contender

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English contend Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzijos Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English contender From contend + -er.

1. Someone who competes with one or more other people.
2. Someone who has a viable chance of winning a competition.

   “In April 2014, towards the end of Özil’s first season at Arsenal – which had been marked by highs and lows – Wenger predicted the German would be a contender for the player of the year awards in 2014‑15.”