U.S. Soccer Player of the Year Nominee Bios
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Player of the Year Award

The U.S. Soccer Player of the Year award is the highest honor awarded to soccer players in the United States. The Male and Female Player of the Year awards are the oldest and most prestigious awards of their kind, dating back to 1984 for the men and 1985 for the women. The Young Male and Young Female awards were added in 1998 and Player of the Year with a Disability in 2012.

Votes are collected from National Team and Youth National Team coaches and staff, National Team players who have earned a cap in this calendar year,  American professional soccer league head coaches as well as select media members, former players and administrators.

2023 U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year Nominee Criteria

The criteria to be eligible for the 2023 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year is any player who has participated in a training camp with any of the USA’s Youth National Teams. Players can win the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year Award only once. Jaedyn Shaw and Yunus Musah won the award in 2022.

2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the year Nominees

2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year Nominees

Lindsey Horan, Midfielder

The 2021 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, Horan was perhaps the USA’s best player at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she captained the team. Horan started all four games and played all but seven minutes of the USA’s matches while scoring twice, against Vietnam and the Netherlands. She also scored in the penalty kick shootout against Sweden, nailing the USA’s second attempt from the spot. After finalizing her permanent move to Olympique Lyon in the European off-season, Horan got off to a strong start to the 2023-24 campaign and scored a hat trick, her first for club or country since 2020, in Olympique Lyon’s 6-0 win over Saint-Etienne on October 14. She had a fine 2023-23 season with Lyon, scoring seven goals in 25 games with four assists across all competitions. A commanding presence in the midfield, Horan helped injury-plagued Lyon scratch and claw to a place in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Women’s Champions League while also winning the league title and French Cup. For the USWNT, she started all 17 of the games she played this year, leading the team in starts and minutes played with 1,478 and scoring five goals with one assist. During the year, she moved into 21st on the USA’s all-time goal scorer chart and 27th on the team’s all-time caps chart. She also became the 16th player in USWNT history with 30+ international goals and 30+ assists.

This is the fourth consecutive year Horan has been nominated for Player of the Year honors and the sixth nomination of her career. She won Young Female Player of the Year honors in 2013.

Crystal Dunn, Defender

Dunn once again showed her stalwart defensive abilities while contributing to the USA’s attack on the flanks. She started all the USA’s games in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, her second World Cup at the senior level, and played all but eight minutes while helping the USA defense hold opponents to just two total shots on goal – and one goal allowed -- through the four matches. The 31-year-old started all 14 games she played this year for the USWNT, spanning 969 minutes, and moved into sole possession of 25th on the all-time caps list, ending the year with 140 international matches on her resume. In the NWSL in 2023, Dunn made 19 appearances, 17 of them starts, in her final season with the Thorns, while scoring five goals with two assists. Dunn’s five goals this season were her most in a single NWSL regular season since 2019 and she helped the Thorns finish second in the NWSL regular season.

This is the third time Dunn has been nominated for Player of the Year honors.

Emily Fox, Defender

Fox was terrific at outside back for the USA all year, proving almost impossible to beat one-on-one while helping drive the team forward in the attack down the flanks. The 25-year-old Fox had an excellent 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, her first at the senior level, playing all but eight minutes as the USA allowed just two shots on goal and one goal. Fox was the only player to play three full 90-minute games at the 2023 SheBelieves Cup and she impressed in all three games while helping the USA hoist the trophy for a fourth consecutive year. She followed that tournament with another stellar 90-minute effort for the USA on April 8 against Ireland in which she scored her first international goal with a screaming right-footed shot from outside the box in the 37th minute. Her first goal came in her 28th career cap. Fox finished second on the team in minutes played in 2023 with 1,34, playing in 17 of the team’s 18 games while starting 15. She also had one assist on the year, setting up Lindsey Horan’s goal against Colombia on Oct. 29. On Jan. 23, 2023, she was traded to the North Carolina Courage, returning to the area where she attended college at UNC, and helped the Courage to the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup title and a third-place finish in the regular season standings. She had two assists for the Courage in 18 appearances, all of them starts, during the 2023 NWSL regular season.

This is the first time Fox has been nominated for Female Player of the Year honors.

Naomi Girma, Defender

In just her second year on the National Team, Girma earned her first U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year nomination. She had a stellar World Cup, playing every minute at center back as the USA allowed only two shots on goal and one goal over four matches. She started each of the 16 games she played this year for the USWNT and finished 3rd on the team in minutes played with 1,290. She started the USA’s final 11 games of the year and helped guide the backline to the lowest goals allowed per game average (0.17) in any year in program history (min. 10 games). In the NWSL, she played every minute of her 19 appearances for San Diego Wave FC in 2023, helping the club win the 2023 NWSL Shield, and was voted NWSL Defender of the Year for the second year in a row, as well as to the NWSL Best XI First Team.

Girma was the 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.

Sophia Smith, Forward

Despite missing part of the NWSL season and portions of the international calendar due to injury, Smith won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the NWSL in 2023 with 11 goals and helped Portland Thorns FC to a second-place finish overall in the league standings. The first Golden Boot winner in Thorns history and the club’s first player to record back-to-back seasons with 10+ goals, Smith also had five assists in her 17 appearances despite missing five matches due to injury and international duty. She was also named to the NWSL Best XI First Team. For the USWNT, she scored three goals with two assists, highlighted by a brace in the first match of the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup in a 3-0 win over Vietnam. She also had an assist in that match. She became the 34th player all-time to score in a Women’s World Cup and at 22 years and 346 days of age, became the second-youngest player in USWNT history to score multiple goals in a World Cup match and the youngest to net a brace in her World Cup debut. Overall in 2023, she played in 11 matches for the USA, starting nine games and led the team with 15 shots on goal.

Smith was the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year and this is her second consecutive nomination. She was the 2017 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. 

2023 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the year Nominees

2023 U.S. Soccer male Player of the Year nominees

FOLARIN BALOGUN, Forward

A first-time nominee for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, forward Folarin Balogun finds himself in the running for the annual award after a busy summer in which the 22-year-old made transitions both internationally and at the club level. After playing for both England and the United States as a youth, Balogun officially elected to represent the country of his birth by filing a one-time change of association request through FIFA that was granted in May. He accepted his first call-up to the senior U.S. squad in June, and provided a memorable first weekend in red, white, and blue during the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League semifinals and final. Balogun earned his debut in the team’s dominant 3-0 win over Mexico to advance to the final, then scored his first senior international goal in the team’s 2-0 cup-clinching victory against Canada. For his efforts, he was named to the tournament’s Best XI. In eight senior appearances for the U.S. in 2023, Balogun scored three goals and provided two assists.

On the club level, Balogun made a $30 million move to Ligue 1 side AS Monaco from Arsenal of the Premier League in early August. Balogun had risen through the Arsenal youth ranks to eventually earn 10 appearances across all competitions for the senior team prior to his move, scoring twice and assisting once. Prior to the move to Monaco, Balogun had been playing on loan from Arsenal at Reims, where he’d become a mainstay in the starting lineup. In 21 appearances over the back half of Reims 2022/23 Ligue 1 campaign, Balogun scored 11 times – including a Feb. 1 hat trick against FC Lorient – to push his season total to 21 goals, the fourth-most in Ligue 1 behind Paris St. Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (29), Olympique Lyon’s Alexander Lacazette (27), and LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David (24). Balogun has gone on to make an impact for sixth-place Monaco since the summer transfer, having netted four goals and adding three assists through 12 games played in the team’s Ligue 1 campaign.

YUNUS MUSAH, Midfielder

Winner of the 2022 Chipotle Young Male Player of the Year award, Yunus Musah has received his first nomination for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year after continuing to provide a dynamic presence in midfield and earning a high-profile summer move to AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A. Internationally, the 20-year old pushed his cap total for the U.S. to 33 this year, and in the process surpassed Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan and Christian Pulisic for the most appearances by a USMNT player before their 21st birthday. Musah appeared 10 times for the U.S. in the calendar year, most notably helping the team win the Concacaf Nations League title with 90-minute performances in both the 3-0 semifinal win over Mexico and the 2-0 final victory against Canada. He was recognized for his performance by being named to the tournament’s Best XI.

In August, Musah made the move from La Liga’s Valencia - where he’d played at the youth and senior levels since 2019 - to AC Milan of Italy’s Serie A on a $20 million transfer. There, Musah would link up with USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic, where the duo have helped propel the Rossoneri to third place in the table. Musah has so far made 17 appearances for Milan, including four in the UEFA Champions League. Musah’s one assist to-date for the club came on a memorable win against Genoa on Oct. 7, when he linked up with Pulisic for an 87th minute match-winner in a 1-0 victory in league play.

RICARDO PEPI, Forward

Forward Ricardo Pepi finds himself included among the 2023 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year nominees for the first time after a high-scoring international calendar saw the PSV Eindhoven man bag seven goals across his 10 appearances. El Tren wasted little time getting on the scoresheet in his first opportunities of the year, which came in Concacaf Nations League play in late March. The 20-year-old first netted a brace in the team’s 7-1 win against Grenada, before providing the winner just two minutes into his substitute appearance in a 1-0 victory against El Salvador. Providing a second half spark became a theme of Pepi’s year with the USMNT, as all four of the remaining goals he scored in 2023 came after the 78th minute of play. None was more memorable than the exclamation point he provided in the team’s 3-0 win over Mexico in the Nations League semifinal, in which he picked up a pass from Sergiño Dest inside the 18-yard box, rounded Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, and coolly slotted home the game’s final goal. With five goals off the bench, Pepi set the all-time mark for a substitute in a calendar year.

Like his fellow nominees, Pepi also changed in clubs during the summer, making an $11 million move from FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga to Dutch Eredivisie stalwarts PSV Eindhoven. It was a short move for Pepi, who had been playing on loan three hours north at FC Groningen since September 2022. While there, he became a fixture in the spring, appearing 20 times, scoring on six occasions and assisting once. He finished the 2022/23 Eredivisie campaign as Groningen’s top scorer with 12 goals. At PSV, he linked up with international teammates Dest and Malik Tillman, and has so far helped propel them to the top of the league table. In Champions League play, Pepi’s knack for late heroics helped create the first signature moment for his new club on Nov. 29. A towering, match-winning header in second half stoppage time completed a comeback against Sevilla FC and secured PSV a 3-2 win on the road. Overall, he has made 21 appearances for PSV across all competitions to this point, with six goals and an assist to his name.

CHRISTIAN PULISIC, Forward

Three-time U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year winner Christian Pulisic is once again under consideration for the annual honor, finding his name included among the candidates for the sixth time in his career. The Hershey, Pa., native made the most of his eight appearances for the USMNT this year, scoring six goals, adding three assists, and captaining the team toward its second-straight Concacaf Nations League Title. Continuing to add to a growing list of career highlights, Pulisic once again played put in a dominant performance against Mexico in the Nations League semifinal, scoring once in each half to sink El Tri en route to a 3-0 U.S. victory. That big performance - coupled with his goal and pair of assists against Grenada in the group stage - helped propel Pulisic to both Best XI and Player of the Tournament honors. The 25-year-old continued his scoring ways during the team’s series of fall friendlies, netting goals against Uzbekistan, Germany, and Ghana (against whom he picked up an assist as well). In total, he earned three Bud Light Man of the Match honors.

On the club front, Pulisic made a high-profile summer move from Chelsea to Serie A’s AC Milan, who acquired his services for a $20 million fee. He wasted little time getting acclimated to his new surroundings, scoring in his first two matches for the club - both Milan victories. Alongside international teammate Yunus Musah, Pulisic has helped push AC Milan to third place in the Serie A table, having contributed five goals and three assists in 12 league appearances to date. HIs five goals are tied for the most by an American in Serie A, level with Juventus’ Weston McKennie. He’s additionally featured five times in UEFA Champions League play.

MATT TURNER, Goalkeeper

Matt Turner earns his third-consecutive nomination for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year after serving as the team’s starting goalkeeper for the third-straight year. His third ‘three’ in 2023 – the number of Bud Light Man of the Match performances. The 29-year-old matched his 2022 tally of shutouts with seven across 13 appearances, a total that’s level for third-highest all-time in a calendar year among USMNT net-minders. Turner was rock solid in the spring’s run to the team’s second-straight Concacaf Nations League championship, piling up three clean sheets across four matches and making four immense stops in the group’s 2-0 victory against Canada in the final. Turner received a pair of tournament honors for his play, winning the Best Goalkeeper award for the second time in his career as well as a spot in the Best XI. Turner then captained the squad during the summer’s Gold Cup, where he put in a memorable performance in penalty kicks in the tournament’s quarterfinal round. Turner parried away back-to-back attempts from Steven Vitoria and Liam Fraser in the opening two rounds of kicks to help power the USMNT through to the semifinals on a 5-4 finish to penalties. With 17 career clean sheets in official competitions at year’s end, Turner holds the third-highest amount of competitive shutouts among goalkeepers in USMNT history behind only Kasey Keller (34) and Tim Howard (29).

 

On the club level, Turner made an $8 million move within the English Premier League from Arsenal to Nottingham Forest in early August. He recorded his first clean sheet for his new club on Sept. 2 in a 1-0 road victory over Chelsea. at Stamford Bridge, and has earned two clean sheets overall across 12 appearances in all competitions.

2023 CHIPOTLE U.S. SOCCER YOUNG FEMALE PLAYER OF THE NOMINEES

2023 CHIPOTLE U.S. SOCCER YOUNG FEMALE PLAYER OF THE NOMINEES

Onyeka Gamero, Forward

After an excellent run with the U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team, Gamero moved up to the U.S. U-20 WYNT and was one of the best players in the 2023 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship. At that tournament in the Dominican Republic where she was one of the youngest players on the U.S. team, the speedy winger antagonized defenses on the flanks all tournament long with her dynamic dribbling. She played in all five games, starting four, and scored one goal with two assists. Her goal came in the championship game against Mexico. She also played in two games for the U.S. U-17 WYNT this year, scoring in both games against England in February, a wild 5-4 loss and a 3-1 win. At the end of June of this year, she chose to forgo college soccer and signed with Barcelona “B” in Spain. In the first part of the season, the 17-year-old has played in nine matches and scored two goals with one assist for the second team of the European power while settling in well to her new life in Spain.

This Gamero’s second consecutive nomination for this award.

Savannah King, Defender

The fast, technical and physical defender was one of the USA’s top players at the U-17 WYNT level before moving up to the U-20s this year and starting all five games at the 2023 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship in June. Soon after, she entered preseason for her freshman season at the University of North Carolina and had a stellar rookie campaign. The 18-year-old started all 23 games she played in the center of the Tar Heel defense, leading the team in minutes played with 2,030 and was named All-ACC Second Team and to the ACC All-Freshman Team. Her play was key in helping UNC advance through the NCAA tournament to Quarterfinals.

This is King’s first nomination for Young Female Player of the Year.

Olivia Moultrie, Midfielder

Moultrie, who was one of the USA’s top players at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and with 10 career caps at the U-20 level, is still age eligible for next year’s U-20 World Cup, had a breakout year in the NWSL for Portland Thorns FC, playing 1,205 minutes in 22 matches with 12 starts. She also scored two goals with three assists while helping the Thorns finish second in the season standings. She also played in six matches in the Challenge Cup, scoring one goal. It was the third season of professional soccer for the 18-year-old, who more than doubled her NWSL starts from the previous two seasons while showing savvy and professionalism beyond her years. In October, she got her first call-up to the senior USWNT for two matches against Colombia but did not see action. In December, she got a second call-up, this time for matches against China PR, and earned her first senior team cap on Dec. 2, coming on in the second half of the USA’ 3-0 victory. The 18-year-old became the 72nd teenager all-time to earn a cap for the USWNT and earned her second cap for the USWNT on Dec. 5 in Frisco, Texas.

This Moultrie’s second consecutive nomination for this award.

Ally Sentnor, Forward

One of the captains of the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team, Sentnor played in her first youth World Cup in 2022 in Costa Rica and should be one of top players for the 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia. At the 2023 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic, she played in all five games, starting four, and led the USA in scoring with four goals and two assists, which included two goals in the 5-2 win over Canada to win the group. Sentnor, who has five goals in her 10 U-20 caps, played her redshirt sophomore season at UNC this fall, leading the team in scoring with 11 goals and seven assists, which included four goals and two assists in the NCAA tournament. In the second round, the 19-year-old scored the game-winner in the 1-0 victory over Alabama and had the assist in the third round 1-0 win over Texas Tech. In the quarterfinal against BYU, she had two goals and one assist in the first half. She was voted the ACC Midfielder of the Year and was named to the All-ACC First Team.

This is Sentnor’s third nomination for Young Female Player of the Year and first since 2019.

Alyssa Thompson, Forward

Thompson, a dynamic winger who possesses tremendous speed and one-on-one abilities, was one of the USA’s top players at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and in 2023 made her first World Cup Team at the senior level. She was added to the USA roster prior to the April 11 match in St. Louis following the major injury to Mallory Swanson and from there went on to make the World Cup roster. Thompson was the youngest player on the USA’s 2023 World Cup Team at 18, becoming just the fourth teenager and second youngest player ever to represent the USA at the Women’s World Cup. Thompson was 18 years, 7 months and 15 days old when she played in the USA’s World Cup opener on July 21 vs. Vietnam. It was her lone appearance in Australia/New Zealand. Thompson appeared in 20 matches during her rookie NWSL season in 2023, making 13 starts and tallying four goals with two assists for Angel City FC. Thompson has eight caps with four goals at the Under-20 international level and is age-eligible for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Thompson also played in two matches (both in Sweden) for the U.S. U-23 WYNT this year, scoring in a 3-0 victory over Sweden on June 28. She made two starts and had seven total appearances for the senior Women’s National Team in 2023, the most recent coming in the USA’s year-end victory over China PR.

This is Thompson’s second consecutive nomination for Young Female Player of the Year. 

2023 CHIPOTLE U.S. SOCCER YOUNG MALE PLAYER OF THE NOMINEES

2023 CHIPOTLE U.S. SOCCER YOUNG MALE PLAYER OF THE NOMINEES

Nimfasha Berchimas, U-17 MYNT / U-16 MYNT Forward

Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team forward Nimfasha Berchimas was a breakout star for the USA at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup as the red, white and blue’s youngest player at the tournament in 20 years. The 15-year-old announced himself on the world stage with a standout performance in the U-17s’ opening 3-1 victory vs. Korea Republic, bagging a brace and setting up the third U.S goal. At 15 years, 267 days, Berchimas was the youngest player to take the field for the U.S. at the U-17 World Cup since Freddy Adu at Finland 2003 and became the fourth-youngest player to score. He was just the fifth player to net multiple goals for the USA at the tournament and the second-youngest to do so, following a hat trick from Adu in 2003. Against Burkina Faso, Berchimas scored again, rising to a tie for third on the all-time U.S. scoring charts at the U-17 World Cup.

The 15-year-old earned his first U-17 call-up during the September international window and made a memorable debut vs. Ukraine at the Jezek Cup in Czech Republic, entering the game late with the U.S. down 2-1 before equalizing in the 88th and netting the game-winner in stoppage time. Earlier this year, Berchimas was part of the U-16 MYNT at the 2023 International Dream Cup in Fukushima, Japan, adding an assist on the opening goal vs. Japan in a 2-1 win on May 31. Charlotte FC’s second Homegrown signing, Berchimas made his professional debut for Crown Legacy FC in the team’s MLS Next Pro season opener on March 26 and netted his first pro goal on Sept. 17 in a 1-0 win vs. New England Revolution II.

Gianluca Busio, USMNT / Men’s Olympic Team Midfielder

Men’s Olympic Team midfielder Gianluca Busio earns his third nomination for Young Male Player of the Year following his return to the USMNT this summer, helping lead the Men’s Olympic Team this fall and standout play at the club level with Italy’s Venezia FC. Following more than a year away from the full USMNT, Busio was called up for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup and netted his first senior international goal vs. Trinidad and Tobago in his home state of North Carolina during the competition’s group stage. He started four of the USA’s five games at the tournament and netted his penalty kick during the shootout victory vs. Canada in the quarterfinals. The 21-year-old was called up for the first two Men’s Olympic Team training camps in preparation for Paris 2024, appearing in all four matches and captaining the U.S. against Mexico in its first match of the cycle.

On the club front, Busio helped Venezia reach the Serie B promotion playoffs last spring while making 14 appearances. He’s become a fixture for the Winged Lions this fall as the club is tied for the top of the table in Serie B, starting 14 of 15 matches and playing in all 15 while scoring twice, the opener in a 3-2 victory vs. Parma on Oct. 7 and the lone goal in a 1-0 win vs. Ternana on Nov. 4.

Busio was previously nominated for the award in 2019 for his play with the U-17 USMNT during that year’s Concacaf U-17 Championship and FIFA U-17 World Cup and in 2021 when he earned his first USMNT call-up at that summer’s Gold Cup and made the leap to Europe with Venezia.

Kevin Paredes, USMNT / U-20 MYNT Forward

After proving to be one of the U-20 MYNT’s most dynamic attacking players, Paredes has taken the next step in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg and earned his first three senior USMNT caps this fall. With the U-20s, Paredes was a spark in the attack, appearing in both of the USA’s FIFA U-20 World Cup knockout round matches. During the March international window, he scored and added an assist vs. England as part of the team’s World Cup preparations. After making his Bundesliga debut in fall 2022, the winger earned consistent substitute minutes for Wolfsburg during the second half of the season. He netted his first goal in Germany on Jan. 28 vs. Werder Bremen to boost his club to a stoppage-time victory, and added three assists in his 15 appearances to close out the season. Paredes has picked up where he left off this fall, playing in 10 of Wolfsburg’s 13 games thus far and adding another goal. His breakthrough at the club level earned him his first senior USMNT call-up in September and he made his full international debut vs. Oman in St. Paul, Minn. He was a part of the U.S. squad for the October and November international windows, earning his first start vs. Trinidad and Tobago in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals on Nov. 17 as the USMNT earned a 3-0 win to put itself in excellent position to qualify for the Nations League Finals and 2024 Copa America.  

Jack McGlynn, Men’s Olympic Team / USMNT Midfielder

A stalwart during the 2022-23 U-20 MYNT cycle, midfielder Jack McGlynn shone at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. An impressive distributor from the middle of the park, the 20-year-old played in all five U.S. games in Argentina, starting four as the USA became the only nation to reach the quarterfinals at the last four U-20 World Cups. This fall, McGlynn has appeared in all four matches for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team as it kicks off preparations for Paris 2024. He added an assist on the final goal in the USA’s 4-1 victory vs. Japan on Oct. 17 in Phoenix.

After a breakout club season with the Philadelphia Union in 2022, McGlynn installed himself as a stalwart with one of the league’s top teams, making 44 appearances across competitions while adding three goals and four assists. Playing in a career-high 27 MLS regular season matches, McGlynn helped Philly reach the playoffs for the sixth-straight season and teed up the game-winning goal in the second leg of the first round vs. New England on Nov. 9.  Earlier this year, the midfielder helped Philly reach the Concacaf Champions League Semifinal, adding a key assist in the quarters vs. Atlas, and the semifinals of the inaugural Leagues Cup, scoring in the group stage vs. Queretaro and adding an assist in the third-place game vs. Monterrey.

Benjamin Cremaschi, USMNT / Men’s Olympic Team Midfielder

Men’s Olympic Team midfielder Benjamin Cremsaschi enjoyed a breakout campaign for club and country in 2023. After making a number of appearances for the U-19 MYNT in 2022, Cremaschi became a key player for Inter Miami CF this season, taking the field alongside one of the game’s greatest ever players in Lionel Messi. While Cremaschi made his MLS debut in February, he started to make regular appearances as the season progressed, helping Miami to its first-ever trophy at the inaugural Leagues Cup and a runner-up finish in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In total, the South Floridian made 41 appearances across all competitions, adding three goals and seven assists. He played in all seven of Miami’s matches during its Leagues Cup title run, adding a goal in the Round of 16 vs. FC Dallas. In the Open Cup, the teenager appeared in all six matches and provided the third assist during the wild 3-3 semifinal shootout win vs. FC Cincinnati. The teenager parlayed his rise with Miami into his first senior USMNT call-up in September, making his full international debut vs. Oman in St. Paul, Minn. In October and November, the 2005-born Cremaschi was called up to the first two U.S. Men’s Olympic Team training camps of the cycle as one of the team’s youngest players, appearing in all four matches. He netted the USA’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw with Iraq on Nov. 18.