Two FC Cincinnati players, Evander and Nick Hagglund, are finalists for Major League Soccer year-end awards.
Evander is a finalist for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award after a season with 33 goal contributions.
Nick Hagglund is a finalist for MLS Comeback Player of the Year following his return from multiple serious injuries.
Other FC Cincinnati players are nominated for Goal of the Year and Save of the Year, which are decided by fan voting.
Ahead of FC Cincinnati’s series against the Columbus Crew to start the Major League Soccer playoffs, several Cincinnati players are finalists for season-ending awards.
Major League Soccer announced the finalists for the 2025 MLS Year-End Awards, honoring the league’s top performers during the MLS regular season. Evander (Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player) and Nick Hagglund (MLS Comeback Player of the Year) are among the finalists announced Oct. 23.
The finalists for the annual awards earned the highest average votes from MLS club technical staff, MLS first-team players, and select media members, with each group accounting for 33.3 percent of the overall results. The winners will be announced throughout the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Evander is one of five players vying for MLS MVP (Denis Bouanga, LAFC; Anders Dreyer, San Diego FC; Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF; Sam Surridge, Nashville SC). Evander is aiming to be FC Cincinnati’s second MLS MVP in three seasons (Luciano Acosta, 2023).
The Brazilian was sensational in his first season in Cincinnati. His 33 goal contributions (18 goals, 15 assists) were third most in MLS and his 12 games with multiple goal contributions were second in the league. He was named captain of the MLS All-Star Team over the summer and broke FC Cincinnati’s single-season club record for goals in a season (22 entering the playoffs).
Evander was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday a club-record 12 times, including this week after he had a goal in Cincy’s 3-0 win over Montreal Oct. 18.
Hagglund is one of three finalists up for MLS Comeback Player of the Year (Lawrence Ennali, Houston Dynamo FC; Richie Laryea, Toronto FC). No FCC player has won the award previously in club history.
On June 22, 2024, Hagglund suffered a severe leg injury as he slid to make a tackle in a game against the New England Revolution. He suffered a fractured fibula, torn ligaments and tendons, and significant cartilage damage in his ankle. After undergoing a successful surgery on July 1, he began a rehab process of more than eight months. It was his third season-ending injury in the prior four seasons.
He returned to the pitch on March 22, 2025, against Atlanta United FC. Hagglund made 10 appearances before suffering two fractured ribs and a collapsed lung in May. Despite another injury, Hagglund once again returned to the field in August and became a mainstay on the backline over the final two months of the season, making seven starts in eight appearances.
He appeared in four clean-sheet performances for FC Cincinnati, and on Decision Day against CF Montréal, he recorded his first-career MLS game with a goal and an assist. His goal was his first since Aug. 26, 2023, vs. NYCFC and his assist marked his first since Oct. 9, 2022, at D.C. United.
FC Cincinnati players nominated for goal and save of the year
FC Cincinnati also has nominations for the MLS AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year, decided by online voting at MLSsoccer.com. Voting opened on Monday, Oct. 20, and will close on Friday, Oct. 24, with winners announced on Monday, Oct. 27.
Kévin Denkey is nominated for Goal of the Year for his bicycle kick score in a 2-1 win over Kansas City April 26. Evander is nominated for a 25-yard laser to the far post against Columbus July 12 in a 4-2 loss.
Cincy has won the goal of the year vote two years running. Lucho Acosta won for a solo run from midfield in 2023, and Luca Orellano won in 2024 for his 79-yard goal on a free kick.
Roman Celentano is nominated for Save of the Year for a back-to-back double save from close range in a 2-1 win at Nashville March 29.
2025 FC Cincinnati MLS Team of the Matchday Player Recognitions
This week’s selection for Evander marked the 33rd recognition of an FC Cincinnati player or coach on the MLS Team of the Matchday this season. A full list: