With the first individual award of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season, the Golden Boot, decided in dramatic fashion in Saturday’s season finale, attention will now turn toward which players were the best of the best for other league honours.
That includes the prestigious Player of the Year Award, given to the player voted best in the league by media members and CPL coaches. Cavalry FC defender Daan Klomp won the award last year after his club’s dominant 2024 regular season. Other past recipients of the CPL’s Player of the Year award include Atlético Ottawa’s Ollie Bassett (2022), Halifax Wanderers’ João Morelli (2021), Forge FC’s Kyle Bekker (2020) and Forge’s Tristan Borges (2019).
The official nominees will be revealed at a later date, with the winner announced at the 2024 CPL Awards, which will be streamed live on CBC Gem and cbcsports.ca, as well as OneSoccer on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Voting for the 2024 CPL Awards begins shortly after the 2024 CPL regular season’s conclusion, and wraps up prior to the opening match of the playoffs meaning players are judged solely on their regular season performances.
Here are ten players, listed in alphabetical order, who have made a strong case for themselves as the league’s top player in 2024.
Themi Antonoglou, Valour FC
In his debut Canadian Premier League season, the Valour fullback has been one of the league’s premier playmakers, finishing with a league-leading seven assists, and has consistently created havoc for opposition with his deadly deliveries into the box. He has been solid on the defensive side of the ball as well, leading the league in interceptions (60), and possession won in the defensive third (76 times) and finishing third in tackles won (51).
Kyle Bekker, Forge FC
In his sixth year in the Canadian Premier League, the Forge captain remains one of the league’s most influential players, as he played a key role in his side lifting the CPL Shield as regular season winners. Bekker’s ball-moving ability is unmatched in the league, as the veteran midfielder finished third in successful passes ending in the final third, with 340, created 36 chances (sixth-most) and had six assists this season, to go with a pair of goals.
Tristan Borges, Forge FC
The league’s first-ever Player of the Year back in 2019, Tristan Borges is very much in the conversation to become the first-ever repeat winner of the award. Finishing the season with eight goals and six assists, Borges finished tied for second in the league in goal contributions with 14. He also created 41 chances (third-most) and tied for sixth in shots on target with 21.
Rubén del Campo, Atlético Ottawa
Del Campo may have come up just short in the Canadian Premier League’s Golden Boot race, but perhaps another league award could be in his future following an outstanding campaign for Atlético Ottawa. Del Campo finished the season with 11 goals and two assists. He also had the third-most shots on target in the league this campaign with 31, and a league-leading 123 touches in the opposition box, showing how consistent of an attacking threat he was this year.
Alejandro Díaz, Vancouver FC
Having now scored the joint-most goals in league history, Díaz added another ten to his resume this season for Vancouver FC. He was dangerous in any situation, scoring five goals with his right foot, three with his left, and two with his head. He also made the most of his chances while leading the line for a Vancouver FC side that struggled offensively at times this season, scoring 10 times on just 34 shot attempts.
Alessandro Hojabrpour, Forge FC
A player who may not show up on the scoresheet all that consistently, Hojabrpour has nonetheless been essential to everything Forge have done this season from his position at the base of midfield. With 2,259 minutes, the second-most on this Forge team, he appeared in 27 of the team’s 28 games. He has been critical to their tempo and control of matches both with and without the ball. He won possession 141 times, sixth-most, and tied for seventh in interceptions, with 35. He also played the fourth-most successful long passes this season (114) and completed a solid 87.71 per cent of his passes.
Daan Klomp, Cavalry FC
Last season’s Player and Defender of the Year has put himself right back in the conversation with another outstanding campaign in the centre of defence for Cavalry. His team held the league’s best defensive record in the league this year, and Klomp was key to those efforts with a league-leading 23 blocks, 88 aerial duels won (second-most) and winning just under 60 per cent of his duels. He also contributed six goals, including a league-leading four from headers.
Daniel Parra, Forge FC
The Mexican fullback, on loan from Monterrey, instantly thrived in Forge’s possession-first system. The 25-year-old was critical to Forge’s build-up in all three phases of the pitch, with 1,904 touches, fourth-most in the league this season, and 41 successful dribbles (third-most). He also finished sixth in the league in duels won, with 156.
Tobias Warschewski, Cavalry FC
The Canadian Premier League’s Golden Boot winner, with 12 goals, Warschewski’s positional versatility made him an absolute problem for opposing defenders all season. He led the league in shots on target (31), dribbles completed (48) and duels contested (384). He also finished tied for second in goal contributions, with 14.
Brian Wright, York United
The striker was central to the best season in York United history, as he led all players in the Canadian Premier League with 15 goal contributions. That included nine goals and six assists during a career-best campaign. He also put up 9.06 expected goals, which was the third-most of any player in the league this season, showing his ability to consistently get into good areas throughout the year. Once there he was also excellent at providing for teammates, with his six assists tied for second in the league.