NOMINATION PROCESS:
Major League Soccer opened the 2024 MLS Year-End Awards nomination process from Tuesday, Sept. 24 (12 p.m. ET) through Tuesday, Oct. 1 (8 p.m. ET). During this window, MLS clubs submitted their nominees to the MLS League Office for inclusion on the 2024 MLS Year-End Awards ballot.
VOTING & SELECTION PROCEDURES:
AWARDS DETERMINED BY VOTES
MLS club technical staff, MLS players, and media members may vote for one nominee per award during the voting period, which spans from Monday, Oct. 7 through Monday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. An equal 33.3 percent from each voting group will account for the final result. Awards determined by club, player, and media votes include Landon Donovan MLS MVP, MLS Comeback Player of the Year, MLS Defender of the Year, MLS Newcomer of the Year, MLS Young Player of the Year, MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year, Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire, MLS Referee of the Year, and MLS Assistant Referee of the Year.
The individuals with the highest total votes for each respective award by Monday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. ET will win those awards.
AWARDS DETERMINED BY STATISTICS / OBJECTIVE CRITERIA
Awards determined by stats include the Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season and the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, which honors the player with the most goals scored during the regular season. The first tiebreaker for the Golden Boot is the player with more assists, followed by fewest minutes played 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.
LIST OF 2024 MLS YEAR-END AWARDS
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
Description: Most Valuable Player in MLS during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Eligibility: Player must have played at least 1,000 minutes during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year
Description: Top head coach in MLS during the 2024 regular season.
Eligibility: Nominees must be active MLS head coaches or interim head coaches who have coached at least five games during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Newcomer of the Year
Description: The best newcomer in MLS during the 2024 regular season.
Eligibility: “Newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2024. Player must have played at least 500 minutes during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Defender of the Year
Description: Best defender in MLS during the 2024 regular season.
Eligibility: Player must have played at least 500 minutes during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted upon by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
Description: Best goalkeeper in MLS during the 2024 regular season.
Eligibility: Player must have played at least 500 minutes during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Young Payer of the Year
Description: The best young player in MLS during the 2024 regular season. For this award, any “young player” in MLS who is age 22 or younger during the calendar year is eligible for the award.
Eligibility: Player must have played at least 500 minutes during the 2024 MLS regular season.
- For 2024, only players born on or after Jan.1, 2002, are eligible.
- For 2024, players born on or before Dec. 31, 2001, are ineligible.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Description: Honors an MLS player who has overcome a severe injury and/or adversity, and as a result missed a significant portion of the 2023 season and shown improved performance to achieve success during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Eligibility: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2024 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award
Description: Honors an MLS player who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community during the 2024 season.
Eligibility: Nomination must include an accompanying biography, and photos and/or videos of the player interacting with the local community.
Assets: Upload of photos/videos of your nominee interacting within the community must be submitted along with a bio.
Selection Process: Voted upon by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire
Description: The MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire is a compilation of the 11 best players by position from the 2024 MLS regular season.
Eligibility: Players must have played at least 500 minutes 2024 MLS regular season. MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire nominees are not nominated by MLS clubs.
Selection Process:
- Voters (Clubs/Players/Media) will be asked to select their preferred formation (5-3-2, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, 3-4-3, or 3-3-4) and select 11 different players, including at least one goalkeeper, at least 3 defenders, at least 3 midfielders, and at least 2 forwards.
- Players will be ranked from most to least votes, then selected by position to the MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire. The formation of the MLS Best XI will be determined by the players who receive the most votes.
- Player and Club votes submitted for nominees of the voter’s club will not be counted toward the final results.
- The formation of the MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire will be determined by the players who receive the most votes, not the formation that receives the most selections.
AT&T MLS Goal of the Year
Description: Best goal scored during the 2024 MLS regular season as determined by the fans.
Eligibility: MLSsoccer.com editors will determine the list of 16 finalists based on nominations by MLS clubs, Goal of the Week nominees, and Goal of the Week winners.
Selection Process: Fans will vote on MLSsoccer.com.
MLS Save of the Year
Description: Best save made by a goalkeeper during the 2024 MLS season as determined by the fans.
Eligibility: MLSsoccer.com editors will determine the list of 16 finalists based on nominations by MLS clubs and “What a Save” weekly nominees.
Selection Process: Fans will vote on MLSsoccer.com.
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. In the case of a tie, the total number of assists is the first tiebreaker, followed by the fewest minutes played.
The following awards will have a nomination process facilitated by the Professional Referee Organization:
MLS Referee of the Year
Description: Best performing head referee of the 2024 MLS season.
Eligibility: Referees must have earned an assignment in at least one 2024 MLS regular season game. The Professional Referee Organization 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
Description: Best performing assistant referee of the 2024 MLS season.
Eligibility: Assistant Referees must have earned an assignment in at least one 2024 MLS regular season game. The Professional Referee Organization 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.
