NOMINATION PROCESS:
Major League Soccer has opened the 2022 MLS Year-End Awards nomination process from Tuesday, Sept. 20 (5 p.m. ET) through Tuesday, Sept. 27 (5 p.m. ET). During this window, MLS clubs may submit their top candidates to the MLS League Office for inclusion on the 2022 MLS Year-End Awards ballot.
VOTING & SELECTION PROCEDURES:
AWARDS DETERMINED BY VOTES
MLS club technical staffs, MLS players, and media members may vote for two nominees per award during the voting period, which spans from Friday, Sept. 30 through Monday, Oct 10 at 5 p.m. ET – the day after MLS Decision Day 2022. An equal 33.3 percentage from each voting group will account for the final result. Awards determined by club, player, and media votes include: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player, MLS Comeback Player of the Year, MLS Defender of the Year, MLS Newcomer of the Year, MLS Young Player of the Year, Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year, MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, , and MLS Best XI.
AWARDS DETERMINED BY STATISTICS / OBJECTIVE CRITERIA
Following MLS Decision Day 2022, the individual and team with the highest totals in their respective awards categories will win those awards. Awards determined by stats include the Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded for the team with the highest points total at the end of the regular season, and the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi honors the player with the most goals scored during the regular season.
AWARDS DETERMINED BY FAN VOTES
Fan votes on MLSsoccer.com will determine the winners for AT&T MLS Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate,
LIST OF 2022 MLS YEAR-END AWARDS
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
Description: Most Valuable Player in MLS during the 2022 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to two nominees for this award.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Description: Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity to achieve success during the 2022 regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to two nominees for this award.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Defender of the Year
Description: Best defender in MLS during the 2022 regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to two nominees for this award.
Selection Process: Voted upon by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Newcomer of the Year
Description: The best newcomer in MLS during the 2022 regular season. For this award, “newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2022.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to two nominees for this award.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Young Player of the Year
Description: The best young player in MLS during the 2022 regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to two nominees for this award.
For this award, any “young player” in MLS who is age 22 or younger during the calendar year is eligible for nomination.
- For 2022, any player born on or after Jan.1, 2000 is eligible.
- For 2022, any player born on or before Dec. 31, 1999, is ineligible.
- Only players who meet the age requirement are eligible.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
Description: Best goalkeeper in MLS during the 2022 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player must have appeared in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to one nominee for this award.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year
Description: Best head coach in MLS during the 2022 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Head Coach must have coach in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to one nominee for this award.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year
Description: Honors an MLS player who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community during the 2022 season.
Nomination Criteria: Player must have appeared in at least one match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS clubs may submit up to one nominee for this award. The nominated must include an accompanying biography and photos and/or videos of player interacting with local community.
Selection Process: Voted upon by media members, clubs, and players.
AT&T MLS Goal of the Year
Description: Best goal scored during the 2022 MLS regular season as determined by the fans.
Nomination Criteria: MLSsoccer.com editors will determine the list of 16 nominees based on feedback from clubs, Goal of the Week nominees, and Goal of the Week winners. MLS clubs are encouraged to submit at least one nominee for this award.
Selection Process: Fans will vote on mlssocer.com.
MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate
Description: Best save made by a goalkeeper during the 2022 MLS season as determined by the fans.
Nomination Criteria: MLSsoccer.com editors will determine the list of 16 nominees based on feedback from clubs and “What a Save” weekly nominees. MLS clubs are encouraged submit at least one nominee for this award.
Selection Process: Fans will vote on mlssocer.com.
MLS Best XI
Description: The MLS Best XI is a compilation of the 11 best players by position from the 2022 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Players must have appeared in at least one MLS match during the 2022 MLS regular season. MLS Best XI nominees are not nominated by MLS clubs. Write-in votes from MLS clubs, players, and media members will determine Best XI
Selection Process: Voters – consisting of club technical staff members, MLS players, and media members will be asked to input 11 players on their ballots in a common soccer formation (4-4-2, 4-3-3, or 3-5-2, etc.), including one goalkeeper, at least 3 defenders, at least 3 midfielders, and at least 2 forwards.
- Eleven different players must be entered on ballot in order to be counted.
- Players will be ranked from most votes to least votes, then selected by position to the Best XI.
- Votes cast for players/coach of the voters’ club will not be counted.
Supporters’ Shield
Selection Process: The Supporters’ Shield is statistically determined by and awarded to the team who finishes top of the regular season table with the most points.
MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi
Selection Process: The MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi is statistically determined by and awarded to the player who scores the most goals during the MLS regular season.
The following awards will have a nomination process facilitated by the Professional Referee Organization:
MLS Referee of the Year awards.
Description: Best performing head referee of the 2022 MLS season.
Nomination Criteria: Referees must have earned an assignment in at least one 2022 MLS regular season game. The Professional Referee Organization will facilitate a nomination process that includes input from MLS match officials to determine the final candidates who appear on the ballot
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Assistant Referee of the Year awards.
Description: Best performing assistant referee of the 2022 MLS season.
Nomination Criteria: Assistant Referees must have earned an assignment in at least one 2022 MLS regular season game. The Professional Referee Organization will facilitate a nomination process that includes input from MLS match officials to determine the final candidates who appear on the ballot
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
