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 11, 2024.
YearFemale Player of the YearMale Player of the YearYoung Female Player of the YearYoung Male Player of the YearPlayer of the Year with a Disability
1984Rick Davis
1985Sharon McMurtryPerry Van der Beck
1986April HeinrichsPaul Caligiuri
1987Carin Jennings-GabarraBrent Goulet
1988Joy BiefieldPeter Vermes
1989April Heinrichs (2)Mike Windischmann
1990Michelle AkersTab Ramos
1991Michelle Akers (2)Hugo Perez
1992Carin Jennings-Gabarra (2)Marcelo Balboa
1993Kristine LillyThomas Dooley
1994Mia HammMarcelo Balboa (2)
1995Mia Hamm (2)Alexi Lalas
1996Mia Hamm (3)Eric Wynalda
1997Mia Hamm (4)Kasey Keller
1998Mia Hamm (5)Cobi JonesCindy ParlowJosh Wolff
1999Michelle Akers (3)Kasey Keller (2)Lorrie FairBen Olsen
2000Tiffeny MilbrettChris ArmasAly WagnerLandon Donovan
2001Tiffeny Milbrett (2)Earnie StewartAleisha CramerDaMarcus Beasley
2002Shannon MacMillanBrad FriedelLindsay TarpleyBobby Convey
2003Abby WambachLandon DonovanCat ReddickFreddy Adu
2004Abby Wambach (2)Landon Donovan (2)Heather O'ReillyEddie Johnson
2005Kristine Lilly (2)Kasey Keller (3)Lori ChalupnyBenny Feilhaber
2006Kristine Lilly (3)Oguchi OnyewuDanesha AdamsJozy Altidore
2007Abby Wambach (3)Clint DempseyLauren CheneyMichael Bradley
2008Carli LloydTim HowardKristie MewisSacha Kljestan
2009Hope SoloLandon Donovan (3)Tobin HeathLuis Gil
2010Abby Wambach (4)Landon Donovan (4)Bianca HenningerGale Agbossoumonde
2011Abby Wambach (5)Clint Dempsey (2)Sydney LerouxBrek Shea
2012Alex MorganClint Dempsey (3)Julie JohnstonRubio RubinFelicia Schroeder
2013Abby Wambach (6)Jozy AltidoreLindsey HoranWil TrappRene Renteria
2014Lauren HolidayTim Howard (2)Morgan BrianDeAndre YedlinGavin Sibayan
2015Carli Lloyd (2)Michael BradleyMallory PughMatt MiazgaKevin Hensley
2016Tobin HeathJozy Altidore (2)Ashley SanchezChristian PulisicAdam Ballou
2017Julie ErtzChristian PulisicSophia SmithJosh SargentSean Boyle
2018Alex Morgan (2)Zack SteffenTierna DavidsonAlex MendezGracie Fitzgerald
2019Julie Ertz (2)Christian Pulisic (2)Brianna PintoSergiño DestNick Mayhugh
2020Sam MewisWeston McKennieNaomi GirmaGio ReynaCP Soccer youth players
2021Lindsey HoranChristian Pulisic (3)Trinity RodmanRicardo Pepi
2022Sophia SmithTyler AdamsJaedyn ShawYunus Musah
2023Naomi GirmaChristian Pulisic (4)Olivia MoultrieKevin Paredes

Multiple winners

Landon Donovan and Christian Pulisic are the only male players 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 six 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
  • List of sports awards honoring women
  • Athlete of the Year
  • Fútbol de Primera Player of the Year

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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