Today, U.S. Soccer announced its nominees for the 2021 Player of the Year awards, recognizing top performers for country and club across the sport this year with the BioSteel Female and Male Player of the Year, Chipotle Young Female and Male Player of the Year, as well as establishing the ADAPTandTHRIVE Disability Award, presented by Degree and new Player of the Year awards for Female and Male Beach Soccer and Futsal, along with the One Nation Social Impact Award.
Rapids' midfielder Kellyn Acosta was nominated for the BioSteel Male Player of the Year Award. After some time away from the National Team, Acosta continued a renaissance of his international career in 2021 as one of three players to lift both of the USMNT’s summer trophies and playing in 20 overall matches – the most by a USMNT player in a calendar year since Landon Donovan in 2002.
For the first time, the process for selecting the BioSteel Female and Male Player of the Year as well as the Chipotle Young Female and Young Male Player of the Year awards will be opened up to fans via ussoccer.com. The fan vote will account for 15 percent of the overall tally, with the rest coming from National Team players, coaches, media and other related constituencies.
Voting for the awards starts Monday, Dec. 6 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes on Dec. 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The winners will be announced throughout the month of December.
More information on the Player of the Year Awards can be found here.
