LAFC forward Diego Rossi has been named the 2020 AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year, it was announced Monday, honoring the Uruguay national teamer as the top 22-and-under player in the league.
Rossi, 22, previously won this season's Golden Boot presented by Audi with 14 goals and four assists, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to win that trophy. It’s also the fifth individual award for Rossi in 2020 following a trio of honors at the MLS is Back Tournament, including the Golden Boot presented by Audi, Young Player of the Tournament presented by AT&T 5G, and being named to the tournament’s Best XI presented by BODYARMOR. Furthermore, Rossi is one of five finalists for this year's Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award.
Rossi’s 18 combined goals and assists tied for the second-most in the league. That helped fuel LAFC scoring a league-leading 47 goals, with their 2.14 goals per game standing as the seventh-most in league history.
Rossi, who joined LAFC as a Young Designated Player in December 2017 from Uruguayan side Penarol, has 42 goals and 20 assists in 85 matches (82 starts) across the last three seasons. On the international stage, the speedster awaits his senior-team debut after impressing up through the U-23s.
In its inaugural season, the AT&T Young Player of the Year award honors the top player in the league age 22 and under. Any player born on or before Jan. 1, 1998 was eligible for the award, which replaced the Rookie of the Year award.
The AT&T Young Player of the Year award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results, with Philadelphia Union midfielder Brenden Aaronson narrowly missing out before he joins Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg via transfer this winter.
Voting Results
Nominee |
Player
Vote |
Club
Vote |
Media
Vote |
Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Diego Rossi (LAFC) |
21.16% |
30.70% |
35.44% |
29.10% |
Brenden Aaronson (PHI) |
29.00% |
37.72% |
19.89% |
28.87% |
Daryl Dike (ORL) |
12.38% |
9.65% |
10.34% |
10.79% |
Ayo Akinola (TOR) |
7.99% |
6.14% |
6.12% |
6.75% |
Mark McKenzie (PHI) |
5.33% |
7.02% |
7.81% |
6.72% |
Brian Rodrigez (LAFC) |
3.13% |
2.63% |
3.38% |
3.05% |
Cole Bassett (COL) |
1.88% |
1.75% |
3.38% |
2.34% |
AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year / Rookie of the Year Winners
Young Player of the Year
- 2020: Diego Rossi – Los Angeles Football Club
Rookie of the Year
- 2019: Andre Shinyashiki – Colorado Rapids
2018: Corey Baird – Real Salt Lake - 2017: Julian Gressel – Atlanta United
- 2016: Jordan Morris – Seattle Sounders FC
- 2015: Cyle Larin – Orlando City SC
- 2014: Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas
- 2013: Dillon Powers – Colorado Rapids
- 2012: Austin Berry – Chicago Fire
- 2011: C.J. Sapong – Sporting Kansas City
- 2010: Andy Najar – D.C. United
- 2009: Omar Gonzalez – LA Galaxy
- 2008: Sean Franklin – LA Galaxy
- 2007: Maurice Edu – Toronto FC
- 2006: Jonathan Bornstein – Chivas USA
- 2005: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
- 2004: Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution
- 2003: Damani Ralph – Chicago Fire
- 2002: Kyle Martino – Columbus Crew
- 2001: Rodrigo Faria – MetroStars
- 2000: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire
- 1999: Jay Heaps – Miami Fusion
- 1998: Ben Olsen – D.C. United
- 1997: Mike Duhaney – Tampa Bay Mutiny
- 1996: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
