Giorgi Mamardashvili, goalkeeper for the Georgian national football team and Spanish club Valencia CF, has been named the Best Male Athlete of 2024 by the Georgian Sports Journalists Association.

The award was presented by Association President Giga Gventsadze and Vice-President Bidzina Baratashvili after Mamardashvili's final home match of the season at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium. The ceremony was organized with support from the Ministry of Sports.

Mamardashvili topped the annual poll of 75 sports journalists with 107 points. Olympic judo champion Lasha Bekauri finished second with 88 points, followed by six-time winner and Olympic weightlifting champion Lasha Talakhadze, who scored 69 points.

Since the award’s inception in 1964, only four other footballers have received this honor: Slava Metreveli (1964), Murtaz Khurtsilava (1967), Ramaz Shengelia (1981), and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2023).

“I want to thank the sports journalists for this award. It’s a great honour, especially in an Olympic year. I deeply appreciate this recognition,” said Mamardashvili.

“Last year was extraordinarily successful for Georgian sports. In such a competitive Olympic year, Giorgi’s victory is especially meaningful. He is a great hope for Georgian football, and I wish him continued success,” Gventsadze added.