Major League Soccer on Monday released the ballots featuring the candidates eligible for each of the league's year-end awards, including the Landon Donovan MVP.
Players, media and technical staff will vote for each category, with each group representing a third of the vote. Those same voters will also submit their votes for the annual Best XI, open to any player who appeared in a 2018 MLS regular season match. Voting kicks off on Oct. 15 and award finalists will be announced on Oct. 31.
Sporting KC's representatives on the ballot are listed below. Among the club's nominees for the league MVP award are goalkeeper Tim Melia and forward Johnny Russell. Click here for the full list of league nominees in all award categories.
Melia has followed his MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Team MVP campaign of 2017 with another standout season between the posts, setting career highs in saves (98), shutouts (12) and wins (15). One of four finalists for Best MLS Player at the 2018 ESPYS, Melia leads the League with 12 clean sheets and two penalty kick saves this year. He set a club record with 10 saves in a 2-0 win at the LA Galaxy in April en route to earning MLS Player of the Week honors and he has moved into second on the club’s all-time goalkeeping charts for both career wins (49) and clean sheets (38) this season. Melia was named Sporting KC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year on Friday.
Russell, a Scottish winger who joined Sporting KC in January, leads the club in both goals and assists across all competitions with 11 each. He has amassed nine goals and nine assists in MLS, making him a candidate to become Kansas City’s fourth player ever to reach double-digits in both categories in a single season. The 28-year-old has spearheaded a potent Sporting KC side that has 56 league goals in 2018, third-most in team history. Russell, whose excellent form this year has prompted his return to the Scotland national team, was named Sporting KC's Offensive Player of the Year on Friday.
Landon Donovan MLS MVP nominees
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia
- Forward Johnny Russell
Defender of the Year nominees
- Defender Matt Besler
- Defender Graham Zusi
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year nominee
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia
Newcomer of the Year nominees
- Midfielder Felipe Gutierrez
- Forward Johnny Russell
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year nominee
- Defender Graham Zusi
AT&T Rookie of the Year nominee
- Defender Jaylin Lindsey
Comeback Player of the Year nominees
- Midfielder Felipe Gutierrez
- Forward Diego Rubio
Coach of the Year nominee
- Manager Peter Vermes
