2022 MLS Predictions: Individual Awards

Defender of the Year: Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Seattle Sounders

This award typically goes to the best centerback on the best defensive team in the league, and Seattle will be elite defensively in a Shield winning campaign. The Colombian will upset Walker Zimmerman to take home individual honors.

Honorable Mention: Walker Zimmerman, Nashville SC

Young Player of the Year: Facundo Torres, Orlando City

An Orlando City player is winning an award this season, I can feel it. Maybe I'm a delusional fan, but it's going to happen. Torres looks so explosive and dynamic with the ball at his feet and will have so much to work with in Orlando. I think he'll be a finalist for Newcomer of the Year and take home Young Player of the Year in his first MLS season.

Honorable Mention: Julian Araujo, LA Galaxy

Golden Boot: Josef Martinez, Atlanta United

The Venezuelan superstar is finally fully healthy again, according to preseason reports, and if he can combine health with an improved Atlanta attack, he's getting 20+ goals. Nobody in Major League Soccer history has been better at putting the ball in the back of the net than Martinez, and if Atlanta are as good as I think they will be, Martinez leads the way.

Honorable Mention: Raul Ruidiaz, Seattle Sounders

Landon Donovan MLS MVP: Josef Martinez, Atlanta United

I'm gonna be honest, I have literally no idea who's going to win MVP. There are literally dozens of strong candidates, but it's hard for me to say there's a clear front runner. So I'll pick the Venezuelan to recapture his 2018 form and grab the Golden Boot/MVP double yet again. He's not even the only Atlanta player who could win MVP, that's how deep the group of candidates is.

Honorable Mention: Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC