NOMINATION PROCESS:
Major League Soccer opened the 2023 MLS Year-End Awards nomination process from Monday, Sept. 5 (12 p.m. ET) through Thursday, Sept. 14 (5 p.m. ET). During this window, MLS clubs submitted their top candidates to the MLS League Office for inclusion on the 2023 MLS Year-End Awards ballot.
VOTING & SELECTION PROCEDURES:
AWARDS DETERMINED BY VOTES
MLS club technical staffs, MLS players, and media members may vote for one nominee per award during the voting period, which spans from Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. ET through Monday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. ET. An equal 33.3 percent from each voting group will account for the final result. Awards determined by club, player, and media votes include: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player, MLS Comeback Player of the Year, MLS Defender of the Year, MLS Newcomer of the Year, MLS Young Player of the Year, Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year, Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award presented by MLS WORKS, and MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire.
AWARDS DETERMINED BY STATISTICS / OBJECTIVE CRITERIA
The individuals with the highest total votes for each respective award by Monday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. ET will win those awards. Awards determined by stats include the Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the team with the highest points total at the end of the regular season, and the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, which honors the player with the most goals scored during the regular season.
AWARDS DETERMINED BY FAN VOTES
Fan votes on MLSsoccer.com will determine the winners for AT&T MLS Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate.
LIST OF 2023 MLS YEAR-END AWARDS
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
Description: Most Valuable Player in MLS during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Description: Honors an MLS player who has overcome a severe injury and/or adversity, and as a result missed a significant portion of the 2022 season and shown improved performance to achieve success during the 2023 regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Defender of the Year
Description: Best defender in MLS during the 2023 regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted upon by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Newcomer of the Year
Description: The best newcomer in MLS during the 2023 regular season. For this award, “newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2023.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
MLS Young Player of the Year
Description: The best young player in MLS during the 2023 regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player(s) must have appeared in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season.
For this award, any “young player” in MLS who is age 22 or younger during the calendar year is eligible for nomination.
- For 2023, any player born on or after Jan.1, 2001 is eligible.
- For 2023, any player born on or before Dec. 31, 2000, is ineligible.
- Only players who meet the age requirement are eligible.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
Description: Best goalkeeper in MLS during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Player must have appeared in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year
Description: Best head coach in MLS during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Head Coach must have coached in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season.
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award
Description: Honors an MLS player who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community during the 2023 season.
Nomination Criteria: Player must have appeared in at least one match during the 2023 MLS regular season. The nominations must include an accompanying biography, photos and/or videos of the player interacting with local community.
Selection Process: Voted upon by media members, clubs, and players.
AT&T MLS Goal of the Year
Description: Best goal scored during the 2023 MLS regular season as determined by the fans.
Nomination Criteria: MLSsoccer.com editors will determine the list of 16 finalists based on nominations by MLS clubs, Goal of the Week nominees, and Goal of the Week winners.
Selection Process: Fans will vote on mlssoccer.com.
MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate
Description: Best save made by a goalkeeper during the 2023 MLS season as determined by the fans.
Nomination Criteria: MLSsoccer.com editors will determine the list of 16 finalists based on nominations by MLS clubs and “What a Save” weekly nominees.
Selection Process: Fans will vote on mlssoccer.com.
MLS Best XI
Description: The MLS Best XI is a compilation of the 11 best players by position from the 2023 MLS regular season.
Nomination Criteria: Players must have appeared in at least one MLS match during the 2023 MLS regular season. MLS Best XI nominees are not nominated by MLS clubs. Write-in votes from MLS clubs, players, and media members will determine Best XI.
Selection Process: Voters – consisting of club technical staff members, MLS players, and media members – will be asked to input 11 players on their ballots in a common soccer formation (4-4-2, 4-3-3, or 3-5-2, etc.), including one goalkeeper, at least 3 defenders, at least 3 midfielders, and at least 2 forwards.
- Eleven different players must be entered on the ballot in order to be counted.
- Players will be ranked from most votes to least votes, then selected by position to the Best XI.
- Votes cast for players/coach of the voters’ club will not be counted.
Supporters’ Shield
Selection Process: The Supporters’ Shield is statistically determined by and awarded to the team who finishes top of the regular season table with the most points.
MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi
Selection Process: The MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi is statistically determined by and awarded to the player who scores the most goals during the MLS regular season. In the case of a tie, the total number of assists is the first tiebreaker, followed by the fewest minutes played.
The following awards will have a nomination process facilitated by the Professional Referee Organization:
MLS Referee of the Year awards.
Description: Best performing head referee of the 2023 MLS season.
Nomination Criteria: Referees must have earned an assignment in at least one 2023 MLS regular season game. The Professional Referee Organization facilitate a nomination process that includes input from MLS match officials to determine the final candidates who appear on the ballot
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
Assistant Referee of the Year awards.
Description: Best performing assistant referee of the 2023 MLS season.
Nomination Criteria: Assistant Referees must have earned an assignment in at least one 2023 MLS regular season game. The Professional Referee Organization facilitate a nomination process that includes input from MLS match officials to determine the final candidates who appear on the ballot
Selection Process: Voted on by media members, clubs, and players.
