NEW YORK — Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams was voted the 2022 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, the sport's national governing body said on Friday, after he led the Americans to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
He’s your Captain, and he’s your 2022 @BioSteelSports Male Player of the Year
Congrats, @tyler_adams14More » https://t.co/20AZAOvWPy pic.twitter.com/cZ3wpFfpiu
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) January 13, 2023
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣: The year of @tyler_adams14
@BioSteelSports Male Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/CP29sQKH5H— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) January 13, 2023
'@tyler_adams14 is the 2022 @USSoccer Male Player of the Year!#MyPLMorning | #USMNT | #LUFC pic.twitter.com/LMbctLOIL5
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 13, 2023
2022 was good to Tyler Adams:
▪️ Helped Leipzig win their first major trophy
▪️ $24M transfer to Leeds
▪️ Named USMNT captain aged just 23
▪️ Played every minute of USA’s games at the World Cup
▪️ Won U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 13, 2023
The 23-year-old earned man-of-the-match honors for the United States' first two World Cup games, leading them to the last 16 after they failed to qualify the 2018 tournament.
"Receiving this type of recognition is certainly special, but for me the team’s success is the most important thing," said Adams, who was the youngest U.S. men's captain at a World Cup since 1950.
"Having the experience of going to the World Cup, performing well as a group and moving the sport forward in the United States was super important to me this year, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates."
Adams was an overwhelming favourite for fans: Out of five finalists, he received 71.6% of the fan vote, compared to 14.7% for Christian Pulisic and 8.2% for goalkeeper Matt Turner.
The voting for US Soccer Male Player of the Year:
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) January 13, 2023
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Pritha Sarkar)