The DFB has awarded the gold Fritz Walter Medal for the 2024/25 season to Finn Jeltsch and Alara Şehitler from the 2006 class. Other Bundesliga players won silver and bronze.
What makes young female soccer players role models? Is it their play on the pitch or their behavior off it? Their football skills or their mentality? According to the German Football Association (DFB), it is most likely a mixture. The Fritz Walter Medal is therefore given to young players who “consistently demonstrate these qualities,” said the DFB when announcing the award winners on Friday afternoon.
Alara Şehitler and Finn Jeltsch dominate the “U19” category
The highest honors in the U19 category went to Stuttgart’s Finn Jeltsch and an Offensive player Alara Şehitler from FC Bayern. The 18-year-old from Aulendorf (Ravensburg district) and the central defender of VfB Stuttgart both received the gold medal. Also awarded gold, but in the U17 category, are Alexander Staff (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Şehitler’s teammate Luzie Zähringer (FC Bayern Munich), both born in 2008.
All four impressed with their “outstanding footballing qualities, strong personalities and a demeanor that makes them role models both on and off the pitch,” said the DFB when it was announced on Friday afternoon.
Hoffenheim talent Max Moerstedt receives Bronze medal
Said El Mala (1. FC Köln) and Estrella Merino Gonzalez (Bayer Leverkusen) as well as Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich) and Lotta Wrede (Hamburger SV) received the silver medal.
With Max Moerstedt, another award goes to the southwest: The 19-year-old striker from TSG Hoffenheim was awarded the bronze medal, alongside Thea Farwick (SV Meppen), Elias Vali Fard (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Marie Gmeineder (Bayern Munich).
Prize winners showed “courage, team spirit and high individual quality”
“This year’s winners of the Fritz Walter Medal show how much talent and passion there is in German youth football,” said Kai Krüger, head of the junior national teams. “They represent a generation that impresses with courage, team spirit and high individual quality.” At the same time, it is important to “give them enough time for further development.”
The DFB has been awarding the Fritz Walter Medal to young U17 and U19 players since 2005. This year the 2006 and 2008 vintages will be honored.
Broadcast on Friday, October 17th, 2025 at 1:45 p.m., SWR Aktuell Nachrichten
