Making The Case: Kevin Paredes for Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year
Forward Earned First USMNT Caps This Fall After Making Strides for Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga
After featuring throughout the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team cycle, continuing to break in with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga and earning his senior USMNT debut this fall, 20-year-old forward Kevin Paredes has been named a finalist for 2023 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year.
READ MORE: 2023 Chipotle Young Male Player of the Year Nominees
Fans have the opportunity to vote on select U.S. Soccer End of Year Awards, with the fan vote comprising 15% of the total vote. Nominees for all awards are selected by U.S. Soccer’s technical staff. Voting for the awards starts Monday, Dec. 11 and closes on Monday, Dec. 18. The winners will be announced in the weeks that follow.
VOTE NOW: Fan Voting for 2023 Player of the Year Awards
Let’s take a look at some of Paredes’ highlights from 2023:
- Made eight appearances during the U-20 MYNT cycle, scoring two goals and adding three assists.
- A spark in the attack, appeared in both of the USA’s knockout round matches at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
- Scored and added an assist vs. England on March 25 as part of the red, white and blue’s World Cup preparations.
- After making his Bundesliga debut in fall 2022, earned consistent substitute minutes for Wolfsburg during the second half of the 2022-23 season, making 15 appearances in the spring, scoring once and adding three assists.
- Has played in 12 league games for Wolfsburg so far this fall, scoring the go-ahead goal in a 2-2 draw vs. Werder Bremen on Nov. 5.
- Earned his first senior USMNT call-up in September, picking up his full international debut vs. Oman on Sept. 13 in St. Paul, Minn.
- Also a part of the full team for the October window and November’s Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals.
Earned his first start in the CNL quarters vs. Trinidad and Tobago in Austin on Nov. 17.
