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Jeff CarlisleJan 14, 2026, 01:14 PM ET<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC.<\/p>\n Crystal Palace<\/a> and United States<\/a> defender Chris Richards<\/a> has been voted the 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, the federation announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n Richards beat out Columbus Crew<\/a> defender Max Arfsten<\/a>, Orlando City<\/a> defender defender Alex Freeman<\/a>, New York City FC<\/a> goalkeeper Matt Freese<\/a> and Bayer Leverkusen<\/a> midfielder Malik Tillman<\/a>, with 48.6% of the weighted vote followed by Tillman (21.7%) and Freeman (13%).<\/p>\n – Norwich: USMNT’s Sargent sat out, won’t be leaving<\/a> Richards was surprised with the news during an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show,” which aired on ESPN Wednesday.<\/p>\n “It means the world to me,” Richards, who is set to be a key player for the USMNT at this year’s World Cup on home soil, told McAfee. “People are going to say it’s a lot of pressure but pressure builds diamonds. With this team, with this country, we’re Americans — we like to win, we like to scrap, we like to fight.<\/p>\n “That’s what we’re going to do in the summer and hopefully by the end of it we’re holding a big trophy.”<\/p>\n In addition to fan voting, votes for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year are collected from national team coaches, USMNT players who earned a cap in 2025, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, professional league head coaches and sporting directors, select media members and former players and administrators.<\/p>\n Richards enjoyed a stellar 2025 for both club and country.<\/p>\n The Birmingham, Alabama, native played in 12 matches for the USMNT, totaling 1,004 minutes — the most of his international career. He scored two goals, including one in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup<\/a> final, in which Mexico<\/a> prevailed, 2-1. He was also named to the tournament’s Best XI.<\/p>\n Richards enjoyed similar success at club level, making 32 appearances in all competitions, and helping Palace win the 2025 FA Cup with a 1-0 win against Manchester City<\/a>, as well as the 2025 Community Shield via a penalty shootout against Liverpool<\/a>. Those were the first major trophies won by the club in its 120-year history.<\/p>\n
– USMNT’s Pepi suffers broken arm scoring for PSV<\/a><\/p>\nChris Richards excelled for the USMNT and Crystal Palace in 2025.\u00a0Shaun Clark\/Getty Images<\/p>\n