Gio Reyna Wins 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year Award

CHICAGO (Dec. 22, 2020) — Gio Reyna has been voted 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year.

 

Following an impressive career in the U.S. Youth National Team program, Reyna made a major leap to the next level for both club and country in 2020. The forward made his much-anticipated debut for the U.S. Men’s National Team on Nov. 12 vs. Wales. In that match, he and midfielder Yunus Musah became the 12th and 13th players to earn their first cap before the age of 18.

 

Just four days later, he became the third-youngest goal scorer in USMNT history when he opened the scoring for the USA in its 6-2 victory against Panama in Austria on a free kick.

 

Here it is! At 18 years, 3 days, Gio Reyna becomes the third youngest goal scorer in USMNT history! 👏🇺🇸#USAvPAN pic.twitter.com/eadp1tNsWD

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) November 16, 2020

 

While November marked his first call-up to the full USMNT, Reyna was a part of head coach Gregg Berhalter’s plans for the USA’s canceled March training camp after breaking through for the Borussia Dortmund first team in early 2020. After making his Bundesliga debut on Jan. 18 at Augsburg, he has made 39 appearances in 2020 across all competitions, tallying five goals and seven assists.

 

Reyna really started to turn heads in his first DFB-Pokal appearance. Facing Werder Bremen on Feb. 4, Reyna unleashed this rocket of a shot for his first professional goal.

 

Take a bow, @Gioreyna10!

The 🇺🇸 attacker scores a memorable first goal for the @BlackYellow first team in @DFBPokal_EN play!

pic.twitter.com/ls2Nhk0eSj

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) February 4, 2020

 

A few weeks later, he made his UEFA Champions League debut against Paris-Saint Germain on Feb. 18, contributing to both of Dortmund’s goals in a 2-1 victory. The young forward begun to make regular substitute appearances for Dortmund when the soccer world was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March. He picked up where he left off when the Bundesliga restarted in May, appearing in seven of nine games to close out the season.

 

During the 2020-21 season, Reyna has made the jump from regular appearances to regular starts for Dortmund. He’s played in all 13 league games for the Black and Yellow this fall, starting 10 while adding three goals and four assists. Reyna has also made his mark in the Champions League, where he’s started four games and appeared in all six of Dortmund’s matches.

 

 

Reyna wins the 2020 Young Player of the Year award following previous nominations in 2018 and 2019 for his leading role with the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team during its 2018-19 cycle. Before joining Dortmund, he played for New York City FC in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, earning 2018 East Conference Player of the Year honors and helping his team to the U-18/19 Academy Championship.

 

Votes for U.S. Soccer Player of the Year awards are collected from respective National Team coaches, National Team players who have earned a cap in 2020, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, National Women’s Soccer League head coaches (for the USWNT awards) and American soccer league (MLS and USL) head coaches (for the USMNT awards), select media members and former players and administrators.