SEATTLE, WASH. – Major League Soccer today announced the finalists for its 2023 Year-End Awards, with two Sounders FC players earning spots. Defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade gets the nod as a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year, with midfielder João Paulo being named a finalist for MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
Yeimar, 31, has been a staple in the backline of one of the most dominant defenses in MLS this season. The Colombian international started 32 of his 33 appearances this season, recording a league-best 73 interceptions, 12 more than the next closest player, while winning 56.8 percent of his duels. Yeimar anchored a defense that allowed only 32 goals during the regular season, tied for fewest in the league, and helped record 14 shoutouts this season, the best mark in MLS, allowing more than one goal in only nine matches. Yeimar’s previous league accolades include being named to the 2021 MLS All-Star roster and 2021 MLS Best XI.
João Paulo, 32, has seen a return to form in 2023 after missing a majority of last season. The Brazilian was sidelined for nearly all of 2022 after tearing his right ACL in the second leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final vs. Pumas UNAM on May 4. Returning to full health, in 2023 the midfielder started 30 of 31 regular-season matches for the Rave Green, tallying five assists, third-most on the team. Helping pull the strings of the offense, João Paulo completed 1,774 accurate passes this year, fourth in MLS, at an 88.3 percent clip. Also a standout in the defensive midfield, he won 318 duels in 2023, the most on the team, while recording 48 interceptions, second on the team behind Yeimar. João Paulo was also named a member of the MLS All-Star roster and MLS Best XI in 2021 following his second year with the club.
Finalists for MLS Year-End Awards were determined by votes from current MLS first-team players, coaches and CSOs of all MLS clubs and select media members. The winners of the various awards will be announced throughout the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Following a 2-0 win over St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday to end the regular season, Seattle Sounders FC takes on FC Dallas in Round One of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. A best-of-three series, the Rave Green host the opening match this Monday, October 30 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (6:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV – Watch Free, FS1, 950 KJR AM, SiriusXM FC 157, El Rey 1360 AM).
