successful season overall than England team-mate Chloe Kelly as a result of Chelsea’s unbeaten domestic treble.

Hannah Hampton is hugged by Khiara Keating after England's Euro 2025 victory (Getty)

Spoty 2025 nominees: Lando Norris

With the F1 title battle reaching the final weekend of the season, the timing could be key for Norris if the 26-year-old is to add SPOTY to his maiden World Championship crown. By joining the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jackie Stewart to become the 11th British driver to win the world title, Norris dealt with setbacks impressively to hold off a charging Max Verstappen and displayed admirable toughness and class to emerge from a potentially bitter fight with teammate Oscar Piastri in charge of the title fight.

The honesty and humility Norris showed after his crowning moment could endear the popular McLaren driver to SPOTY voters, too. He said: “If you compare me to all the champions from the past, have I been as aggressive as them? No. Have I been as daring? No, but did I do what I needed to win a world championship and perform under the most pressure, and did I come back the way I needed to? I did. What makes me very proud is that I could prove myself wrong.”

Lando Norris with his Drivers’ Championship trophy (FIA/DPPI via Getty Images)

Spoty 2025 nominees: Chloe Kelly

With her trademark penalty run-up and unwavering confidence, Kelly’s impact from the bench rescued the Lionesses at Euro 2025 and then delivered glory for Sarina Wiegman’s side as they defended their European title in Switzerland. Despite not starting a single match, Kelly inspired the comeback against Sweden in the quarter-finals, scored the winner against Italy in the semi-finals, and netted the decisive penalty in the shootout win over Spain as the Lionesses became the first England team to win a major honour abroad. What a run.

Kelly could have quit football at the start of the year, as she was frozen out at Manchester City. But a loan move to Arsenal was the spark she needed and her resilience in coming back summed up England’s campaign. With over 16.2 million watching England’s win over Spain, the biggest TV audience of the year, don’t rule out Kelly following Beth Mead and Mary Earps and the Lionesses winning SPOTY for the third time in four years.

Chloe Kelly played a key role as England successfully defended their European Championship crown (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)