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LAFC Forward Diego Rossi Named AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year

November 16, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Los Angeles FC News Release


The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and Major League Soccer announced today that LAFC forward Diego Rossi has been named the 2020 AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year, honoring the Uruguay National Team star as the top player in the league age 22 and under.

The 22-year-old Rossi wins the inaugural AT&T Young Player of the Year award after a breakout year for the Black & Gold in which he led the league with 14 goals, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot presented by Audi. Rossi also added four assists across 19 matches played, and his 18 combined goals and assists tied for the second-most in the league.

This marks the fifth individual award for Rossi this season, as he also captured the regular season Golden Boot and a trio of honors at the MLS is Back Tournament including the Golden Boot presented by Audi, Young Player of the Tournament presented by AT&T 5G, and being named to the tournament Best XI presented by BODYARMOR.

In three years in MLS, Rossi is LAFC's all-time leader in games started (82), minutes played (7,201) and is tied for most MLS appearances (85). He is also one of three players in MLS to register double-digital goals in three consecutive seasons. In all, Rossi has tallied 42 goals and 20 assists in league matches, while adding one goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs and six goals in two editions of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Rossi finished the season with a career-high goals-per-game average of .737 on the year and fueled the top offense in the league. LAFC scored a league-leading 47 goals in the regular season this year, with their 2.14 goals-per-game average standing as the seventh-most in league history

In its inaugural season, the AT&T Young Player of the Year award honors the top player in the league age 22 and under. For the 2020 season, any player born on or before Jan. 1, 1998 was eligible for the award.

The AT&T Young Player of the Year award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:

AT&T Young Player of the Year

Player % Club % Media % Final %

Diego Rossi (LAFC) 21.16% 30.70% 35.44% 29.10%

Brenden Aaronson (PHI) 29.00% 37.72% 19.89% 28.87%

Daryl Dike (ORL) 12.38% 9.65% 10.34% 10.79%

Ayo Akinola (TOR) 7.99% 6.14% 6.12% 6.75%

Mark McKenzie (PHI) 5.33% 7.02% 7.81% 6.72%

Brian Rodríguez (LAFC) 3.13% 2.63% 3.38% 3.05%

Cole Bassett (COL) 1.88% 1.75% 3.38% 2.34%

All-Time AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year / Rookie of the Year Winner

Young Player of the Year

2020: Diego Rossi - Los Angeles Football Club

Rookie of the Year

2019: Andre Shinyashiki - Colorado Rapids

2018: Corey Baird - Real Salt Lake

2017: Julian Gressel - Atlanta United

2016: Jordan Morris - Seattle Sounders FC

2015: Cyle Larin - Orlando City SC

2014: Tesho Akindele - FC Dallas

2013: Dillon Powers - Colorado Rapids

2012: Austin Berry - Chicago Fire

2011: C.J. Sapong - Sporting Kansas City

2010: Andy Najar - D.C. United

2009: Omar Gonzalez - LA Galaxy

2008: Sean Franklin - LA Galaxy

2007: Maurice Edu - Toronto FC

2006: Jonathan Bornstein - Chivas USA

2005: Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution

2004: Clint Dempsey - New England Revolution

2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire

2002: Kyle Martino - Columbus Crew

2001: Rodrigo Faria - MetroStars

2000: Carlos Bocanegra - Chicago Fire

1999: Jay Heaps - Miami Fusion

1998: Ben Olsen - D.C. United

1997: Mike Duhaney - Tampa Bay Mutiny

1996: Steve Ralston - Tampa Bay Mutiny

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