Giorgi Mamardashvili, goalkeeper of the Georgian national football team, has been named the Best Male Athlete of 2024, according to a survey conducted by the Georgian Sports Journalists Association.

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

In the survey, which included 75 sports journalists, Mamardashvili received 107 points. Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri came 2nd [88 points], 6-time winner and Olympic weightlifting champion Lasha Talakhadze placed 3rd [69 points].

Since the poll’s inception in 1964, only 4 other footballers have earned the top honour: Slava Metreveli [1964], Murtaz Khurtsilava [1967], Ramaz Shengelia [1981], and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia [2023].