LOS ANGELES (Monday, Oct. 23, 2023) – The LA Galaxy have announced the recipients of the club’s 2023 team awards following the conclusion of the 2023 MLS Regular Season. Riqui Puig was named the 2023 LA Galaxy Player of the Year, in addition to claiming Golden Boot honors, while Jalen Neal was named the club’s Humanitarian of the Year. Additionally, Calegari claimed Defender of the Year honors.
For LA Galaxy II, Aaron Bibout was named the Player of the Year and claimed Golden Boot honors. Adam Saldaña was named Los Dos’ Defender of the Year.
In the Academy ranks, Ruben Ramos Jr. was named the LA Galaxy Academy Player of the Year.
LA GALAXY 2023 TEAM AWARDS
LA Galaxy Player of the Year: Riqui Puig – Midfielder
In his second season with the Galaxy, Puig recorded seven goals and eight assists in 29 games played (28 starts) during the 2023 MLS Regular Season. Puig finished the 2023 campaign ranked first amongst all players in MLS in touches (2,752) and successful passes entering the final third (640), second in dribbles completed (92) and passes completed (1,892) and sixth in chances created from open play (55).
LA Galaxy Defender of the Year: Calegari – Defender
On loan from Brazilian club Fluminense, Calegari recorded two assists in 22 appearances (22 starts) for the LA Galaxy during the 2023 MLS Regular Season. Calegari ranked fourth on the club in possessions won (128) and tackles won (29) and fifth on the Galaxy in interceptions (24), duels won (107) and minutes played (1,935) during the 2023 season.
LA Galaxy Humanitarian of the Year: Jalen Neal – Defender
Neal, 20, has been consistent in his support of the community alongside the LA Galaxy Foundation. Among his many contributions to the community, Neal helped host a career exploration panel “The Power of Sports for Inclusion Around the World” for more than 100 students from Lakewood High School at Dignity Health Sports Park. On Oct. 19, Neal partnered up with the City of Lakewood, Herbalife and the U.S. Soccer Foundation to build a brand new mini-pitch at Palms Park in his hometown of Lakewood. Additionally, Neal and his mom, Sarah Neal, work with the LA Galaxy Foundation every matchday to help bring at least one family per game to their first-ever LA Galaxy match. The Lakewood, Calif., native also works closely with Project Shepard, a non-profit organization run by the City of Lakewood as a neighbor-to-neighbor assistance program, to donate backpacks, school supplies and Christmas gifts every year. Additionally, Neal was named the LA Galaxy II Humanitarian of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2020, 2021, 2022).
Golden Boot: Riqui Puig – Midfielder
Puig led the LA Galaxy with nine goals scored in 34 games played (33 starts) across all competitions this year. Tyler Boyd finished second on the team with eight goals scored in 39 appearances (32 starts) across all competitions in his first season with LA.
LA GALAXY II
LA Galaxy II Player of the Year: Aaron Bibout – Forward
Bibout, 19, was named the Player of the Year for \Los Dos \after tallying 14 goals and five assists in 27 games played (27 starts) for Galaxy II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
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LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year: Adam Saldaña – Midfielder
Saldaña was named the LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year after making 23 appearances (23 starts) across 2,036 minutes played during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season. Notably, Saldaña led MLS NEXT Pro in passing accuracy (94.3%) amongst all players that played a minimum of 1,100 minutes during the 2023 campaign.
Golden Boot: Aaron Bibout – Forward
Bibout led LA Galaxy II with 14 goals scored this season. Axel Picazo finished second on the team with four goals recorded in 27 appearances (19 starts) during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season.
LA GALAXY ACADEMY
Academy Player of the Year: Ruben Ramos Jr. – Forward
Ramos Jr., 16, was named the 2023 LA Galaxy Academy Player of the Year after logging two goals and one assist in nine appearances (6 starts) for LA Galaxy II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season. Notably, Ramos Jr. was part of the LA Galaxy Academy U-17 team that defeated Real Colorado 4-2 in the final of the 2023 U-17 MLS NEXT Cup to become champions of the tournament at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on June 25. Additionally, Ramos Jr. was called up to the U.S. U-16 Men’s Youth National Team’s first training camp of 2023 and the U.S. U-17 Men’s Youth National Team for the Václav Ježek Cup in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
The LA Galaxy Player of the Year and Defender of the Year winners were selected via media voting conducted by LA Galaxy Communications. The LA Galaxy Golden Boot was decided via a tiebreaker using goals scored across all competitions during the 2023 campaign.
