US Soccer named Jozy Altidore its 2016 Male Player of the Year on Friday night, recognizing the Toronto FC striker's prolific work for both club and country over one of the best seasons of his career.
It's Altidore's second time to win the honor, as he also earned the plaudit in 2013. He took this year's prize by a tight margin, receiving 32 percent of the tabulated votes to narrowly edge teammates Bobby Wood (30 percent) and Geoff Cameron (15 percent). Votes were collected from USMNT players who earned a cap in 2016, youth and senior national team coaches, MLS, NASL and USL head coaches and select former players, administrators and media members.
Altidore led the US national team with six goals and two assists during 10 appearances in 2016, even after missing Copa America Centenario due to a hamstring injury. Four of Altidore's six goals came in World Cup qualifiers, with his brace in the 4-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago on Sept. 6 taking him to a record-setting 16 all-time goals in qualifying.
"This is truly an honor to receive this award. It's also very humbling when you look at such a talented group of teammates nominated for this accolade along with you," Altidore said in a statement. "At the end of the day, any success I have had on the field this year is in large part due to their success and contributions."
The 27-year-old notched 10 goals and five assists through 23 regular-season matches (16 starts) for TFC, with all 10 strikes coming after his return from injury as he, Sebastian Giovinco and Michael Bradley powered the Reds to their second straight Audi MLS Cup Playoffs berth. In the postseason, Altidore set a new MLS record with five goals and four assists as TFC surged into the MLS Cup final, which they host at BMO Field on Saturday (8 pm ET; FOX and UniMás in US | TSN and RDS in Canada).
Christian Pulisic named Young Male Player of the Year
USMNT starlet Christian Pulisic was Friday's other award winner, taking the federation's 2016 Young Male Player of the Year in a landslide. The Borussia Dortmund dynamo reaped a resounding 86 percent of the vote, followed by Seattle Sounders striker and MLS Rookie of the Year Jordan Morris (five percent) and Atlanta United FC Homegrown signing Andrew Carleton (four percent). Altidore won the honor back in 2006.
Pulisic set a new record as the youngest player to appear for the USMNT in a World Cup qualifier – at 17 years, 193 days old – when he entered the 4-0 win over Guatemala on March 29 in Columbus, Ohio.
He would go on to become the youngest non-German to score in the Bundesliga (April 17 vs. Hamburg) and score two goals in the Bundesliga (April 23 vs. Stuttgart), and the youngest to score a goal for the MNT (May 28 vs. Bolivia), score in a World Cup qualifier (Sept. 2 at St. Vincent & the Grenadines) and start a World Cup qualifier (Sept. 6 vs. Trinidad & Tobago). Pulisic finished 2016 with three goals and two assists in 11 caps.
Both awards were unveiled during Friday night's MLS Cup preview show on FS1. US Soccer will announce its Disabled Player of the Year winner on Monday, and the Female Player of the Year and Young Female Player of the Year awards will be unveiled on Tuesday at 6 pm ET on ESPN News.
