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McIlroy not just won Sports Personality of the Year but saw Europe’s Ryder Cup team win Team of the Year, with England’s Rugby World Cup-winning star Ellie Kildunne second and F1 world champion Lando Norris third
Luke Baker & Jamie BraidwoodThursday 18 December 2025 22:22 GMT- Bookmark
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Rory McIlroy has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the first time after winning the Masters and leading Europe to the Ryder Cup in the finest season of the Northern Irishman’s career.
McIlroy became just the sixth player, and the first from Europe, to achieve golf’s career grand slam when he won the green jacket at Augusta to complete his set of major titles. The 36-year-old becomes just the third golfer to win the prestigious SPOTY prize, after Dai Rees and Sir Nick Faldo.
McIlroy was the favourite to win the award and topped the public vote ahead of Ellie Kildunne, who starred in England’s Rugby World Cup win and was second in voting, and newly crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris, who was third. Lionesses heroes Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton and world darts champion Luke Littler were also nominated.
And there was a double success for McIlroy as Europe’s Ryder Cup team won in the first public vote for Team of the Year, ahead of the Lionesses and the Red Roses. There was some recognition for the Lionesses after their Euro 2025 victory, though, with Sarina Wiegman named coach of the year and breakout striker Michelle Agyemang winning Young Sports Personality of the Year.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Sweden’s pole vault king Mondo Duplantis made it back-to-back World Sport Star of the Year awards. Follow all the latest updates from the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year awards below
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Sports Personality of the Year awards
- Rory McIlroy wins Sports Personality of the Year 2025 with Ellie Kildunne second and Lando Norris third
- The European Ryder Cup team win Team of the Year
- Michelle Agyemang wins Young Sports Personality of the Year
- Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman named coach of the year for second time
- Pole vault star Mondo Duplantis named World Sport Star of the Year for second consecutive time
- Arsenal legend Thierry Henry honoured with Lifetime Achievement award
- Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, fathers of two of the young girls killed in the Southport stabbings, win Helen Rollason Award
WATCH: The moment Rory McIlroy won Sports Personality of the Year
Here’s the moment that Rory McIlroy was named Sports Personality of the Year for 2025 - to a huge ovation.
Luke Baker18 December 2025 22:22The winning moment for Rory McIlroy! 🎆 🏆He claims SPOTY 2025 to crown a golden year. 👏 pic.twitter.com/SATQvYYnom
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 18, 2025
Emotional Rory McIlroy ends ‘dream year’ with BBC Sports Personality - the award he wanted all along
Rory McIlroy ended the “year dreams are made of” by adding the Sports Personality of the Year award to his memorable triumphs at the Masters and Ryder Cup after being voted winner of the prestigious BBC prize for the first time.
The 36-year-old Northern Irishman topped the public vote ahead of England rugby star Ellie Kildunne, who sparkled as the Red Roses won the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and newly-crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris, who was third.
McIlroy is just the third golfer to be named Sports Personality of the Year and the first since Sir Nick Faldo in 1989. It comes after McIlroy became just the sixth man to complete golf’s career grand slam by winning the Masters in April, as well as leading Europe’s charge to an away Ryder Cup victory against a ferociously hostile United States crowd in September.
To add to McIlroy’s night, Europe’s Ryder Cup team also won the public vote for Team of the Year, ahead of the Red Roses and the Lionesses, who defended their European crown in Switzerland to become the first England football team to win a major tournament on foreign soil.
Read Jamie Braidwood’s full round-up of tonight’s ceremony:
Emotional Rory McIlroy ends ‘dream year’ with the award he wanted all along
McIlroy branded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year a ‘popularity contest’ not long ago but was visibly moved as he added the honour to memorable triumphs at the Masters and Ryder Cup Luke Baker18 December 2025 22:05Michelle Agyemang reflects on Young Spoty award
Here’s what teenage Lionesses star Michelle Agyemang had to say after winning Young Sports Personality of the Year, ahead of Luke Littler and Davina Perrin
“Wow. Thank you so much. I am so grateful. To all my team mates, coaches, I am so grateful.
"To my family, who have supported me all this year and throughout my career – even if it has been so short – I love you.
“As I always say, a big thank you to God for this opportunity because I don't know where I'd be today without him. And thank you so much for all being here and I'm so grateful. Thank you.”
(David Davies/PA Wire)Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:53McIlroy's win in stats
A couple of nice stats about Rory McIlroy’s victory tonight.
He is just the third golfer to win Sports Personality of the Year after Dai Rees in 1957 and Sir Nick Faldo in 1989.
He’s also only the fourth athlete from Northern Ireland to triumph, following in the footsteps of Olympic pentathlon champion Lady Mary Peters in 1972, boxer Barry McGuigan in 1985 and jockey AP McCoy in 2010.
The likes of fellow Northern Irishmen George Best, Darren Clarke, Willie John McBride, Alex Higgins and Jonathan Rea have also finished in the top three previously.
(David Davies/PA Wire)Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:37Rory McIlroy wins Spoty 2025 ahead of Ellie Kildunne
Lovely moments for Rory McIlroy and for Ellie Kildunne, who finished second in the voting, as well.
Lando Norris finished third, with Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton and Luke Littler just missing out from the original shortlist of six.
(David Davies/PA Wire)
(David Davies/PA Wire)
(David Davies/PA Wire)Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:24Rory McIlroy's acceptance speech: '2025 is the year my dreams came true'
A lot of thanks yous from Rory McIlroy as he gets slightly emotional while accepting the award. A brilliant moment for the Northern Irish golf sensation.
McIlroy says: “Wow. First of all, I’d just like to congratulate all the other finalists here tonight. What you've all done this year and over the course of your careers, I know how much hard work and dedication it takes. It’s a pleasure just to be in this room along with so many dedicated people.
“2025 has been the year that my dreams came true from Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything else in between. It really has been the year that dreams are made of.
“Thank you to the public for voting me as your Sports Personality of the Year.
“Thank you to my family, my mum and dad. They sacrificed so much for me and I obviously wouldn't be here without them.
“My wife, Erica. My daughter, Poppy. They are what holds me together, my rocks. They couldn't be here tonight, they're back in America but I can't wait but to get back to see them tomorrow and celebrate this with them as well. So thank you for all your support, everything that you've done for me over the years.
“Thank you to the BBC for hosting these awards. I remember growing up, Looking forward to this night, watching it on TV, seeing who's going to win, it was always a big part of the run-up to Christmas. So I’m just very honoured to to get my hands on on this trophy behind me.
“And hopefully I can challenge to get it again next year! But thank you everyone. It truly is an honour and have a great evening.”
(David Davies/PA Wire)Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:15Rory McIlroy wins Spoty 2025
What a year for McIlroy - finally winning the Masters to complete the career grand slam and adding an away Ryder Cup triumph.
So that means the Spoty 2025 top three looks like this.
1. Rory McIlroy
2. Ellie Kildunne
3. Lando Norris
Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:06RORY MCILROY WINS SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2025!
Here it comes... It’s RORY MCILROY who win Sports Personality of the Year 2025.
No arguments there. What a year, what a winner! Huge roars as he comes on to the stage!
(David Davies/PA Wire)Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:05Ellie Kildunne runner-up in Spoty 2025
Thieryr Henry announces the runner-up first of all and it’s Ellie Kildunne! The Red Roses star finishes second.
Rory v Lando for the main award. The other one finishing third.
Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:03On to the main award
On to the main award now, the final one of the evening.
Will Rory McIlroy, Lando Norris or Ellie Kildunne be named Sports Personality of the Year for 2025?
Last year’s winner Keely Hodgkinson and tonight’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner Thierry Henry are presenting it.
Luke Baker18 December 2025 21:02Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
Sports Personality of the Year AwardBBC Sports Personality of the YearLando NorrisRory McIlroyLuke LittlerChloe KellyEllie KildunneThierry HenryHannah HamptonMichelle AgyemangSarina WiegmanLionessesRyder CupJoin our commenting forum
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