U.S. Soccer Player of the Year

The U.S. Soccer Player of the Year is given by the United States Soccer Federation to the American soccer players judged best in the calendar year. It is considered the highest accolade for American soccer players.[1]

As of 2013, Abby Wambach has won the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year Award a record six times.
Clint Dempsey won the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2011

The U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award originated in 1984, followed by the Female Player of the Year in 1985. Awards for Young Male and Young Female Players were added in 1998.[2] An award for Player of the Year with a Disability was added in 2012[3] but discontinued after 2020 and replaced with the non-player-specific "ADAPTandTHRIVE Disability Award," which "recognizes an individual making an impact in the United States' broad landscape of disability soccer."[4] In 2021, awards for female and male beach soccer as well as futsal are added.[4]

Public voting for the awards account for 50 percent of the results.[2] The other 50 percent are voted by members of the national media and U.S. Soccer representatives (from national team coaches to the National Board of Directors).[5]

U.S. Soccer Players of the Year
As of January 13, 2023.
YearMale Player of the YearFemale Player of the YearYoung Male Player of the YearYoung Female Player of the YearPlayer of the Year with a Disability
1984Rick Davis
1985Perry Van der BeckSharon McMurtry
1986Paul CaligiuriApril Heinrichs
1987Brent GouletCarin Jennings-Gabarra
1988Peter VermesJoy Biefield
1989Mike WindischmannApril Heinrichs (2)
1990Tab RamosMichelle Akers
1991Hugo PerezMichelle Akers (2)
1992Marcelo BalboaCarin Jennings-Gabarra (2)
1993Thomas DooleyKristine Lilly
1994Marcelo Balboa (2)Mia Hamm
1995Alexi LalasMia Hamm (2)
1996Eric WynaldaMia Hamm (3)
1997Kasey KellerMia Hamm (4)
1998Cobi JonesMia Hamm (5)Josh WolffCindy Parlow
1999Kasey Keller (2)Michelle Akers (3)Ben OlsenLorrie Fair
2000Chris ArmasTiffeny MilbrettLandon DonovanAly Wagner
2001Earnie StewartTiffeny Milbrett (2)DaMarcus BeasleyAleisha Cramer
2002Brad FriedelShannon MacMillanBobby ConveyLindsay Tarpley
2003Landon DonovanAbby WambachFreddy AduCat Reddick
2004Landon Donovan (2)Abby Wambach (2)Eddie JohnsonHeather O'Reilly
2005Kasey Keller (3)Kristine Lilly (2)Benny FeilhaberLori Chalupny
2006Oguchi OnyewuKristine Lilly (3)Jozy AltidoreDanesha Adams
2007Clint DempseyAbby Wambach (3)Michael BradleyLauren Cheney
2008Tim HowardCarli LloydSacha KljestanKristie Mewis
2009Landon Donovan (3)Hope SoloLuis GilTobin Heath
2010Landon Donovan (4)Abby Wambach (4)Gale AgbossoumondeBianca Henninger
2011Clint Dempsey (2)Abby Wambach (5)Brek SheaSydney Leroux
2012Clint Dempsey (3)Alex MorganRubio RubinJulie JohnstonFelicia Schroeder
2013Jozy AltidoreAbby Wambach (6)Wil TrappLindsey HoranRene Renteria
2014Tim Howard (2)Lauren HolidayDeAndre YedlinMorgan BrianGavin Sibayan
2015Michael BradleyCarli Lloyd (2)Matt MiazgaMallory PughKevin Hensley
2016Jozy Altidore (2)Tobin HeathChristian PulisicAshley SanchezAdam Ballou
2017Christian PulisicJulie ErtzJosh SargentSophia SmithSean Boyle
2018Zack SteffenAlex Morgan (2)Alex MendezTierna DavidsonGracie Fitzgerald
2019Christian Pulisic (2)Julie Ertz (2)Sergiño DestBrianna PintoNick Mayhugh
2020Weston McKennieSam MewisGio ReynaNaomi GirmaCP Soccer youth players
2021Christian Pulisic (3)Lindsey HoranRicardo PepiTrinity Rodman—
2022 Tyler Adams Sophia Smith Yunus Musah Jaedyn Shaw

Multiple winners

Landon Donovan is the only male player to win the award four times. Marcelo Balboa was the first player to win the award twice, in 1992 and 1994, and Kasey Keller was the first player to win the award three times (1997, 1999 and 2005). Landon Donovan (2003 and 2004; 2009 and 2010) and Clint Dempsey (2011 and 2012) are the only players to have won the award in consecutive seasons.

Abby Wambach is the only female player to win the award five times, closely followed by Mia Hamm with 5. April Heinrichs was the first player to win the award twice, in 1986 and 1989, Mia Hamm was the first player to win the award three, four, and five times, and Abby Wambach was the first and only player to win the award six times. Hamm is the only player to have won the award five times in a row (1994–98), while Michelle Akers (1990 and 1991), Tiffeny Milbrett (2000 and 2001), Abby Wambach (2003 and 2004; 2010 and 2011) and Kristine Lilly (2005 and 2006) are the only players to have won the award in consecutive seasons.

Players that are still active in Europe are highlighted in boldface.

See also

References
  1. Di Veronica, Jeff (November 29, 2013). "Wambach wins record 6th U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year award". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  2. "About – U.S. SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR". US Soccer. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  3. "Colorado Rapids defender Shane O'Neill a finalist for US Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year". Colorado Rapids. November 19, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  4. "Nominees Set For 2021 U.S. Soccer Player Of The Year Awards". www.ussoccer.com.
  5. U.S. Soccer Federation. "Voting Underway for 2011 Best of U.S. Soccer and Athlete of the Year Awards". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-17.
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