Greek water polo stars Stelios Argyropoulos and Dimitris Skoumpakis have both earned nominations as finalists for the World Aquatics Men’s Water Polo Player of the Year award for 2026, following Greece’s gold-medal triumph at the World Cup in Sydney.
Speaking to the Hellenic Swimming Federation (KOE), the two players welcomed the recognition but agreed that Greece’s World Cup gold remains the most important achievement.
“It is an honour for Greek water polo, but the most important thing is the gold medal that the national men’s team won at the World Cup,” they said.
“It is a very beautiful feeling. I am happy about this distinction, and it is also important that another Greek player has been included among the five nominees,” Argyropoulos said.
The Ferencváros star also received a nomination last year, when the award went to Spanish player Álvaro Granados.
“What matters most, however, is finishing first at the World Cup in Sydney,” Argyropoulos added.
Skoumpakis expressed a similar view, saying recognition for individual efforts was welcome but secondary to the national team’s success.
“It is nice to have your efforts recognised. Greece has two candidates for the title of the world’s best player, and this proves that it is among the elite of world water polo,” he said.
Skoumpakis added that he believed other Greek players could also have made the shortlist.
“The most important thing is that our national team won the gold medal in Sydney. Individual distinctions come afterwards,” he said.
Greek stars played key roles in Sydney triumph
Argyropoulos, who captained Greece in Sydney in Dinos Genidounias’s absence, was named the best player of the World Cup final phase.
Skoumpakis earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the final, played on July 26, 2026, when Greece defeated Hungary 15-14 to claim the gold medal.
World Aquatics nominated three other players alongside the two Greeks: Hungary’s Krisztián Manhercz, Spain’s Roger Taul, and Croatia’s Vlahо Pavlić.
The nomination marks another milestone for Greek men’s water polo, although the World Aquatics award has never previously gone to a Greek male player.
Greece has, however, won the equivalent women’s award twice. Alexandra Asimaki received the honour in 2011, while Fotini Tricha won it last year.