U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

The U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year is the highest individual honor bestowed annually by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) to recognize the most outstanding performers in American soccer. First awarded in 1984 for men and 1985 for women, the award celebrates exceptional contributions to the U.S. Men's National Team and the U.S. Women's National Team over the preceding calendar year. Winners are selected through a voting process involving national team coaches, players, administrators, and media, with recipients joining a prestigious list that includes many of the sport's most iconic American figures.

History and background

The award was established by the United States Soccer Federation in the mid-1980s as the organization sought to elevate the profile of its national teams and celebrate individual excellence. The creation of the men's award in 1984 coincided with a period of rebuilding for the United States men's national soccer team following its return to the FIFA World Cup in 1990 after a four-decade absence. The women's award was inaugurated the following year, 1985, as the United States women's national soccer team began its formative years, ultimately leading to its global dominance. Over time, the award has mirrored the growth of soccer in the United States, with winners often coming from teams that achieved major successes in tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup, the Summer Olympics, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Award categories

The primary categories are the Male Athlete of the Year and the Female Athlete of the Year, honoring the top performers from the senior United States men's national soccer team and United States women's national soccer team, respectively. In 1998, U.S. Soccer introduced the Young Male and Young Female Athlete of the Year awards to recognize standout players in youth national teams, such as the U-20 and U-20 squads. Additional specialized categories have been added periodically, including the Player of the Year for athletes with disabilities, reflecting the federation's broader commitment across all programs. These categories collectively highlight excellence at every level of the national team system overseen by the United States Soccer Federation.

Selection process

The selection process is administered by the United States Soccer Federation and involves a weighted voting system. The voting pool typically includes the head coaches and assistant coaches of all U.S. Soccer national teams, athletes who have earned a cap with a senior national team in the award year, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and select media members from the North American Soccer Reporters and other outlets. Voters rank their top three choices, with a first-place vote worth five points, second place worth three, and third place worth one. The athlete with the highest cumulative point total is declared the winner, a method designed to ensure a consensus choice from key stakeholders within the American soccer community.

List of winners

The list of winners is a chronicle of American soccer excellence, featuring legends from both national teams. Early male winners include midfielders like Rick Davis (1984) and Tab Ramos (1990), while female winners began with star striker April Heinrichs (1986). The women's list is dominated by multiple-time winners such as Mia Hamm (a record five-time winner), Kristine Lilly, and Abby Wambach, who were central to victories in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics. On the men's side, prolific scorers like Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan have won multiple times, alongside modern stars such as Christian Pulisic and goalkeepers like Kasey Keller and Tim Howard, who starred in FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Notable achievements and records

The most notable record is held by Mia Hamm, who won the female award five times (1994-1998), a streak coinciding with her role in winning the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan share the men's record with four awards each, with Donovan's wins spanning a decade from 2003 to 2010. Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach each won the award three times, with Wambach's final award coming after her performance in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Young Athlete winners have often graduated to senior success, such as Jozy Altidore (2006) and Lindsey Horan (2013). The award has also recognized historic seasons, including Carli Lloyd's 2015 win following her hat-trick in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final and Christian Pulisic's 2021 award for his pivotal role in winning the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Final.

Category:Sports trophies and awards in the United States Category:United States Soccer Federation Category:Soccer awards