July 24 – Canada’s Alphonso Davies and Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw head the list of Concacaf nominees for its men’s and women’s player of the year awards.
Davies won the award in both 2021 and 2022, while Shaw also won the award in 2022.
This time round they are up against stiffer competition.
In the men’s awards Christian Pulisic is among the nominees coming off an outstanding season for AC Milan, while the nominations also recognise Panama’s Houston Dynamo midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla who has been keen to his country’s rise up the Concacaf hierarchy to the 2023 Gold Cup final and the knock out rounds of the Copa America this summer.
Mexico have just one nominee on the list, Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez, perhaps giving the young forward more recognition and appreciation internationally than he is given from within the country he represents.
Jamaica’s Leon Bailey, who was part of Aston Villa’s outstanding season and has been the talisman of a Jamaican resurgence at international level. There is perhaps more work to be done by Bailey and his teammates to fulfil their talent in major competitions.
Khadija Shaw is arguably the best female striker in the world and is nominated despite being part of the player group that refused to play for their country following a dispute with the JFF after their break showing at the 2023 World Cup.
For Manchester City Shaw was unstoppable last season and it was a major failure by the Jamaican federation and a loss to Concacaf and world football that she withdrew from international football.
The women’s nominees see just Sophie Shaw from the US but both Charlyn Corral and Jacqueline Ovale nominated from Mexico. Early 2024 saw a eureka moment for the Mexicans who convincingly beat the region’s all-powerful USA in the group stages of the W Gold Cup, the first time they had beaten the US in a major competition.
The fan voting part of the awards process is now open at Concacaf.com. National team coaches and captains will also vote, as will selected media.
Nominees for the 2023/24 Concacaf Player of the Year Awards:
Men:
- Leon Bailey (JAM) | Aston Villa FC (ENG)
- Adalberto Carrasquilla (PAN) | Houston Dynamo FC (USA)
- Jonathan David (CAN) | LOSC Lille (FRA)
- Alphonso Davies (CAN) | FC Bayern Munich (GER)
- Santiago Giménez (MEX) | Feyenoord (NED)
- Christian Pulisic (USA) | AC Milan (ITA)
Women:
- Charlyn Corral (MEX) | CF Pachuca Femenil (MEX)
- Melchie Dumornay (HAI) | Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (FRA)
- Adriana Leon (CAN) | Aston Villa WFC (ENG)
- Jacqueline Ovalle (MEX) | Tigres Femenil (MEX)
- Khadija Shaw (JAM) | Manchester City WFC (ENG)
- Sophia Smith (USA) | Portland Thorns FC (USA)
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