Igor Paixão named Eredivisie Player of the Month for March

The Brazilian is having a strong season with Feyenoord. In 27 league matches, he has been directly involved in 21 goals (12 goals and 9 assists)—eight more than he managed last season. March was his most productive month to date, with Paixão contributing to six of Feyenoord’s nine goals (four goals and two assists).

His standout performance came during the 6-2 victory over FC Twente. With three goals and two assists, he became only the third Feyenoord player this century to be involved in five goals in a single Eredivisie match, after Dirk Kuyt (2005) and Nicolai Jørgensen (2017). He also became the first Brazilian to score a hat-trick in the Eredivisie since Everton (Heracles Almelo, 2011).

Paixão also proved decisive last Sunday against Go Ahead Eagles. With the score tied at 2-2, he scored the winning goal in the 74th minute to secure a 3-2 victory for Feyenoord, earning his second KPN Man of the Match award for the month. In total, he created eight chances and was involved in 19 shots throughout March.

This is Paixão’s first time winning the Eredivisie Player of the Month award. Feyenoord players have claimed the title eight times before, including his current coach Robin van Persie (August 2018). Santiago Giménez was the most recent Feyenoord player to win it, in September 2023.

With an overall score of 96.6, Paixão beat out Jizz Hornkamp (Heracles Almelo, 92.3) and Oliver Antman (Go Ahead Eagles, 91.3).

The Eredivisie Player of the Month, Johan Cruyff Talent of the Month, and Team of the Month awards are based on Opta stats and votes from football fans (KPN Man of the Match). These same criteria are used to determine the Eredivisie Player of the Year and Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year, which will be awarded on Monday, May 26, during the Eredivisie Awards.

The monthly awards are an initiative of the Eredivisie CV in collaboration with ESPN, the VriendenLoterij, and the Johan Cruyff Foundation.