Canada Soccer have announced the six finalists for the 2024 Canada Soccer Players of the Year Award from both the Women’s and Men’s National Team Programs. The two co-winners, one player from each National Team, will be announced on Friday 20 December.
The three finalists from the Women’s National Team are Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns FC), Vanessa Gilles (Olympique Lyonnais Féminin) and Evelyne Viens (AS Roma Femminile). The three finalists from the Men’s National Team are Moïse Bombito (OGC Nice), Jonathan David (LOSC Lille) and Alistair Johnston (Celtic FC).
Earlier this week, Olivia Smith and Nathan Saliba were named the Canada Soccer Young Players of the Year, Duncan McDonald was named the Canada Soccer Para Soccer Player of the Year, and Loïc Kwemi was named the Canada Soccer Futsal Player of the Year. Kailen Sheridan took home the 2024 Allstate Good Hands® Award.
Canada Soccer Player of the Year Finalists
Jessie Fleming
Jessie featured in all 16 of CANWNT’s matches in 2024, starting every game except one, and contributed 1 goal and 5 assists. At the club level, she made a high-profile move to the NWSL in January 2024, joining Portland Thorns FC from Chelsea FC Women in a record transfer deal. During the 2024 NWSL season, she made 26 appearances, starting 22 matches and recording one assist.
Vanessa Gilles
Vanessa anchored the CANWNT defense in 2024, starting and appearing in 14 matches, scoring 4 goals and 1 assist, including the stoppage-time clincher against France that secured a win in the group stage of the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament. Her commanding performances also extended to club football, where she made 25 appearances for Lyon in the 2023-24 season, playing a crucial role in their UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign and helping them clinch the Division 1 league title.
Evelyne Viens
Evelyne made 14 appearances for CANWNT in 2024, contributing 2 goals and 3 assists, including scoring her first Olympic goal in Canada’s opening match of the Paris 2024 Olympics Women’s Football Tournament against New Zealand. She was named Gatorade Performance of the Match in Canada’s 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup quarterfinal against Costa Rica after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory. At the club level, Viens finished as the top scorer in Serie A with 14 goals in her debut season at AS Roma, where she helped her club secure the Serie A title.
Moïse Bombito
Moïse started and played 90 minutes in 13 of 14 CANMNT matches in 2024, registering one assist. He was named Gatorade Player of the Match in Canada’s defeat to the Netherlands in an international friendly. At club level, Moïse featured 20 times for Colorado Rapids in the MLS before moving to OGC Nice in Ligue 1 for an MLS-record fee for a centreback and a Colorado Rapids outbound transfer record. Since joining Nice, he’s appeared 16 times for the French side, while also making his debut in UEFA’s Europa League.
Jonathan David
Jonathan appeared in all 14 of CANMNT matches in 2024, registering five goals and three assists. He became CANMNT’s all-time leading goalscorer with his 31st goal for Canada, scoring against Suriname in the Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal second leg. He made his 50th CANMNT cap against Peru in the 2024 Copa América group stage. He was named Gatorade Player of the Match on three occasions, most notably in Canada’s win over Peru in the 2024 Copa América group stage. At club level, Jonathan has featured 48 times for LOSC Lille, recording 36 goals and 10 assists so far, most notably scoring his 100th career goal for the Ligue 1 club in December. He is the current Ligue 1 top scorer for the 2024-25 season.
Alistair Johnston
Alistair appeared in 12 CANMNT matches in 2024. He was named to the Best XI at the 2024 Copa América. He made his 50th CANMNT cap against Suriname in the Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal first leg. At club level, Alistair has featured 41 times for Celtic FC, recording five goals and 11 assists so far. In 2024, he won the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup with the club. This month, he was named a nominee for the 2024 FIFA Men’s World 11.
Media contact:
Marianne Gagné
Women’s National Team Program Communications Manager
mgagne@canadasoccer.com
John Lobban
Men’s National Team Program Communications Manager
jlobban@canadasoccer.com