2024-01-19 05:13:50
Chicago (AFP)
American Christian Pulisic, the Italian Milan striker, was chosen as the best player in his country for the year 2023, for the fourth time in his career, equaling the record for the number of wins, according to what the American Football Association announced.
The 25-year-old previously won the award in 2017, 2019 and 2021, making him equal to former international star Landon Donovan (41 years old), who won in 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010.
Pulisic received 53 percent of the total votes, ahead of his Milan teammate Younes Moussa (21.5 percent), and Dutch PSV Eindhoven player Ricardo Pepe (12.9) in second and third places, respectively.
“If you are on par with Landon in anything related to the national team, you are doing something right,” Pulisic said following equaling the record.
He added, praising Donovan, “He is a legend. I have always looked up to him, so I am grateful that my name is with him. I hope that I will continue to win the award and I hope that it will not be the last.”
Pulisic became the youngest player to win the award three or more times, following being preceded by Clint Dempsey (2007, 2011 and 2012), goalkeeper Casey Keller (1997, 1999 and 2005) and Donovan.
Pulisic continued, “It is a great honor to win this award once more, for the fourth time.”
He added, “It was a great season for me. I always enjoy playing with the national team, of course, coming to Milan. It was a really exciting year. I enjoyed it very much, so I’m really grateful to win the award.”
Pulisic excelled with his country’s national team last year, scoring six goals and passing three decisive balls, and led them to win the CONCACAF Nations League competition (North, Central America and the Caribbean) for the second time in a row, where he was also chosen as the best player in the tournament, and he also has 28 international goals to his credit.
The American striker moved last July from Chelsea to Milan for $20 million, and in the first part of the 2023-2024 season he succeeded in scoring six goals with three assists in 13 matches in the Italian League.
He also competed in the Champions League with the Rossoneri, and his name was recorded as the American player with the most goals in the main continental competition, when he opened the scoring in the victory over Newcastle of England 2-1 in the final round, raising his total goals to eight.
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