Alex Morgan is 2017 CONCACAF player of the year

Alex Morgan has been voted CONCACAF 2017 player of the year. Voting was done by three different groups: national team head coaches and captains from CONCACAF member associations, media members registered in CONCACAF’s database, and fans. This is the third time Morgan has won the award, after wins in 2016 and 2013.

Morgan was on a list of 10 nominees that heavily featured Americans, primarily in NWSL.

Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride, USA)
Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City, USA)
Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash/Manchester City, USA)
Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns, CAN)
Jessie Fleming (UCLA, CAN)
Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars, USA)
Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign, USA)
Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC, AUS)
Sam Mewis (North Carolina Courage, USA)
Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns, USA)

This was a great year for Alex Morgan, who seemed to find a groove overseas with Olympique Lyonnais before returning to the Orlando Pride and promptly going on a tear with Marta at her side. Although she had 12 goals in 15 games for Lyon across the league, French Cup, and Champions League, performances eligible for consideration are those in CONCACAF-sanctioned NT competitions and performances for clubs in CONCACAF Member Associations, in her case NWSL. She scored seven goals with two assists in 14 games for the US women’s national team and picked up nine goals and four assists in 13 games for the Pride. Morgan and Marta were Orlando’s hammer and tongs, sending them to the playoffs after a third-place finish in the league standings - a huge reversal from ninth place in 2016.

There’s an argument here for Sam Kerr, who had the kind of 2017 that soccer fans may not see repeated for years to come. But Kerr might be the first to point out that despite her transcendent play, Sky Blue FC still finished sixth overall, which could have factored into voting. Voters also couldn’t take into account Kerr’s NT games, even though she shone blindingly bright for Australia this year.

It’s honestly a relief to see Alex Morgan balling out after she seemed to struggle on and off with injury, not quite looking 100% for long periods of time. But her 2017 was quintessential Alex Morgan: lots of clutch goals at seemingly impossible angles. Now Morgan looks to be healthy and raring to go heading into 2018 and will no doubt look to score some impact goals in the SheBelieves Cup and the Tournament of Nations leading into CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.