Richards Names Player of the Year

Defender Wins U.S. Soccer Award After Stellar Year

Chris Richards has been named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, capping an exceptional season for both club and country. The Crystal Palace defender secured the honor with nearly half of the weighted vote (48.6%), outdistancing fellow nominees including midfielder Malik Tillman and defenders Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman.

The Birmingham, Alabama native enjoyed a breakout year internationally, appearing in 12 matches for the U.S. Men's National Team—the most appearances and minutes (1,005) in a calendar year. Richards proved instrumental during the team's Gold Cup campaign, starting all six matches en route to the final against Mexico. His stellar tournament performance included two goals, highlighted by the opening strike in the championship match. Though the U.S. ultimately fell 2-1 to Mexico, Richards earned recognition on the tournament's Best XI.

Richards becomes just the second defender in consecutive years to claim this prestigious award, following Antonee Robinson's 2024 triumph. This marks the first time since the mid-1990s that defenders have won back-to-back honors, when Marcelo Balboa and Alexi Lalas accomplished the feat.

The 25-year-old's club success proved equally impressive. Richards established himself as an indispensable part of Crystal Palace's defense, helping the club achieve historic milestones. He played every minute during Palace's FA Cup campaign, which culminated in a stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the final—delivering the club's first-ever FA Cup trophy. Richards continued his winning ways into the new season, going the distance as Palace defeated Liverpool on penalties to capture the Community Shield.

Learning of his selection live on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show," Richards expressed gratitude while looking ahead to the upcoming World Cup on home soil. "People are going to say it's a lot of pressure but pressure builds diamonds," he noted, adding that the team aims to be "holding a big trophy" by summer's end. His performances have certainly positioned him as a cornerstone of those World Cup ambitions.