Christian Pulisic named U.S. Soccer male player of the year for fourth time

Hershey, Pa. native and former PA Classics youth player Christian Pulisic has been voted the 2023 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year for a record-tying fourth time after an outstanding year in which he led the USA in goal contributions, was named Best Player of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League as the U.S. won its second-straight title, and got off to a great start with Italian power AC Milan following a high-profile summer transfer move.

This is Pulisic’s fourth U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award after winning in 2017, 2019 and 2021, tying Landon Donovan (2003, 2004, 2009, 2010) for the all-time record. First recognized in 1984, 26 players have won the award and just four have done so three times or more: Pulisic, Donovan, Clint Dempsey (2007, 2011, 2012) and Kasey Keller (1997, 1999, 2005). The 25-year-old Pulisic is the youngest to win the award at least three times and was the youngest-ever winner in 2017 at 19-years-old.

USMNT forward Kevin Paredes has been voted the 2023 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year after a breakout campaign at the international and club level, earning his senior USMNT debut, making his mark with Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga and shining for the U-20 Men’s Youth National Team. Philadelphia Union midfielder Jack McGlynn was one of the five finalists. Paredes took 59 percent of the overall total, followed by Benjamin Cremaschi (12%) and Gianluca Busio (10.8%).

Of the five finalists for Male Player of the Year, Pulisic took 53 percent of the overall total, followed by AC Milan teammate Yunus Musah (21.5%) and Ricardo Pepi (12.9%).  For Young Male Player of the Year, Paredes took 59 percent of the overall total, followed by Benjamin Cremaschi (12%) and Gianluca Busio (10.8%).

Votes for U.S. Soccer Male and Young Male Player of the Year Awards are collected from National Team coaches, USMNT players who earned a cap in 2023, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, professional league head coaches and sporting directors, select media members and former players and administrators.