Frisco, Texas (Oct. 13, 2022) – FC Dallas Homegrown Young Designated Player Jesús Ferreira is a finalist for the 2022 Major League Soccer Young Player of the Year award, which recognizes the best player under the age of 22. Ferreira is in the chase for the Young Player of the Year Award alongside Atlanta Uniited’s Thiago Almada and FC Cincinnati’s Brenner.
Ferreira, 21, became the club’s first Homegrown Young Designated Player signing in January 2022. At 21 years old, he is the youngest player in FC Dallas history to score 18 goals, tying Kenny Cooper (2008) and Jason Kreis (1999) for the most goals scored in a single season. Ferreira’s 18 non-penalty goals are tied for first in MLS. He’s also recorded six assists in 33 appearances bringing his goal contributions count to 24 during the 2022 season.
He topped MLS’ 22 Under 22 list earlier this year, was named to the 2022 MLS All-Star Team and earned MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week honors on four occasions. Ferreira is currently tied for third in FC Dallas’ all-time scoring leaders with 36 goals in 114 games, surpassing his father’s record of 24 goals in 113 games, and cementing his own name in FC Dallas history.
MLS announced all the finalists for the 2022 MLS Year-End Awards, honoring the league’s top performers on and off the field during the MLS regular season. Among the finalists for the 15 awards are individuals representing 14 MLS clubs, with the winners set to be announced throughout the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.Â
The 2022 MLS Year-End Awards finalists earned the most votes in polling of following three voting groups:
- Current MLS players
- MLS clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors/General Managers)Â
- Select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2022 MLS regular season
The AT&T MLS Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate will be decided by online voting at MLSsoccer.com from Wednesday, Oct. 12 (12 p.m. ET) to Friday, Oct. 14 (5 p.m. ET).
The MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year award recipients will be announced on Friday, Oct. 14, and the MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire will be revealed on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
2022 Major League Soccer Year-End Awards Finalists
Note: Finalists are listed in alphabetical order by last name
Landon Donovan MLS MVP (Bios)
- Arango, Cristian ‘Chicho’ (LAFC)
- Blake, Andre (PHI)
- Driussi, Sebastián (ATX)
- Mukhtar, Hany (NSH)
- Hernández, Javier ‘Chicharito’ (LA)
MLS Young Player of the Year
- Almada, Thiago (ATL)
- Brenner (CIN)
- Ferreira, Jesús (DAL)
MLS Defender of the Year
- Callens, Alexander (NYC)
- Glesnes, Jakob (PHI)
- Wagner, Kai (PHI)
Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
- Blake, Andre (PHI)
- Callender, Drake (MIA)
- Petrovic, Djordje (NE)
MLS Newcomer of the Year
- Almada, Thiago (ATL)
- Hernández, Juan ‘Cucho’ (CLB)
- Petrovic, Djordje (NE)
MLS Comeback Player of the Year (Bios)
- Ebobisse, Jeremy (SJ)
- HiguaÃn, Gonzalo (MIA)
- Kamara, Kei (MTL)
Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year (Bios)
- Cherundolo, Steve (LAFC)
- Curtin, Jim (PHI)
- Nancy, Wilfried (MTL)
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year (Bios)
- Bedoya, Alejandro (PHI)
- Kamara, Kei (MTL)
- Stuver, Brad (ATX)
MLS Referee of the Year
- Chapman, Allen
- Elfath, Ismail
- Villarreal, Armando
MLS Assistant Referee of the Year
- Anderson, Ian
- Elliott, Chris
- Rockwell, Corey
