ASA, for our high quality and whimsical analysis of MLS, gets an awards ballot every year. This is the story of that awards ballot. If you want to hear us actually talk through those picks, check out the podcast.

Goalkeeper of the Year

This one was one of the easiest ones for us to pick. Kristijan Kahlina put up a gargantuan 10 goals prevented beyond his xG this season, good for third all time in our MLS database. By G/xG, the ratio of the two (to account for bullet sponge GK’s on bad teams), it’s the fifth best shot stopping season of all time at YY. Honourable mentions to Matt Freese, Drake Callender, and Roman Burki who had great seasons, but Kahlina was a cut above the rest as Charlotte secured their first ever home playoff game.

Brick wall, waterfall, kristijan kahlina’s got it all

Defender of the Year

While we would’ve liked to see attacking wingbacks like Federico Bernardeschi and Luca Orellano (sorry for the mispronunciation on the pod big guy) or someone like Ryan Hollingshead up for this award, the vote ultimately came down to who was an integral part of a great defense. That guy? Miles Robinson. Robinson is 2nd in the league amongst center backs by Mike Imburgio’s net g+ metric, which does a good job tracking who is allowing good stuff to happen in their zones. Add in Cincinnati’s oppressive xGA and the fact that we still don’t have a great handle on how CB’s contribute analytically, team defensive performance was a big factor for us here. I bet Atlanta wish they had him this season.

but i would walk 500 miles, and i would walk 500 more, just to be the team that walked a thousand miles, to be the team that he plays for

Young Player of the Year

This one caused a bit of consternation among us at ASA. Leader in the clubhouse is Diego Gomez, but g+ and things like DAVIES, a model for evaluating young talent, don’t love him. Eventually we settled on the gargantuan xOutput of Cristian Olivera of LAFC. His 10.38 NPxG+xA has him at 61st in the league, but on a per 90 basis he creeps up to a top 30 attacker in a league with a glut of attacking talent. We’re not going to penalize him for being behind other top guys. By DAVIES, he pulls up to second amongst eligible players on a per 90 basis. His gargantuan 0.14 g+ per 96 minutes places him north of bonafide MVP nominee Evander, with the 0.1 receiving goals added has him snuggled firmly as the second off ball moving winger in the league. Honourable mentions here to the Union’s terrible twosome of Quinn Sullivan and Jack McGlynn, both worthy nods.

Newcomer of the Year

This one, this one was unanimous. Gabriel Pec. Next question. 27 goals and assists, top three by xG+xA, top five by g+, top 10 by net g+, first in DAVIES by a distance, third in shots, first in shots on target. He’s a walking box score of attacking goodness. Add in the Galaxy’s improvement from Spoon contender to best in the West, this one felt easy for us. Admire the wheel.

peter piper picked a pec of pickled wingers

Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year

Harrison popped off on a fun rant about the difficulties Pat Noonan has had the back half of this year, but even with that, this one doesn’t have a short list. It’s a long list. There are maybe five bad coaches in MLS, and the top end has been some of the most entertaining and tactically interesting soccer we’ve ever seen in MLS. But ultimately we came down exactly where you think we came down, Wilfried Nancy. The Crew have played the prettiest soccer, put up a huge goals added differential, a huge xGD, all while balancing 17 competitions and not being allowed to call up goalkeepers because even their friendlies are must watch TV. That dude has taken spare parts from other teams in guys like Max Arfsten and Malte Amundsen and built a Lamborghini. Special stuff.

Landon Donovan Most Valuable Player

Riqui Puig. No suspense, he’s that guy. The best passer in the league got two lightning wingers and an elite 9 ahead of him and cooked all season. The league leader in total g+, his g+ per 90 is second only to one Lionel Messi (who simply did not play enough for us to give it to him), his FBRef scouting report page has more 99’s than a GTA money glitch. Per FBRef, Puig has put up a whopping 411 progressive passes this season heading into the final matchweek. Ever the tryer, second placed Carles Gil, has 300. As far back as we have stats, nobody has ever even broke 400 before. It’s hard to say that Puig is the guy who caused the Galaxy to flip from Spoon contender to Shield contender when he was there the previous season, but it sure is easy to say they wouldn’t be this good without him.

Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year

We defaulted to MLS Ref Stats work on this one and voted for Drew Fischer and Kyle Atkins as the two who took part in the fewest VAR reviews of the nominated officials during the 2024 season. A ref unseen is a good ref.

Comeback Player of the Year

Robin Lod. Lod put up a very healthy +0.1 g+ above average this season as he broke the Minnesota United all time scoring record, a year after missing the entire season with a torn meniscus. Add in an all time goal contribution record, an all time season assist record. Lod went from the lowest low, to permanent Minnesota legend.

best cm in the league that doesn’t look like a boyband member ain’t half bad

Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award

Darlington Nagbe. You can read all about it here, but we love a mental health supporter. Remember, check on your friends.

MLS Best XI

As always, we default to the model. And as always, we only pick teams in a real 4-3-3, with a real midfield. Here is your MLS Best XI, brought to you by net g+.

A small note. We couldn’t actually submit this team for the ballot, because for some dumb reason Luca Orellano is a midfielder and Bernardeschi is a forward. For Toronto’s nominatory sins, he was removed for Ryan Hollingshead in the official ballot. #PositionsArentReal

American Soccer Analysis

ASA’s MLS Awards Ballot: The Most Analytical Ballot in Town