Fulham defender Antonee Robinson has been named as the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year – not Christian Pulisic.
The award is the highest honor given to soccer players in the United States. Robinson, 27, was named the winner for the first time in his career ahead of Fulham’s Premier League game against Ipswich at Craven Cottage, having won 55 percent of the vote.
The left-back received more votes than Monaco forward Folarin Balogun, Charlotte defender Tim Ream, PSV forward Ricardo Pepi, and Pulisic. The latter is the captain of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and has previously been named the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year four times, a joint record held with Landon Donovan.
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Pulisic, 26, is enjoying a fabulous season with AC Milan, having scored nine goals and provided six assists. The Champions League winner also impressed for the Italian team during the 2023/24 season by scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists.
Despite Pulisic’s good form, Robinson has scooped the 2024 prize. The English-born star, who has won 50 senior caps for the USMNT and three CONCACAF Nations League titles, rarely misses a game for Fulham and is the team’s reigning Player of the Season.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Robinson said. “Representing our country isn’t something you do for individual accolades. It’s always about putting the team first and trying to do my best for the boys and for the country, so to be rewarded for that is an amazing feeling.”
The prize is voted for by fans, national team coaches, USMNT players, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, Major League Soccer head coaches and sporting directors, former players and administrators, and selected journalists.
Antonee Robinson has won the prize (
Getty Images)
Former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard had the honor of telling Robinson he won the vote. “That’s mental,” Robinson said immediately after finding out. “That’s unreal. I don’t really even know what to say, to be honest. That wasn’t the call I was expecting!”
Howard, meanwhile, said: “I was excited to have the opportunity to surprise Antonee with this news. He’s had such an outstanding year for both club and country. What stands out the most when I watch him play for the USMNT and weekly for Fulham in the Premier League is his ability to consistently perform at an elite level.
“Achieving that is difficult and to do it while representing your country is extremely special. And of course, most importantly, we are fellow Evertonians! Turns out Jedi and I were at the club at the same time, so to help recognize him in this moment means a lot.”
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