Canadian-Based Players in the Run for the 2024 MLS MVP Award

Major League Soccer MVP and Golden Boot Awards

Summary:

  • Several Canadian-based soccer players have been nominated for the Landon Donovan Major League Soccer MVP award.
  • Federico Bernardeschi, Ryan Gauld, Josef Martinez, Bryan White, Jonathan Osorio, and Samuel Piette are among the 34 nominees. 
  • Vanni Sartini, Laurent Courtois, and John Herdman are in the race for the Sigi Schmid coach of the year award.

The prestigious Major League Soccer (MLS) Landon Donovan MVP is once again looking for its rightful owner. 

This year’s extensive list of nominees counts 34 iconic names in the sport. Among them, there are plenty of Canadian-based players, including Toronto FC’s Federico Bernardeschi, Vancouver’s Ryan Gauld and CF Montreal’s Josef Martinez.

Let’s find out who else has been shortlisted for the prestigious award in 2024. 

Contenders for the MVP Award

Awarded the best player in the league at the end of a season, the annual award for MLS players has been won four times by D.C. United players

Kansas City and Los Angeles Galaxy players have won a second-best three times while Carlos Valderrama won the award for the inaugural 1996 season. 

Kansas City’s Predrag “Preki” Radosavljević is the only player in history to win the award two times, in 1997 and again in 2003.

This year, Italian pro soccer player Federico “Brunelleschi” Bernardeschi who is currently Toronto FC’s winger or attacking midfielder, creative and dynamic playmaker Ryan Gauld, who joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC in July 2021, and Venezuelan professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for CF Montreal have all been nominated for the most valuable player title. 

They are joined by clinical and mobile striker Brian White who joined Whitecaps FC in 2021 as a result of a trade with the New York Red Bulls, a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder Jonathan Osorio who was named TFC’s captain in January, and Quebecois and Canadian international midfielder Samuel Piette who inked a three-year contract with CF Montreal in 2019. 

Inter Miami icons Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are also part of the nominees, alongside other prominent contenders including D.C. United’s Christian Benteke, FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta, Portland’s Evander, Columbus’ Cucho Hernandez, and LAFC’s Denis Bouanga.

Three Canadians in the Race for the Coach of the Year Award 

In the race for the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year award, Vancouver’s Vanni Sartini, Montreal’s Laurent Courtois, and Toronto’s John Herdman were also nominated. 

The 22 coaching nominees also include two former TFC coaches: Chris Armas of the Colorado Rapids and Greg Vanney of the Los Angeles Galaxy, along with former Montreal coach Wilfried Nancy.

For the Newcomer of the Year award, which recognizes “a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2024“, Toronto defender Kevin Long, midfielder Matty Longstaff, and Whitecaps defender Bjorn Inge Utvik are in contention. 

Best Referee, Comeback Player, Defender, Young Player, and Goalkeeper of the Year 

Canadian Drew Fischer was one of the nominees for the Referee of the Year award.

Toronto fullback/wingback Richie Laryea has been nominated for the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Defensive prowess is highlighted with Toronto’s Long, Nicksoen Gomis, Montreal’s Joel Waterman, and Vancouver’s Ranko Veselinovic all up for Defender of the Year. 

Gomis, along with Toronto midfielder Kosi Thompson, Montreal midfielder Nathan Saliba, and Vancouver midfielder Pedro Vite, are also among the nominees for Young Player of the Year (aged 22 or younger). 

Canadian forward Jacen Russell-Rowe of the Columbus Crew joins them in this category.

The nominees for Goalkeeper of the Year include Vancouver’s Yohei Takaoka, Montreal’s Jonathan Sirois, and Toronto’s Sean Johnson

Canadians Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United) and Maxime Crepeau (Portland) are also in the running.

Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award

In recognition of community service, Osorio, Sirois, and Vancouver’s Sebastian Berhalter are nominated for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award. 

The award honors an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.

Voting is open until October 21. Ballots are divided equally among MLS club technical staff, players, and media members.

Notably, club technical staff and players are not permitted to vote for their own team’s nominees.

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Author Kaus is a freelance football writer, who prior to producing content for betting.ca, has written for Calciomercato, TheseFootballTimes, GetGermanFootball News and Manchester Evening News.