Charlotte FC Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina Named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Kahlina becomes the first player in club history to earn an individual year-end award

NEW YORK (Tuesday, November 12, 2024) – Major League Soccer today announced that Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina has been named the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Kahlina is the first-ever Charlotte FC and Croatian player to earn an individual MLS Year-End Award after producing 121 saves, 12 shutouts, and a 75.63 save percentage in his third MLS season.

• Footage of Kristijan Kahlina receiving the news is available HERE
• Highlights and photos of Kahlina’s season are available HERE

Kahlina was the only goalkeeper in 2024 to rank in the top five in both saves (121) and goals against average (1.09). Among all qualifying goalkeepers this season, Kahlina ranked in the top five of the following statistics:

• 1st – Save Percentage (75.63%)
• T-1st – Shutouts (12)
• T-1st – Minutes Played (3,060)
• 3rd – Goals Against Average (1.09)
• T-3rd – Saves (121)

The Croatian’s standout season also came while playing in every single minute (3,060) during the regular season, becoming the first player in club history to do so. Among all goalkeepers to play in every single minute of a 34-game regular season, Kahlina’s 75.63 save percentage was the fourth highest in MLS history. Kahlina also had the second-longest shutout streak in 2024, spanning 524 minutes from April 27 to May 29. Charlotte played seven matches in that span, which included five-straight shutouts as the side went 3-0-2 during those games.

Due to the play of Kahlina in net, Charlotte FC set single-season club records in points (51), wins (14), and goals allowed (37). For the first time in club history, Charlotte finished within the top five of the Eastern Conference and the club won Game 2 in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series, thanks to Kahlina’s efforts in the penalty-kick shootout. With a lead, Kahlina and Charlotte were one of the best teams in the league, producing a 13-1-5 record after they scored the first goal of the match.

The shot-stopper is the first Croatian-born player to earn an MLS Year-End Award and just the fourth European to claim the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honor, joining Roman Bürki (Switzerland, 2023), Vito Mannone (Italy, 2019), and Jimmy Nielsen (Denmark, 2012).

The MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, which honors the best goalkeeper in MLS during the 2024 regular season, was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results, with finalists Hugo Lloris (LAFC) and Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew) finishing second and third respectively in the voting.