In a year filled with milestones for American soccer, one man stood above the rest. Antonee Robinson, the 27-year-old Fulham FC and U.S. men’s national team defender, has been named the 2024 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year after a stellar campaign for both club and country.
The dynamic left back earned a whopping 55% of the weighted vote, outpacing a star-studded field that included AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun, PSV Eindhoven forward Ricardo Pepi, AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic, and Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream. Robinson’s margin of victory spoke volumes about his impact on the pitch in 2024.
A Premier League Revelation
Robinson took his game to new heights in his third season with Fulham, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s elite outside backs. He started 37 matches across all competitions for the Cottagers in the calendar year, racking up an eye-popping 10 assists – tops among all defenders in the league.
His marauding runs down the left flank and pinpoint crosses became a hallmark of Fulham’s attack, as he finished in the top 10 in assists among all Premier League players. Robinson’s two-way excellence earned him Fulham’s 2023-24 Player of the Year award, making him just the third American to claim that honor after Clint Dempsey and Kasey Keller.
Representing our country isn’t something you do for individual accolades. It’s always about putting the team first and trying to do my best for the boys and for the country, so to be rewarded for that is an amazing feeling.
Antonee Robinson on winning U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year
A Rock for the Red, White, and Blue
Robinson brought that same energy and quality to the U.S. men’s national team in a busy year that included Concacaf Nations League and friendly action. The veteran left back started all 11 matches for which he was healthy and available, anchoring a back line that kept four clean sheets on the year.
His most memorable moment in a USMNT shirt came in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica, where his inch-perfect cross set up the game’s only goal. Robinson’s consistency and leadership proved invaluable for a young American side looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Rare Air for a Rare Talent
By claiming the top individual honor in American soccer, Robinson etched his name in the annals of USMNT history. He became the first defender to win the award since Oguchi Onyewu in 2006 and just the third Fulham player to earn the distinction after Dempsey (2007, 2011, 2012) and Keller (1997, 1999, 2005).
At 27 years old and coming off the best season of his career, Robinson appears poised to be a foundational piece of the USMNT for years to come. His buccaneering style and tireless work rate have made him a fan favorite on both sides of the Atlantic, and his 2024 campaign suggests that the best may be yet to come for the livewire left back.
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching and Robinson in the form of his life, U.S. fans can expect to see plenty more from the newly minted Male Player of the Year as the Stars and Stripes prepare for their moment on the game’s grandest stage. If 2024 was any indication, Antonee Robinson will be leading the charge every step of the way.
