Major League Soccer has released the finalists for the Year End Awards of 2024. With respect to that, these awards present a calendar year’s absolute best individual and team performances, while the most popular of the honors reflects the best players, coaches, and movers in a position to contribute the most to the success during that calendar year.
This list announcement will coincide with a horde of an exciting end to the current season when fans and analysts alike look forward to the banter they shall have with one another for probable winners.
Some of the most competitive 2024 Year-End Awards are the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Award, MLS Defender of the Year, MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, and the MLS Coach of the Year. New to that would be Newcomer of the Year and Young Player of the Year, which would be for either a newcomer or a young talent who had a huge impact in the league.
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
This year’s contenders for the MVP are some familiar faces in a few breakout stars. These players honored in this category have actually played at a great level on the field and played their part in the success of their teams in the season. Finally, every single one of them demonstrated some or other qualities of leadership, consistency, and ability to show changing control over the match.
The fans will be keeping an eye on the top contenders including reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar from Nashville SC and other players who have constantly been match-winners for their teams, such as Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC, a player who was very good in leading his team to a great finish in the regular season.
MLS Defender of the Year Finalists
Another highlight would be the Defender of the Year award, which was recognized with very resolute defending as well as leadership at the back. This year is full of favorites, especially including Walker Zimmerman from Nashville, SC, whose ways of defense have remained rock-solid through this season so far. His performances have become iconic, especially with his capacity to organize the defense as well as to make valuable contributions as an attacker.
FC Cincinnati’s Matt Miazga, Henry Kessler of the New England Revolution, also features in the shortlist for his solid contributions with commanding appearances at the back line, making sure their teams remain in top contention.
Shortlisted for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
The Goalkeeper of the Year trophy promises to be one of the most keenly contested, given the impressive caliber of the entrants. Andre Blake from Philadelphia Union comes in for his second term after a scintillating season, and accompanying him into the fray is a freshman who has just begun to start making waves in MLS, Roman Bürki from St. Louis City, SC. These guys have shown impressive shot-stopping, back-line leadership, and consistency throughout the year.
MLS Coach of the Year Finalists
The Coach of the Year award is going to be up for grabs, and Pat Noonan of FC Cincinnati holding it with a slender margin of achieving his team to an apex finish in the Eastern Conference, Steve Cherundolo of Los Angeles FC, whose tactical acumen has pinned his team as a formidable force at play in MLS. Both coaches have managed to get the best out of their squads, balancing the star talents with being sensible on disciplinary tactics.
Other Awards of Note
Other awards to keep an eye on include the MLS Newcomer of the Year, the best new player of the year, and the MLS Young Player of the Year for players under 22. This will create some great internal competition, with Atlético Atlanta’s Thiago Almada as well as Miami up-and-comer Benjamin Cremaschi, who are both finalists and have dazzled this season with creativity and flair.
The last weeks of the MLS 2024 season are now just around the corner, and fans are all eager to see who will take home the last year-end awards announced in the weeks that follow. Each award honors great performance by certain players or combines individual achievement with the growth of talented competition and the evolving intensity of the game in Major League Soccer.
