Since the very first MLS season in 1996, the league has celebrated young talent. It’s common practice to have a ‘Rookie of the Year’ Award in most other American sports too, and that’s exactly what the MLS award was called to begin with.
It’s now called the MLS Young Player of the Year Award, but it is essentially the same thing: an award given to a young player who is deemed to have shown the most promise during the previous season.
It’s a prestigious award to win, instantly boosting the stock of the recipient but at the same time shining a spotlight on them that can add a lot of pressure the following season. This is why some Young Player of the Year award winners go on to achieve greatness and others fade into obscurity.
Why the Name was Changed
The ‘rookie’ term is synonymous in most sports with first year professionals, and it had the same meaning in MLS. The Rookie of the Year Award was designed for young players in their first professional season in Major League Soccer, and this made sense, because back then most new players came through the college draft or domestic development systems.
The award remained unchanged for almost a quarter of a century before the league had a re-think.
By 2019, more and more players were joining MLS from other countries, perhaps a few years into their careers having gained a little experience elsewhere. But they were still very young and untested in the US. MLS wanted to open the award up to a broader pool of talent, so they changed it from Rookie of the Year to the Young Player of the Year award.
The criteria was:
- The player must be under 22 years old in the calendar year
- The player must have played at least 500 minutes of competitive Major League Soccer during the regular season
- Player must be nominated by their club
Then, media members, clubs, and players get to vote for who they think should win out of all the nominated players. It’s even possible for someone to win it twice, although no one had yet.
The award has been known as the Young Player of the Year rather than the Rookie of the Year ever since, and although the criteria has changed, people still treat it as the same award just re-badged.
List of Every Winner
Below is a complete list of every winner across both versions of the award, and who they played for when they won it:
| Year | Player | Club |
| 1996 | Steve Ralston | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
| 1997 | Mike Duhaney | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
| 1998 | Ben Olsen | D.C. United |
| 1999 | Jay Heaps | Miami Fusion |
| 2000 | Carlos Bocanegra | Chicago Fire |
| 2001 | Rodrigo Faria | MetroStars |
| 2002 | Kyle Martino | Columbus Crew |
| 2003 | Damani Ralph | Chicago Fire |
| 2004 | Clint Dempsey | New England Revolution |
| 2005 | Michael Parkhurst | New England Revolution |
| 2006 | Jonathan Bornstein | Chivas USA |
| 2007 | Maurice Edu | Toronto FC |
| 2008 | Sean Franklin | LA Galaxy |
| 2009 | Omar Gonzalez | LA Galaxy |
| 2010 | Andy Najar | D.C. United |
| 2011 | C. J. Sapong | Sporting Kansas City |
| 2012 | Austin Berry | Chicago Fire |
| 2013 | Dillon Powers | Colorado Rapids |
| 2014 | Tesho Akindele | FC Dallas |
| 2015 | Cyle Larin | Orlando City SC |
| 2016 | Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2017 | Julian Gressel | Atlanta United FC |
| 2018 | Corey Baird | Real Salt Lake |
| 2019 | Andre Shinyashiki | Colorado Rapids |
| Name Changed to Young Player of the Year | ||
| 2020 | Diego Rossi | Los Angeles FC |
| 2021 | Ricardo Pepi | FC Dallas |
| 2022 | Jesús Ferreira | FC Dallas |
| 2023 | Thiago Almada | Atlanta United FC |
| 2024 | Diego Luna | Real Salt Lake |
| 2025 | Alex Freeman | Orlando City SC |
Career Summary of All Winners
You know what the award is, why the name of it changed, and who won it, so now, let’s have a look at what happened to all the past winners and how their careers went.
It’s a real mixed bag, and of course, many of the more recent winners still have the majority of their careers ahead of them.
Steve Ralston – 1996
Ralston became one of the most reliable wide players MLS has produced, spending the bulk of his career with New England and finishing as one of the league’s all-time assist leaders. He was consistently influential rather than flashy, earning regular USMNT caps and maintaining a long, steady career with no major downturns.
Honors: Supporters’ Shield (2002), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2005), US Open Cup (2007), North American SuperLiga (2008)
Mike Duhaney – 1997
Duhaney showed early promise but never developed into a long-term standout, moving between several MLS clubs before his career tapered off. He remained a useful squad player but didn’t reach the level many expected after his first season.
Honors: None.
Ben Olsen – 1998
Olsen quickly became a key figure at D.C. United, both as a player and later as a manager, despite injuries interrupting his early momentum. A strong spell in England was cut short by an ankle issue, but he rebuilt himself as a hardworking leader and club mainstay.
Honors: CONCACAF Champipons Cup (1998), Copa Interamericana (1998), MLS Cup (1999, 2004), Supporters’ Shield (1999, 2006, 2007), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2005), US Open Cup (2008).
Jay Heaps – 1999
Heaps carved out a long and dependable MLS career, first with Miami Fusion and then as a mainstay at New England, where he became a regular in multiple MLS Cup runs and later returned as long time head coach. He was never a star name, but he was a consistent, versatile defender who racked up over 300 MLS appearances and a brief spell with the USMNT.
Honors: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2007), North American SuperLiga (2008).
Carlos Bocanegra – 2000
Bocanegra developed into one of the most accomplished American defenders of his generation, moving from Chicago Fire to Fulham and then on to Ligue 1 and Scotland while also captaining the USMNT at major tournaments. His game was built on aggression, aerial strength and leadership, and he became a regular in Europe’s top leagues for a decade.
Honors: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2000, 2003), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2002, 2007).
Rodrigo Faria – 2001
Faria’s career burned bright and brief: after two prolific seasons with the MetroStars, a move to Chicago and then San Jose saw his league form fade, but he still scored a famous sudden-death winner for the Earthquakes in the 2003 Western Conference semifinals before stepping away from the game early to return to Brazil for family reasons.
Honors: MLS Cup (2003).
Kyle Martino – 2002
Martino showed real quality in flashes for Columbus but never quite hit the long-term heights his technical ability suggested, with injuries disrupting his rhythm before an early retirement at 28. After leaving MLS he moved successfully into broadcasting rather than extending his playing career.
Honors: U.S. Open Cup (2002), Supporters’ Shield (2004)
Damani Ralph – 2003
Ralph exploded onto the scene with Chicago, breaking the MLS rookie goals record and then backing it up with another double-digit season before earning a move to Rubin Kazan. A serious knee injury in Russia effectively cut his playing career short, and he later transitioned into work as a FIFA-licensed agent rather than returning to MLS.
Honors: Supporters’ Shield (2003), U.S. Open Cup (2003), La Manga Cup (2005, 2006)
Clint Dempsey – 2004
Dempsey turned early MLS success into one of the most accomplished careers an American outfield player has ever produced. After establishing himself as a dynamic, fearless attacker in New England, he moved to Fulham and became a Premier League standout — scoring in a Europa League final run, producing landmark goals against top English sides, and earning a reputation for his relentless competitive edge. His single season at Tottenham added another high-profile chapter before he returned to MLS as a marquee signing for Seattle, where he helped elevate the club into a consistent contender and gained legendary status.
He was equally influential for the USMNT, tying the all-time men’s scoring record with 57 goals and delivering major tournament performances, including goals at three different World Cups. Across club and country, he became known for his swagger, clutch finishing, and ability to produce in big moments — a player who genuinely changed expectations for what Americans could achieve abroad.
Honors: MLS Cup (2016), Supporters’ Shield (2014), U.S. Open Cup (2014), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2005, 2007, 2017)
Michael Parkhurst – 2005
Parkhurst developed into one of the most reliable defenders in MLS, first anchoring New England’s back line before moving to Europe and later returning as a leader for Columbus and Atlanta. His reading of the game and consistency kept him at a high level well into his mid-30s, culminating in captaining Atlanta during their rise as a league powerhouse.
Honors: US Open Cup (2007, 2019), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2007, 2013), Supporters’ Shield (2008), Danish Cup (2009-10, 2010-11), Danish Superliga (2011-12), MLS Cup (2018), Campeones Cup (2019)
Jonathan Bornstein – 2006
Bornstein became a dependable left-sided presence for Chivas USA and the USMNT before moving to Tigres, where he continued to develop in a more competitive environment. His later spell at Querétaro extended his Liga MX career, and he eventually returned to MLS with Chicago as a steady, experienced veteran.
Honors: Mexican Primera División Apertura (2011), Copa MX Apertura (2016), Supercopa MX (2017), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2007)
Maurice Edu – 2007
Edu’s strong MLS start earned him a major move to Rangers, where he became a regular in a side that dominated Scottish football for several seasons. His progress slowed after injuries and an uneven spell in England and Turkey, and although he returned to MLS with Philadelphia, recurring fitness issues prevented a full career resurgence.
Honors: Scottish Premier League (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11), Scottish Cup (2008–09), Scottish League Cup (2009–10, 2010–11)
Sean Franklin – 2008
Franklin looked like one of MLS’s most promising young full-backs and became a long-term starter for both LA Galaxy and DC United, but never quite pushed on to national-team level beyond a single cap. After a strong early period, his influence gradually tailed off in later years, though he remained a reliable option wherever he played.
Honors: MLS Cup (2011, 2012), Supporters’ Shield (2010, 2011)
Omar González – 2009
González became one of the leading American centre-backs of his generation, anchoring both LA Galaxy during a dominant MLS era and the United States Men’s National Team through World Cup tournaments. His physical presence, aerial strength, and leadership earned him long stints in both MLS and Liga MX, though his career also faced the challenge of a serious knee injury early on.
Honors: MLS Cup (2011, 2012, 2014), Supporters’ Shield (2010, 2011), Liga MX Clausura (2016), CONCACAF Champions League (2016-17), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2013, 2017)
Andy Najar – 2010
Najar was the first ever homegrown winner of the award, breaking through at D.C. United as a highly talented academy product before earning a move to Anderlecht, where he initially impressed across league and European competition. His progress in Belgium was repeatedly disrupted by major ACL injuries, and although he fought through several comebacks, those setbacks ultimately changed the trajectory of what had once looked like a rapid rise. He later returned to MLS and rebuilt his game in a deeper, more controlled role, showing resilience after years of physical setbacks.
Honors: Belgian Pro League (2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17), Belgian Super Cup (2013, 2014), U.S. Open Cup (2025)
C. J. Sapong – 2011
Although he never turned into a big star, Sapong settled into a long and steady MLS career, valued for his strength, work-rate and ability to play multiple attacking roles rather than for sheer goalscoring volume. His best years came during his time with Sporting Kansas City and Philadelphia, and even when his numbers fluctuated, he remained a trusted presence across several clubs.
Honors: MLS Cup (2013), U.S. Open Cup (2012)
Austin Berry – 2012
Berry looked set for a long MLS career after an impressive first season, but a difficult move to Philadelphia saw his form dip sharply, and he never fully regained the level he showed in Chicago. A later spell in South Korea offered a brief revival before he returned to the U.S. lower leagues to close out his relatively short playing career.
Honors: None
Dillon Powers – 2013
Powers made an immediate impact as Colorado’s creative hub, but coaching changes and shifts in style saw his influence fade over time, eventually leading to moves abroad and in the USL. He remained technically gifted but never managed to replicate the consistency of his early MLS years.
Honors: Scottish Championship (2019-20)
Tesho Akindele – 2014
Akindele developed into a smart, hard-working forward who was valued more for his versatility and movement than for pure goalscoring, contributing solid minutes across long spells with Dallas and Orlando. He never became a headline striker, but he carved out a consistent MLS career built on reliability and tactical flexibility.
Honors: Supporters’ Shield (2016), U.S. Open Cup (2016), U.S. Open Cup (2022)
Cyle Larin – 2015
Larin’s early MLS form carried him straight into Europe, where he became a key attacking figure for Beşiktaş during one of the club’s most successful seasons this century. His career since has included productive spells across Turkey, Belgium and Spain, and he has remained a central goalscorer for the Canadian national team, especially through their rise to the 2022 World Cup.
Honors: Süper Lig (2020–21), Turkish Cup (2020–21), Turkish Super Cup (2021), Belgian Super Cup (2022)
Jordan Morris – 2016
Morris quickly established himself as one of the most respected attackers of his MLS generation, combining explosive pace with intelligent movement and a consistently high end product when fit. Two major ACL injuries interrupted what might have been an even bigger career, yet he repeatedly returned at a high level, earning multiple Best XI selections and a Comeback Player of the Year award while remaining a central figure for both Seattle and the USMNT. Even with the setbacks, he’s widely viewed as one of the league’s top American forwards of the era.
Honors: MLS Cup (2016, 2019), CONCACAF Champions League (2022), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2017)
Julian Gressel – 2017
Gressel quickly became one of MLS’s most reliable and creative wide players, thriving in multiple systems thanks to his delivery, intelligence and ability to adapt to almost any role on the right side. His consistency made him valuable wherever he went, contributing meaningfully at Atlanta, D.C., Vancouver, Columbus, Inter Miami, and Minnesota United, establishing himself as a rare example of a player who excelled across so many different clubs that he became a genuine MLS stalwart.
Honors: MLS Cup (2018, 2023), U.S. Open Cup (2019), Campeones Cup (2019), Canadian Championship (2022, 2023), Supporters’ Shield (2024)
Corey Baird – 2018
Baird made a strong impact in his first seasons with Real Salt Lake, but his form fluctuated as he moved between clubs, and he never fully recaptured the influence of his breakout year. Even so, his work rate and adaptability have kept him useful across several MLS squads rather than fading out of the league entirely.
Honors: U.S. Open Cup (2023)
Andre Shinyashiki – 2019
Shinyashiki burst onto the MLS scene with the Colorado Rapids, scoring 7 goals and contributing 3 assists in his rookie year, including a dramatic debut strike in snowy conditions. Since then his career has taken a less linear path — while he has shown flashes of his early finishing ability and adaptability across clubs and countries, he has not yet secured a prolonged breakout season and has moved abroad, suggesting there remains considerable room for growth.
Honors: None
Diego Rossi – 2020
Rossi developed into one of MLS’s most effective young forwards at LAFC before earning a move to Europe, where he had mixed but meaningful spells, including a cup win in Turkey. Since returning to MLS with Columbus he has been a consistent attacking presence, contributing goals and assists without yet hitting a definitive ceiling, and his career still appears to be in a building phase rather than a settled one.
Honors: Primera División (2015–16, 2017), Supporters’ Shield (2019), Turkish Cup (2022–23), MLS Cup (2023), Leagues Cup (2024)
Ricardo Pepi – 2021
Pepi’s move from FC Dallas to Augsburg came with high expectations, and while he struggled for minutes in the Bundesliga, his loan to Groningen revived his form and showed he could score consistently in Europe. His transfer to PSV has placed him in a strong developmental environment, where he has mostly featured as an impact option but has been productive in limited minutes, leaving him as one of the USMNT’s most promising long-term centre-forwards.
Honors: Eredivisie (2023–24, 2024–25), Johan Cruyff Shield (2023, 2025), CONCACAF Nations League (2022–23, 2023–24)
Jesús Ferreira – 2022
Ferreira rose through the FC Dallas academy and broke out as a forward with 18 goals in the 2022 MLS season, becoming one of the youngest players in league history to hit that mark. He has since become a regular pick for the United States men’s national soccer team, scoring multiple hat-tricks and showing he can deliver at international level, which has elevated his profile well beyond “young prospect.”
Honors: Leagues Cup (2025)
Thiago Almada – 2023
Almada’s rise at Atlanta United put him on the global map, and he made history in Qatar when he became the first active MLS player to win the FIFA World Cup. His move to Botafogo in 2024 pushed his career into an even bigger spotlight, where he continued to grow into a central creative presence while maintaining his place in Argentina’s senior setup. He has since transferred to Atlético Madrid.
Honors: Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (2024), Copa Libertadores (2024), FIFA World Cup (2022)
Diego Luna – 2024
A California-born attacking midfielder who turned heads at El Paso Locomotive before earning a move to Real Salt Lake in 2022. He properly broke out in 2024 with 20 goal contributions for RSL and forcing his way into the USMNT, where he’s since become a regular and one of the main stories of their 2025 Gold Cup run. His career is still in its early stages, but he’s already gone from USL prospect to genuine international regular in a very short space of time.
Honors: None.
Alex Freeman – 2025
Freeman spent three full seasons in MLS Next Pro with Orlando City B, making 70 appearances and leading the reserve side in both assists and total goal contributions in 2024 before finally forcing his way into the first team. In 2025 he turned that groundwork into a full breakout year, scoring six goals and adding six assists across competitions for Orlando, becoming the youngest MLS All-Star, and also breaking into the USMNT and scoring a brace against Uruguay within his first 13 caps.
Honors: U.S. Open Cup (2022)