Christian Pulisic wins U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award for 4th time

CHICAGO – U.S. Men’s National Team forward Christian Pulisic has been voted the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year for a record-tying fourth time after an outstanding year in which he led the USA in goal contributions, was named Best Player of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League as the U.S. won its second-straight title, and got off to a roaring start with Italian power AC Milan following a high-profile summer transfer move.

This is Pulisic’s fourth U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award after winning in 2017, 2019 and 2021, tying Landon Donovan (2003, 2004, 2009, 2010) for the all-time record. First recognized in 1984, 26 players have won the award and just four have done so three times or more: Pulisic, Donovan, Clint Dempsey (2007, 2011, 2012) and Kasey Keller (1997, 1999, 2005). The 25-year-old Pulisic is the youngest to win the award at least three times and was the youngest-ever winner in 2017 at 19-years-old.

From one 4-time winner to another….@landondonovan ? @pulisic pic.twitter.com/X8cQlb4Tyq

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) January 18, 2024

Of the five finalists for Male Player of the Year, Pulisic took 53 percent of the overall total, followed by AC Milan teammate Yunus Musah (21.5%) and Ricardo Pepi (12.9%).

Votes for U.S. Soccer Male and Young Male Player of the Year Awards are collected from National Team coaches, USMNT players who earned a cap in 2023, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, professional league head coaches and sporting directors, select media members and former players and administrators.

After first breaking out for the USMNT at age 17 in 2016, Pulisic has consistently been one of the USA’s top performers and made a high-profile transfer this summer to AC Milan, one of Italy’s most successful clubs.

“It’s an honor to win this award again for the fourth time,” Pulisic said. “It was an incredible season for me. I always enjoy playing with the National Team and winning more trophies with the National Team. Of course, coming here to AC Milan, it’s been just a really exciting year. I’ve enjoyed it so much, so I’m really grateful to win an award like this.

“Any of the nominees could have won it, and not even just those guys, names outside of that as well who have been putting in such strong performances on the club level and with the National Team. I’m really proud of how far this group has come and looking forward to some really big events coming up in the next years.”

Pulisic was informed after being surprised with a special Emmy-style video from Ted Lasso star and U.S. Soccer super supporter Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard on the hit show. Following the surprise reveal, USMNT legend Landon Donovan congratulated Pulisic on tying his record via a Zoom call hosted at the AC Milan training facility.

“If you’re joining Landon on anything regarding the National Team, you’re doing something right,” Pulisic said. “He’s a legend. I looked up to him, so I’m grateful to be in that conversation. I’m hoping to continue to push, and hopefully it will not be the last.”

Pulisic’s six goals and three assists in 2023 made him the USMNT’s leading goal contributor on the year. Two of those goals came in clutch moments as he helped lead the U.S. to its second-straight Concacaf Nations League title in dominant fashion this summer, continuing to menace Mexico as the “Man in the Mirror” with goals on either side of halftime in 3-0 triumph over El Tri in the CNL Semifinal on June 15. The Pennsylvania native was named the tournament’s Best Player and selected to the Best XI for the second-straight Nations League campaign as he captained the U.S. in both the semifinal and championship match. During the CNL group stage, Pulisic set up the first two goals in the USMNT’s 7-1 rout of Grenada on March 24 before adding one of his own after halftime.

The 25-year-old forward continued to put the ball in the back of the net during the USMNT’s series of fall friendlies, scoring against Uzbekistan, Germany and Ghana. One of his most spectacular strikes yet for the USA came as the opener vs. Die Mannschaft, a rocket from outside the box on Oct. 14 in East Hartford. The three tallies put him at 28 career goals for the U.S., just two behind Brian McBride for fifth on the all-time scoring list.

At the club level, Pulisic made an immediate impact at Italian giant AC Milan following a $20 million move this July. Through the fall half of the 2023-24 campaign, Pulisic helped the Rossoneri to third place in the Serie A table, netting six goals and adding three assists in 13 league appearances. He tallied in his Serie A debut at Bologna on Aug. 21, scored the late game-winner vs. Genoa on Oct. 14 by finishing off a cross from U.S. teammate Yunus Musah, and also finished an impressive sequence with a goal vs. Frosinone on Dec. 2.

Pulisic also played in all six games of AC Milan’s UEFA Champions League campaign, tallying against Newcastle United on Dec. 13 to become the first U.S. player to score for three different clubs in the UCL. It marked his eighth career Champions League goal, double the next leading American.