FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Defender Chris Richards was voted the U.S. Soccer Federation Male Participant of the Yr for the primary time on Wednesday.
Richards performed in 12 U.S. matches in 2025, beginning 11 of them. The 25-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama, scored twice within the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
He additionally helped the Premier League’s Crystal Palace win its first FA Cup in 2025.
He’s the second straight defender to earn the award following Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, marking the primary time defenders received in consecutive years since Marcelo Balboa in 1994 and Alexi Lalas in 1995.
Richards obtained 48.6% of the weighted voting from U.S. coaches and gamers, former gamers, skilled league coaches and sporting administrators, directors, USSF administrators and athletes council members, media and followers. Midfielder Malik Tillman was second at 21.7% and Alex Freeman third at 13%.
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