The 10 finalists for U.S. Soccer’s Male and Female Player of the Year awards have been announced.
Chris Richards and Catarina Macario headline the 10 finalists for the respective awards, U.S. Soccer announced Monday. Voting for the two awards will run through December 12.
Richards is joined by Max Arfsten, Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, and Malik Tillman for the Male Player of the Year award.
Richards made 12 USMNT appearances in 2025, being named to the CONCACAF Best XI last summer. He scored twice in the competition, including in the finals defeat to Mexico. At club level, Richards helped Crystal Palace win the English FA Cup and Community Shield over the past year while also reaching a European competition for the first time in club history.
Arfsten was one of several players to earn his USMNT debut in 2025, proceeding to conclude the year with 16 caps. At club level, Arfsten continued to be a regular starter for the Columbus Crew, earning MLS All-Star Game honors for the first time.
Freeman also debuted for the USMNT this year, finishing the year with 13 international appearances. He started every match at the Gold Cup and ended the year by scoring his first two international goals in a dominant win over Uruguay.
He also was named to the MLS All-Star Team for the first time and earned Young Player of the Year and Best XI honors at club level.
Freese made 12 USMNT appearances in 2025, grabbing the No. 1 job since the summer. He starred at the Gold Cup, making three penalty shootout saves in a quarterfinal victory over Costa Rica. For NYCFC, Freese helped the club reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Tillman appeared nine times for the USMNT this year, scoring three goals and adding two assists at the Gold Cup, while also earning Best XI honors. At club level, Tillman helped Dutch side PSV repeat as league champions last May before making a permanent move to German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
Macario is joined by Sam Coffey, Emily Fox, Alyssa Thompson, and Rose Lavelle on the Women’s Player of the Year finalist list.
Macario leads the USWNT in scoring in 2025 with seven goals and two assists. It has been Macario’s best year with the program since returning from a serious knee injury. At club level, Macario has contributed two goals and eight assists for WSL club Chelsea.
Coffey has scored four goals for the USWNT this year, quadrupling her goal production from her three previous years. At club level, Coffey was captain of NWSL side Portland Thorns FC, helping Portland reach the NWSL playoff semifinal.
Fox enjoyed a stellar year for club and country, helping WSL side Arsenal win the UEFA W Champions League crown. She was named to the competition’s Team of the Season while also being nominated for the 2025 CONCACAF Player of the Year award and the Ballon d’Or.
Lavelle may have returned to action in June, but it didn’t stop her from playing a large role for club and country. She’s scored three goals for the USWNT and also won the NWSL Championship after scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 triumph over the Washington Spirit.
Thompson has played in all but two matches for the USWNT this year, scoring two goals and adding one assist. She has joined Macario and fellow USWNT teammate Naomi Girma at English side Chelsea, scoring three goals in all competitions this fall.
You can make a case for all four of the male finalists. Macario is probably the clear favorite on the women’s side.
My guess would be it comes down to Tillman or Richards because they play at a higher level for club, but in terms of production for country you can argue Arfsten, Freeman, and Freese have all done a hair more.
Glad it’s not my call. My own inclination would probably be Freeman or Arfsten because I refuse to be an MLS apologist and those guys stood up huge when Dest and Jedi went down.