WASHINGTON: Major League Soccer revealed its finalists on Thursday for eight individual season-ending awards, including five finalists for the Landon Donovan MVP Award that include the favorite in Lionel Messi and 17-year-old sensation Cavan Sullivan.
Messi’s stellar play for Inter Miami earned him the league’s MVP trophy in each of the past two seasons, with Sullivan making his mark during a breakout season for the Philadelphia Union.
Messi had a league-best 26 goals during the regular season, with 17 assists that ranked second. The other three players vying for MVP honors are Evander of FC Cincinnati, Guilherme of the Houston Dynamo and Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC.
Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year candidates include B.J. Callaghan of Nashville, which won the Supporters’ Shield by going 23-3-8 for 77 points. Yoann Damet of St. Louis City and Jesper Sorensen of the Vancouver Whitecaps are also up for the award.
The Defender of the Year Award category is dominated by Nashville players with teammates Andy Najar, Jeisson Palacios and Maxwell Woledzi all vying for the honor.
Nashville’s Brian Schwake is up for the Goalkeeper of the Year Award with Roman Burki of St. Louis City and Matt Turner of the New England Revolution.
Comeback Player of the Year is down to Ryan Gauld of the Whitecaps, Nick Hagglund of Cincinnati and…
