FC Cincinnati’s Nick Hagglund Named 2025 MLS Comeback Player of the Year

Veteran defender returned to anchor Cincinnati’s backline after a season-ending injury in 2024

NEW YORK (Wednesday, October 29, 2025) – Major League Soccer today announced that FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund has been named the 2025 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. The award marks Hagglund’s first major individual MLS honor and the club’s first in the Comeback Player of the Year category.

• Media Assets of Hagglund’s comeback season are available HERE

In his seventh season with FC Cincinnati, Hagglund made 17 regular season appearances (16 starts) in 2025, scoring one goal and one assist. The Cincinnati native battled through a series of injuries in 2024 that sidelined him for most of the MLS regular season, limiting him to just 10 regular season appearances and less than 500 minutes – the lowest season totals of his 12-year MLS career.

On June 22, 2024, Nick Hagglund suffered a severe leg injury as he slid to make a tackle in a game against the New England Revolution. He suffered a fractured fibula, torn ligaments and tendons, and significant cartilage damage in his ankle. After undergoing successful surgery on July 1, he began a rehab process of more than 250 days. It was his third season-ending injury in the past four seasons.

Defying the odds, Hagglund pressed on through a demanding rehabilitation process and regained match fitness with FC Cincinnati 2 before making his long-awaited MLS return on March 22, 2025, in a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United. The 2017 MLS Cup champion’s comeback was briefly derailed again on May 25 against Atlanta United, when he sustained two broken ribs and a collapsed lung following a collision.

Despite the setback, Hagglund’s trademark resilience shone through as he returned to the regular season on August 16, captaining the team and anchoring Cincinnati’s backline through the final stretch of the regular season and into the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. During the 2025 season, Cincinnati produced a 10-4-3 record when Hagglund played, which included a five-game winning streak from March 29 to April 26 where Hagglund started each of those victories.

The MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors an MLS player who has overcome a severe injury and/or adversity, and as a result missed a significant portion of the 2024 MLS season and shown improved performance to achieve success during the 2025 regular season. The award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players.

Below is a breakdown of the voting results:

A full list of previous MLS Comeback Player of the Year award winners can be found below: