The ESPY nominees have been announced and the four players vying for the award going to the best Major League Soccer player are Jeff Cunningham of Toronto FC, Christian Gomez of D.C. United, Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Matt Reis of the New England Revolution.
In his 10th year in MLS, Cunningham, a forward who was traded from Real Salt Lake this year, led the league in goals last season with 16, winning the MLS Budweiser Golden Boot. He also notched 11 assists in his 31 appearances. So far in 2007, Cunningham has found the back of the net twice.
Gomez was the 2006 MLS Honda MVP, scoring 14 goals and adding 11 assists in his second season with United. The MLS All-Star had three game-winning goals along with four game-winning assists and earned the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week award on June 11 along with Player of the Week honors twice. This season, Gomez so far has three goals and as many assists.
Donovan is the reigning recipient of the award and looks to repeat after tying a career-high with 12 goals and adding eight assists for the Galaxy in 2006. Despite missing eight games in the middle of the year while playing for the U.S. national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, he played in all but one minute of his team's final 17 contests and was named to the MLS All-Star team for the sixth consecutive season.
One of the best players in U.S. soccer history, Donovan helped the USA retain the CONCACAF Gold Cup title this year, scoring four goals in the tournament to tie Eric Wynalda with 34 for the all-time U.S. national team lead. For the Galaxy, Donovan so far this year has two goals and five assists.
Reis holds every New England career goalkeeping record and his dominance continued during the 2006 season. Named the club's 2006 Honda MVP, he led MLS in shutouts (10) and saves (141). He was one of two MLS players to play every minute of every game and was named the top goalkeeper in MLS for the 2006 season. Reis has continued his run this year, playing every minute of New England's 12 games thus far.
The ESPY Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Lebron James, will be broadcast on ESPN on July 15 at 9 p.m. ET.
Ben Masur is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
