With the MLS Cup Playoffs in full swing, the finalists for the end-of-season awards have been announced. They were determined from a vote that included MLS players, staff and media members, with the three groups representing 33.3% of the final vote. Inter Miami is well represented among the finalists with a league-high six players, which makes sense after setting a new single-season points record.
In his first full season in the league, Lionel Messi will look for his first MVP, but will face teammate Luis Suárez for the honor. The Columbus Crew is right behind the Herons with five finalists, while LAFC has three. As awards are announced, this story will be updated accordingly with the winners.
A few awards have been announced, such as Gabriel Pec beating Luis Suárez for Newcomer of the Year and Steven Moreira winning the Defender of the Year award, but
Comeback Player of the Year: Lewis Morgan, New York Red Bulls
Leading his team in goals and returning to the Scottish national team is already impressive in its own right, but Lewis Morgan was able to do all that after multiple injuries limited him to less than 300 minutes played in the 2023 season for the New York Red Bulls. . After undergoing hip surgery in September 2023, there was a chance Morgan would not play again, but he not only returned but even set a new club record for most goals scored by a midfielder in a single season with 14. He’s even with designated player Emile Forsberg joining in to be one of the key players in the attack. Like others on this list, Morgan was able to lead the Red Bulls to the playoffs and they are a team that is still contending.
Defender of the Year: Steven Moreira, Columbus Crew
An integral part of the Columbus Crew’s build-up play under Wilfried Nancy, central defender Steven Moreira won the Defender of the Year award. While the Crew defense was strong and only conceded 40 games, this is more due to Moriera’s importance in possession. Not only did he score six goals, but Moreira was instrumental in starting counterattacks while remaining calm in possession to keep the Crew attack going. He beat out the likes of Jordi Alba and Jackson Ragen to win the award thanks to the media vote, beating Alba by just three percent.
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kristijan Kahlina, Charlotte FC
The goalie of the year award was expected to be a race between Matt Freese and Patrick Schulte for most of the season, but after a strong close to the year, Kristijan Kahlina was able to win goalie of the year honors. Charlotte FC conceded the second-fewest goals in the league, while the Croatian goalkeeper led the league in save percentage with 75.63% and oversaw 12 shutouts. He becomes the first member of Charlotte FC to win an MLS year-end award.
Revelation of the year, Gabriel Pec, Los Angeles Galaxy
If you beat Luis Suarez for an award that shows how impactful you’ve been, you’re doing something right. That’s exactly what Gabriel Pec did with the Galaxy. Pec, who joined as a young designated player from Vasco da Gama in Brazil, was ever-present, scoring 16 goals and assisting 14 more. He was able to surpass Joseph Paintsil to be the best signing on his own team and lead the Galaxy to second place in the Western Conference, becoming the youngest player with at least 15 goals and 10 assists in a season at the age of 23. . Pec is someone who shows the shift in production towards younger stars in the league and still has more to do as this is a team that could win the MLS Cup.
Young Player of the Year, Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake
It was a crowded field for Young Player of the Year with Diego Luna edging out Diego Gómez and Cristian Olivera, but when it comes to impact, it was clear what the 21-year-old meant to Real Salt Lake. Luna scored eight goals and 12 assists this season while helping the team to a club-record 59 points this season to reach the playoffs and qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. Luna became the third American to win the award since he went from being Rookie of the Year along with Ricardo Pepi and Jesús Ferrerira. The last member of Real Salt Lake to win any version of the award was Corey Baird in 2018.
Landon Donovan finalists for MLS MVP
- Christian Benteke (DC United)
- Evander (Portland Timbers)
- Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
- Luis Suarez (Inter Miami CF)
Sigi Schmid finalists for MLS Coach of the Year
- Chris Armas (Colorado Rapids)
- Gerardo “Tata” Martino (Inter Miami CF)
- Wilfried Nancy (Columbus team)
Impact Award Finalists
- Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution)
- Darlington Nagbe (Columbus crew)
- Ilie Sánchez (LAFC)
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