Gonzalo Higuaín Named 2022 MLS Comeback Player of the Year
October 27, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Inter Miami CF News Release
MIAMI – Inter Miami CF announced today that Gonzalo Higuain has been named the 2022 MLS Comeback Player of the Year in the final year of his illustrious career. The legendary striker overcame significant personal adversity and injury to lead the team to its most successful regular season yet, netting a Club-record 16 goals en route to the Club’s second playoff berth in its three year history.
“Thank you to everybody who voted for me, this is a symbol of my career: fight, fight, and fight some more to achieve my goals,” said Higuaín after being surprised with the news at home by his partner Lara, his daughter Alma and his dad Jorge.
Higuaín returned from a difficult 2021 personally, following the loss of his mother, and suffered a slow start and injuries to begin the 2022 campaign. But after a knee injury in early April kept him out of action for weeks, and out of the starting lineup until July, the Argentine returned in the strongest form of his Inter Miami tenure.
The uptick in Higuaín’s form began on July 13, when he came on as a second-half substitute and scored a sensational goal against eventual Eastern Conference champions Philadelphia Union. From that matchweek onwards, the forward scored 14 total goals, which were the second most in MLS behind only the Philadelphia Union’s Dániel Gazdag (15) over the span. Higuaín also added two assists in that period, taking his total to 16 goal contributions in the final 16 regular season matches. His 0.82 goals per 90 minutes average was the best in MLS among players to log at least 1,500 minutes.
Higuaín’s late heroics helped guide Inter Miami to crucial victories down the stretch as the team secured Club-record point, win and goal totals. Notably, the striker scored winners in three consecutive matches in September as the team finalized its playoff push.
Inter Miami Co-Owner David Beckham is a former winner of the award, being named the 2011 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after a strong season with the LA Galaxy. Higuaín’s older brother Federico – a former Inter Miami player and current Inter Miami CF II assistant coach – was also a finalist for the award in 2017.
The MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors an MLS player who overcame injuries and/or adversity to achieve success during the 2022 regular season. The award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players.
Below is a breakdown of the voting results, with Higuaín edging out the San Jose Earthquakes’ Jeremy Ebobisse and CF Montréal’s Kei Kamara.
Voting Results
PLAYER
MEDIA
CLUB
TOTAL
Gonzalo Higuaín (MIA)
18.60%
12.20%
19.10%
16.63%
Jeremy Ebobisse (SJ)
15.30%
14.60%
14.90%
14.93%
Kei Kamara (MTL)
7.30%
14.60%
19.10%
13.67%
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Winners
2022: Gonzalo Higuaín – Inter Miami CF
2021: Carles Gil – New England Revolution
2020: Bradley Wright-Phillips – Los Angeles Football Club
2019: Jordan Morris – Seattle Sounders FC
2018: Gyasi Zardes – Columbus Crew SC
2017: Clint Dempsey – Seattle Sounders FC
2016: Chris Pontius – Philadelphia Union
2015: Tim Melia – Sporting Kansas City
2014: Rodney Wallace – Portland Timbers
2013: Kevin Alston – New England Revolution
2012: Eddie Johnson – Seattle Sounders FC
2011: David Beckham – LA Galaxy
2010: Bobby Convey – San Jose Earthquakes
2009: Zach Thornton – Chivas USA
2008: Kenny Cooper – FC Dallas
2007: Eddie Johnson – Kansas City Wizards
2006: Richard Mulrooney – FC Dallas
2005: Chris Klein – Kansas City Wizards
2004: Brian Ching – San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Chris Armas – Chicago Fire
2002: Chris Klein – Kansas City Wizards
2001: Troy Dayak – San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards
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