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MLS to Honor Top Rising Star with the AT&T Young Player of the Year Award

October 28, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK - Major League Soccer today announced the creation of the AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year award, an honor that will recognize the top young player in the league age 22 and under at the end of each season. Voting for 2020 End of Year Awards including Young Player of the Year will run from Oct. 29 through Nov. 9 with finalists to be announced on Nov. 11.

The AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year award will celebrate the rising stars within MLS and serve as a reflection of the diverse and up-and-coming talent in the league. Any player who meets the age requirement, whether it be a Homegrown Player developed in MLS academies, an MLS SuperDraft pick, or a young player who arrived in the league via the international transfer market will be eligible for the award. For 2020, any player born on or after Jan.1, 1998 is eligible, while players born on or before Dec. 31, 1997 are ineligible.

Beginning this season, the AT&T Young Player of the Year award replaces the Rookie of the Year award, which previously honored the top first-year pro player in MLS.

"The AT&T Young Player of the Year award reflects the commitment of MLS to develop world class players by recognizing the elite young stars within our league. This honor will highlight the amazing talent developed in MLS academies, which year-after-year produce internationally coveted stars," MLS Executive Vice President, Player Relations and Competition Todd Durbin said. "With our clubs increasingly signing elite young international standouts and the continued quality of players in the MLS SuperDraft, there has never been more young talent to celebrate in our league."

End of Year Awards will be determined through voting between Oct. 29-Nov. 9 from three groups:

- Current MLS players

- MLS clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors/General Managers)

- Select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2020 MLS regular season

Additionally, MLS will recognize the top plays of the season with the AT&T MLS Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate, with voting for both awards set to run from Nov. 12-18 on MLSsoccer.com.

MLS will honor the top stars and moments with the following awards in 2020:

2020 MLS End of Year Awards

MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi

Landon Donovan MLS MVP

MLS Best XI built by The Home Depot

AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year

Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

MLS Defender of the Year

MLS Comeback Player of the Year

MLS Newcomer of the Year

AT&T MLS Goal of the Year

MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate

MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year

Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year

MLS Referee of the Year

MLS Assistant Referee of the Year

MLS Fair Play Award - Individual & Team

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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