This is Part 1 of 90min's Smart Choices award series presented by Continental Tires. Check back each day for new awards.
As the 2024 Major League Soccer season came to a close on Decision Day, all eyes were on the best forwards in the league in the Golden Boot race.
D.C. United striker Christian Benteke claimed the top goalscoring award while Inter Miami star duo Luis Surez and Lionel Messi both made a late push with goals in the final weeks of the season. The Herons were also the talk of the town as they achieved the greatest regular season in MLS history with 74 points.
However, it's time to shift the focus to the defensive end of the pitch. While fans love to see goals and assists in the final third, it's no secret that having a strong defensive foundation is required to compete for titleswhich is exactly what Yeimar Gmez and Kristijan Kahlina have done to power their respective Seattle Sounders and Charlotte FC to spots in the upcoming MLS Cup Playoffs.
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year: Kristijan Kahlina
The veteran Kahlina continues become more and more of an icon at Charlotte in his third season with the Eastern Conference team. The 33-year-old cemented himself as the best goalkeeper in 2024 after keeping the joint-most clean sheets (12) and conceding the least amount of goals (37) while appearing in all 34 of Charlotte's matches in the regular season.
Kahlina also impressed with a 76% save percentagemost in MLSwhile preventing 12.8 goals. The former Croatia youth international managed to save the one penalty attempt he faced, too.
Charlotte finished fifth in the Eastern Conference poised for a playoff run thanks to the consistency displayed at the back by Kahlina and company. Just one point off of Orlando City for a top four finish, Kahlina can propel Charlotte to a deep run in the Cup playoffs by keeping his team in every match as he's done this year.
MLS Defender of the Year: Yeimar Gmez
When speaking of consistency in center-backs, there aren't many more consistent than Seattle's Yeimar Gmez. The 32-year-old has been a key part of Seattle's backline since he joined the team in February 2020 and that theme stayed the same in 2024.
Gmezwho made 30 appearances in 2024was part of the Sounders defense that kept 11 clean sheets and conceded the fewest amount of goals in the league (35) in 34 regular season matches. On an individual level, Gmez recorded 2.1 interceptions-per-game, 5.1 clearances-per-game and was shown just five yellow cards across the entire season to lead Seattle to a fourth-placed finish in the Western Conference.
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