U.S. Soccer Announces Winners of 2025 Extended National Teams Player of the Year Awards

U.S. SOCCER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2025 EXTENDED NATIONAL TEAMS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Riley Johnson Wins Third Straight Power Soccer Player of the Year Honor;

Sydney Andrews and Chris Bourdon Earn Second Deaf Player of the Year Awards;

Five ENT Athletes Claim First Player of the Year Honors

ATLANTA (January 14, 2025) – As part of U.S. Soccer’s continued efforts to celebrate the game in all its forms and promote inclusivity and accessibility for all, the Federation today announced the eight winners of the Extended National Teams’ 2025 Player of the Year awards.

The 2025 Extended National Team Player of the Year winners are:

• Jeané Sunseri-Warp (San Jose, Calif.) - Female Beach Soccer Player of the Year

• Ricardo Carvalho (Milwaukee, Wisc.) - Male Beach Soccer Player of the Year

• Sarah Martin (Bowie, Md.) – Female Futsal Player of the Year

• Jesslyn Kuhnel (Panama City, Fla.) - Female Cerebral Palsy Player of the Year

• Ben Lindau (Chicago, Ill.) - Male Cerebral Palsy Player of the Year

• Sydney Andrews (Wichita, Kan.) - Female Deaf Player of the Year

• Chris Bourdon (San Diego, Calif.) - Male Deaf Player of the Year

• Riley Johnson (St. Cloud, Minn.) - Power Soccer Player of the Year

Five of the eight Players of the Year are first-time winners, with the Power Soccer NT’s Riley Johnson winning for a third straight year, Sydney Andrews of the Deaf WNT winning for a second-consecutive year and Chris Bourdon of the Deaf MNT winning for the second time in three years.

• READ MORE: Previous ENT Player of the Year Winners

“The year 2025 was the most successful to date for the Extended National Teams, and that success speaks to the strength of the culture across our programs,” said Stuart Sharp, Head of Technical for U.S. Soccer’s Extended National Teams. “It reflects players, coaches and staff working together with shared standards that are centered around the athlete, while coming together as a strong collective team. Within that collective success, it’s important to recognize individuals whose performances and commitment stood out. I’m proud of the efforts of these deserving award winners and the role they played in such a successful year.”

The 2025 Extended National Teams Player of the Year winners were determined via a weighted vote that took place from December 8-19. Votes were weighted as follows:

• 45 percent - Athletes that earned a cap for their respective national team during 2025

• 20 percent - ENT athletes that earned a cap in 2025 voting for other categories

• 20 percent - Coaches, Support Staff, U.S. Soccer Athlete Council and Board of Directors

• 15 percent - Fan vote via ussoccer.com

Jeané Sunseri-Warp – Female Beach Soccer Player of the Year

One of the original players on the first U.S. Women’s Beach Soccer National Team when it launched in 2019, Jeané Sunseri-Warp claims Female Beach Soccer Player of the Year for the first time.

The lone player to appear in all 33 Beach WNT matches, Sunseri-Warp continued to bring a strong veteran presence in 2025. Captaining the side in all three matches at the El Salvador Beach Soccer Cup, the 43-year-old tallied two goals and an assist and also showed her versatility by playing goalkeeper in the 2-2 draw against Switzerland, making two big saves in extra time to force a shootout before putting home her penalty kick in the tie-breaker. She went on to set up three goals and score one of her own in the 7-1 win against Costa Rica the following day, before tallying another in a 3-2 defeat to El Salvador in the tournament finale. At club level, Sunseri-Warp represented Cali Beach Soccer Club at September’s Women’s World Winners Cup in Sicily, playing four matches.  

"I am so humbled and blown away by this honor, but for me, I know it really represents the collective grind our team puts in when no one is watching, not to mention the endless amounts of sand I’ve had to shake out of my hair since 2019,” Sunseri-Warp said. “Beyond this award, I play because I want to continue to help grow Beach Soccer in the U.S. and keep this pathway strong so the generations following after us have every opportunity to thrive on the sand. I’m so grateful to U.S. Soccer for the opportunity to represent the crest and grow into the athlete I’ve become on the sand. I truly wouldn’t be receiving this without my teammates, coaches and staff who have been the backbone of this journey. Most importantly, thank you to my husband for being my rock since my very first call-up, and to my family for supporting me every time I leave to go compete. This award belongs to all of us.

"The third different player to win Female Beach Soccer Player of the Year since its establishment in 2021, Sunseri-Warp earned 44.8 percent of the weighted vote.

Ricardo Carvalho – Male Beach Soccer Player of the Year

In his third year with the Beach MNT, Ricardo Carvalho was one of the team’s top performers at the 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship where he recorded three goals and one assist in five matches. Carvalho scored the first two goals, including the game-winner in the crucial 5-1 victory against Panama to ensure advancement from the group stage. He then popped up with another goal and assist in the 6-2 win over Bahamas in the Third-Place Match. Carvalho competes for the Milwaukee Wave in the Major Arena Soccer League, where he recorded 13 goals and 14 assists in 18 matches during the 2024-25 season. 

"No words can describe how I’m feeling right now. I’m just truly honored to receive this award,” Carvalho said. “After being away from beach soccer for over 10 years, I worked extremely hard to return to the same level as my teammates and to represent our flag at the highest level. I am deeply thankful and grateful for the unwavering support of my family, friends and coaching staff. This recognition motivates me even more to keep playing and pushing forward."

Carvalho is the fourth player to earn Male Beach Soccer Player of the Year since its establishment in 2021 and won the award with 53 percent of the weighted vote.

Sarah Martin – Female Futsal Player of the Year

Sarah Martin started all six matches and led the team with seven goals and 10 overall goal contributions in 2025. Involved in goals in five of the team’s six games, Martin registered an assist in the Futsal WNT’s inaugural match, a 2-0 win against Costa Rica on Feb. 25. Two days later, she scored her first goal and added two assists in the 5-0 win against Las Ticas before scoring one of the U.S. goals in the 2-2 draw to close the friendly series on March 1. Martin scored the first hat trick in Futsal WNT history, tallying the first two goals and the sixth in the USA’s 7-0 win against Honduras to open the Concacaf W Futsal Championship on April 29. Martin then recorded a brace the following day in the 2-2 draw against Costa Rica. Martin also played nine matches, tallying a goal and two assists for Annapolis Blues in USL W League play.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition and grateful for the opportunity to represent the United States through Futsal,” Martin said. “This award is a reflection of the amazing teammates, coaches, and staff who push me every day to be better on and off the court. Without them, none of this would be possible. I am also thankful for my family and friends for their constant support along the way. Being part of this program is a dream come true, and I am excited to keep building with this group.”

Coinciding with the Futsal WNT’s first international matches in 2025, Martin is the first winner of the Female Futsal Player of the Year and won the honor with 41.7 percent of the weighted vote.

U.S. Soccer did not award a Male Futsal Player of the Year as the team did not have programming in 2025.

Jesslyn Kuhnel – Female Cerebral Palsy Player of the Year

Fiercely competitive and driven to succeed, Jesslyn Kuhnel led the CP WNT with 12 goals and won the Golden Boot award at the 2025 Intercontinental Cup in England. Finding the back of the net in all five matches, Kuhnel recorded three hat tricks along the way, coming in the 9-0 win against Denmark, 5-0 win against Australia in the group finale and 7-1 win against Australia in the tournament final. Kuhnel also add four assists during the tournament, including two against the Netherlands on Matchday Three. Along with leading the team in scoring, Kuhnel also led the side with 16 overall goal contributions (12 goals, 4 assists) in 2025. 

“The year 2025 was a hard one for me, so to receive this award is a huge honor,” Kuhnel said. “This sport and this team have been alongside me through everything.  It is a privilege to be part of this amazing team and organization and I’m excited to see it grow and expand. I’d like to thank my family, friends, teammates, coaches and trainers for supporting me through everything and making my dreams become a reality. And a special thank you to my horse, Takedown, for teaching me how to be confident even when the future is uncertain.”

The third individual to claim Female CP Player of the Year since its launch in 2022, Kuhnel won the honor with 62.6 percent of the weighted vote.

Ben Lindau – Male CP Player of the Year

A member of the CP MNT since 2017, Ben Lindau started six of seven matches, registering three goals and five assists and captained the team in four games. The midfielder played 357 minutes, finishing second among all field players. Lindau wore the captain’s armband, providing a solid veteran presence in two of the three friendlies against Colombia – the 2-1 win on Aug. 10 and 4-2 victory on Aug. 14. He also captained the side in the Copa America opener against Uruguay, where he tallied two goals and four assists in the 15-0 win on Oct. 11. After playing the full 60 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Argentina in the group finale, Lindau again captained the USA in the semifinal, tallying what would stand as the game-winner in the third minute, before providing an assist to Adam Ballou to cap the 6-0 win in the 54^th. The Chicago native then started and went the distance in the 4-1 win against Argentina to claim the 2025 IFCPF Copa America crown.  

“I am honored to have been selected as Male CP Player of the Year,” Lindau said. “Getting to represent my country, especially with the group of athletes I have done it with, has been the greatest privilege of my life. While this is an individual award, I would like to recognize the entire U.S. Men’s CP National Team for our history-making year and know that this is the first of many trophies for our group. I would like to thank my family, especially my dad and brother Jonah for trekking to Uruguay to see us win, my fiancée Isabel, for her continued support of my dreams, my teammates who have made this all possible, coach Stuart Sharp and his staff for their continued commitment to this program, my co-workers at North Bridge who have been extremely gracious with my training and competition, and finally to my friends and fans who voted. Thank you all.”

The fourth different player to win Male CP Player of the Year since its establishment in 2022, Lindau claimed the award with 70.2 percent of the weighted vote.

Sydney Andrews – Female Deaf Player of the Year

Sydney Andrews capped an incredible 13-year career with the Deaf WNT with her third Deaflympics gold medal. The veteran defender was one of three players to appear in every minute of the USA’s four matches in Japan, working to ensure four shutouts, while also contributing two goals to the Deaf WNT’s eighth overall world title. Along with her defensive prowess, Andrews headed home the second goal in the USA’s 5-0 win against Japan in the tournament opener on Nov. 15. She followed that with her second of the tournament in the 14-0 win against Great Britain to close out group play on Nov. 23. Andrews finished her international career with three goals and one assist in 34 matches, winning three Deaflympics (2013, 2022, 2025) and three DIFA World Deaf Football Championship titles (2012, 2016, 2023). 

“What a gift it has been to play alongside a group of individuals who are each deeply deserving of this award,” Andrews said. “My teammates continue to show me just the kind of person I strive to be - moving through a world not designed for them, yet doing so with grace, compassion and humility. The power of sport lies in its ability to unify people while creating a space of belonging and inclusion. EVERYONE deserves the opportunity to play, to feel seen and valued, and to feel what it means to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I am honored, grateful and genuinely moved. Thank you to my teammates, coaches, friends and family. What a wild, beautiful ride it’s been!”

Andrews is the first two-time winner of the Female Deaf Player of the Year since the award’s establishment in 2023 and earned the honor with 34.3 percent of the weighted vote.

Chris Bourdon – Male Deaf Player of the Year

An essential part of the team’s success each of the last three years, Chris Bourdon appeared in six of seven matches, recording one goal and two assists. Having added a defensive element to his game while embracing the role of playmaker, Bourdon’s contributions were particularly evident in the team’s Deaflympics sendoff match – a 3-1 win against Germany on Oct. 26 in East Hartford, Conn., with his excellent pace and dribbling skills accounting for assists to Samson Abraham and Michael Schmid on the team’s first two goals, leading to the Deaf MNT’s first win against Germany. At the Deaflympics, Bourdon continued to create danger in each match and scored the vital opening goal in the 2-1 quarterfinal win against Brazil to push the USA into its first-ever Deaflympics semifinal.

“I’m truly honored to be selected as U.S. Soccer’s 2025 Male Deaf Player of the Year,” Bourdon said. “This award means so much to me as it reflects not only my hard work, but also the support of my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has helped me grow on and off the field to get to where I am. I’m beyond grateful and proud to get the opportunity to represent the Deaf community, and I’m excited to continue pushing the game forward.”

Bourdon is the first two-time winner of the Male Deaf Player of the Year award since its establishment in 2023, claiming 42.4 percent of the weighted vote.

Riley Johnson – Power Soccer Player of the Year

The only player to start all nine matches, Riley Johnson continued as a dominant force with the Power Soccer National Team in 2025. The St. Cloud, Minn. native led the side with eight goals, including seven during the 2025 APFC America’s Cup where he won the Golden Guard as the tournament’s top scorer. He also added three assists. Co-captaining the side with Jordan Dickey, Johnson’s contributions were felt through every match. While he had goal involvements in eight of the team’s nine contests, he was particularly clutch when the team needed him the most. The veteran center struck the game-winning goal in the 1-0 win against Argentina during the America’s Cup group stage on Nov. 17. Two days later, Johnson coolly slotted home a stoppage-time penalty kick for the game’s only goal in the 1-0 semifinal win against Brazil, qualifying the team for the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup as well as a place in the America’s Cup Final. Later that day, Johnson powered home an indirect free kick from Pete Winslow for the only goal in the 1-0 win against Argentina to claim the USA’s third consecutive confederation championship.  

"I am proud of this accomplishment, but my proudest accomplishment from the past year is helping the Power Soccer National Team qualify for the 2026 World Cup and ultimately taking home Gold at the America’s Cup for a third time,” Johnson said. Proud tears were on my face the moment we qualified because I got to do it with a squad I love, and because it gets us one step closer to our ultimate goal - winning a third World Cup this year in Argentina. Thank you to my teammates, the coaching and admin staff, friends and family for your support.”

Johnson claimed 63.5 percent of the weighted vote and is the only winner of the Power Soccer Player of the Year award since its establishment in 2023.

About the U.S. Soccer Federation 

Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official governing body of the sport in the United States. Our vision is clear; we exist in service to soccer. Our ambition, working across the soccer ecosystem, is to ignite a national passion for the game.  We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good.  We are focused in three areas:  Soccer Everywhere, ensuring everyone, everywhere experiences the joy of soccer; Soccer Success, our 27 National Teams and pro leagues winning on the world stage; and Soccer Investment, maximizing and diversifying investments to sustainably grow the game at all levels.  For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.