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Canada Soccer unveils 2020 Player of the Year nominees

Canada Soccer announced shortlists on Wednesday for its annual player awards, including male and female Player of the Year, as well as Youth International of the Year.

Thirteen male and female players have been named as finalists for both Player of the Year awards, with voting to be conducted over the next week among coaches and media. The winners will be announced on Dec. 3 (male) and 4 (female).

The award honours players for achievement with both the national teams and their club teams (the latter of which may have more significance in 2020, with neither senior national team in action since early in the year).

In 2019, the award was won by Jonathan David (then playing at Gent) and Ashley Lawrence of Paris Saint-Germain. Both are nominated again this year, as are four other previous winners (Christine Sinclair, Kadeisha Buchanan, Alphonso Davies, and Atiba Hutchinson).

The full list of nominees for both awards is below.

Men’s Player of the Year

• Tesho Akindele | USA / Orlando City SC
• Scott Arfield | SCO / Rangers FC
• Milan Borjan | SRB / Red Star Belgrade
• Jonathan David | BEL / KAA Gent & FRA / Lille OSC
• Alphonso Davies | GER / FC Bayern München
• Stephen Eustáquio | POR / FC Paços de Ferreira
• Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
• Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
• Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Los Angeles FC
• Cyle Larin | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
• Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC
• Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
• Samuel Piette | CAN / Impact de Montréal

Women’s Player of the Year

• Janine Beckie | ENG / Manchester City FC
• Kadeisha Buchanan | FRA / Olympique Lyonnais
• Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
• Jessie Fleming | ENG / Chelsea FC
• Jordyn Huitema | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain FC
• Stephanie Labbé | USA / NC Courage
• Ashley Lawrence | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain FC
• Nichelle Prince | USA / Houston Dash
• Sophie Schmidt | USA / Houston Dash
• Desiree Scott | USA / Utah Royals FC
• Kailen Sheridan | USA / Sky Blue FC
• Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
• Shelina Zadorsky | USA / Orlando Pride & ENG / Tottenham


Canada Soccer also announced its Youth International Player of the Year nominations, with seven shortlisted in the male and female categories. The award winners, voted on by Canada Soccer staff coaches, will be announced on December 1.

The women’s list is comprised of players who competed for Canada at the Concacaf U-20 Championship, while the men’s list (since no Canadian men’s youth teams played in 2020) is populated by U-23 players.

The 2019 winners were Jayden Nelson and Olivia Smith. This year’s nominees are below.

Men’s Youth Player of the Year

• Michael Baldisimo | Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Tajon Buchanan | New England Revolution
• Alistair Johnston | Nashville SC
• Liam Millar | Liverpool FC
• Kamal Miller | Orlando City FC
• Harry Paton | Ross County FC
• Dayne St. Clair | Minnesota United FC

Women’s Youth Player of the Year

• Tanya Boychuk
• Samantha Chang
• Kayza Massey
• Emma Regan
• Jade Rose
• Caitlin Shaw
• Jazmine Wilkinson