Pat McAfee Surprises USMNT Star With U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year Award

Only 28 players in USMNT history have taken home the prestigious prize.

Pat McAfee interviewed Chris Richards on Wednesday afternoon. | David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

U.S. men’s national team defender Chris Richards got the surprise of a lifetime on Wednesday afternoon when he was named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year on The Pat McAfee Show.

The 25-year-old, who put together a spectacular year for the Stars and Stripes under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, took home the award for the first time in his career. Richards now joins a long list of American stars, including Christian Pulisic, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard, to receive the honor.

The Crystal Palace standout started 11 games for the USMNT in 2025, and played nearly every second of the team’s Gold Cup campaign last summer. In addition to his defensive duties, Richards found the back of the net twice in the competition, scoring against Saudi Arabia and then against Mexico in the final, a game El Tri ultimately won 2–1.

Six months after the disappointing runners-up finish, Richards appeared on The Pat McAfee Show for what he believed to be a standard interview. The center back then learned he beat out the likes of Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Matt Freese and Malik Tillman to be crowned the 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year.

CHRIS RICHARDS...

YOU HAVE BEEN NAMED THE @USMNT PLAYER OF THE YEAR 👏

"This means the world to me and I couldn't be more excited for the World Cup" ~ @eastmamba #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/vqvJv2YGje

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 14, 2026

After expressing his gratitude on the show, Richards further expanded on his feelings and his excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unfolding largely on home soil.

“It means a lot to me to join a very prestigious list of players,” Richards said, via U.S. Soccer. “This has been a big year, and we have an even bigger year coming up. This shows how well we’ve done as a team and the momentum we are building towards the World Cup.

"It was cool for [McAfee] to announce this on his show and to give a shoutout,” Richards added. “It just shows how much the game is growing in the U.S., how much respect there is for the sport and how much the excitement is building for the World Cup this summer.”

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U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year: Every Winner This Century

Christian Pulisic took home the honor four times. | obin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Year	Male Player of the Year
2025	Chris Richards
2024	Antonee Robinson
2023	Christian Pulisic
2022	Tyler Adams
2021	Christian Pulisic
2020	Weston McKennie
2019	Christian Pulisic
2018	Zack Steffen
2017	Christian Pulisic
2016	Jozy Altidore
2015	Michael Bradley
2014	Tim Howard
2013	Jozy Altidore
2012	Clint Dempsey
2011	Clint Dempsey
2010	Landon Donovan
2009	Landon Donovan
2008	Tim Howard
2007	Clint Dempsey
2006	Oguchi Onyewu
2005	Kasey Keller
2004	Landon Donovan
2003	Landon Donovan
2002	Brad Friedel
2001	Earnie Stewart
2000	Chris Armas

Christian Pulisic and Landon Donovan have each been named the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year four times, holding the joint-record. USMNT legend Clint Dempsey is right behind them with three honors of his own.

Richards might only be a first-time winner, but he made some history off the back of Antonee Robinson’s win last year. Defenders have now won the award in back-to-back years for the first time since Marcelo Balboa and Alexi Lalas did so in 1994 and 1995.

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