Yunus Musah has been named the 2022 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year after completing off one of the most prolific seasons in USMNT history. Before he turned 20 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the midfielder played the most minutes and started the most games of any young player in team history. He was a key part of the USA’s winning run in Qatar.
“It feels crazy to think out of all people that I was the one chosen to be the Young Male Player of the Year,” Musah said. “To get this award is really huge. I’ve said it many times – I’ve had the trust from the manager, the team, the U.S. to play so many games at this young age. It shows me that I just have to carry on the way I’m doing, keep being humble and keep working hard to try and be more. As a player, you just want to keep improving.”
The United States’ midfield was a vital factor in the team’s World Cup win, as Musah started all four games in Qatar with captain Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie. The Valencia midfielder became the youngest youngster to start a World Cup match for the United States, as well as the first to feature in several matches, as he played 345 minutes out of a potential 360.
Musah’s 1578 minutes played and 20 starts established new marks for a youngster with the USMNT before his 20th birthday on Nov. 29, the day of the USA’s knockout round-clinching victory vs. IR Iran at the World Cup, while his 21 caps equaled the previous mark set by Jozy Altidore and Christian Pulisic.
“To the fans from when they started the ‘Can’t spell Musah without USA thing’, through qualifiers and the World Cup, I feel like the fans have been behind me for so long – since before I even did anything in football,” Musah said. “As we went on playing games and they enjoyed the way I was playing and everything – I’d just like to say thank you for their unbelievable support and their trust since day one. The fans of the USMNT are great and I love them.”
