NASHVILLE, TN – On Thursday, Nashville SC announced the winners of the club's 2026 awards. Recipients were honored at a private End of Year dinner held at Geodis Park on Tuesday night, with players and staff in attendance.
Most Valuable Player – Hany Mukhtar
Captain Hany Mukhtar was named the club's Most Valuable Player. The 31-year-old leads the team with 26 goal contributions in all competitions, while playing the third-most minutes in the squad.
Earlier this year, Mukhtar became the first player in MLS history to log 25 or more goal contributions in five seasons. In MLS play, the German-born attacker has logged 17 goals and eight assists, while also scoring a crucial goal in Concacaf Champions Cup to make Nashville the first MLS side in history to win a match at Club América's Azteca Stadium.
Ben Wright
Offensive Player of the Year – Sam Surridge
Forward Sam Surridge was named Nashville's Offensive Player of the Year. The 28-year-old Englishman leads Nashville in scoring for the third consecutive season, bagging 21 goals in all competitions. In MLS play, Surridge is tied for fourth in the MLS Golden Boot race, seven goals behind Lionel Messi's league-leading 26.
Defensive Player of the Year – Maxwell Woledzi
Centerback Maxwell Woledzi was named Nashville SC's Defensive Player of the Year. In his first season in Music City, the 25-year-old has logged the most minutes of any outfield player, playing in 89% of possible minutes in all competitions.
In the MLS regular season, he's appeared in all 33 of Nashville's matches so far (starting 32) and has been a crucial piece of Nashville's 16 clean sheets. Ahead of Decision Day, Nashville have conceded just 25 goals. A clean sheet against FC Cincinnati would tie the single-season record for clean sheets, while also breaking Philadelphia Union's 2022 record of 26 goals conceded in 34 games.
Newcomer of the Year – Cristian Espinoza
Winger Cristian Espinoza was unsurprisingly voted Nashville SC's Newcomer of the Year. The most high-profile free agent signing of the offseason, the 31-year-old Argentine winger has logged 15 assists in MLS, tied for the third-most this season. In all competitions, the midfielder has set up 17 goals, the most ever in a single Nashville SC season. In just one year, Espinoza is already in sixth place on Nashville's all-time assist chart.
Goal of the Year – Andy Nájar
Right back Andy Nájar was awarded Nashville SC's Goal of the Year for his 96th-minute winner against Columbus. Down 2-1 in second-half stoppage time, Nashville scored twice in the final seconds to give the 'Yotes one of the more dramatic wins in their MLS history.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 😱😱
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 23, 2026
Two goals in two minutes for @NashvilleSC to surely complete an insane comeback win! pic.twitter.com/VpUk9axzGJ
With three goals and nine assists, Nájar has the fourth-most goal contributions from a Nashville player this season, more than any non-Designated Player in the squad.
Humanitarian of the Year – Josh Bauer
Defender Josh Bauer was named Nashville SC's Humanitarian of the Year. The 28-year-old has been active in the community all season, including working with Friends Life Community to support adults with developmental disabilities.
As part of our Champions Project, Defender Josh Bauer and former Boy in Gold Taylor Washington hung out with some new friends at Friends Life Community, a place where adults with developmental disabilities can have the opportunities to grow personally, develop socially, and enjoy… pic.twitter.com/Hwa3BGlRmZ
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) August 22, 2026
Huntsville City FC Player of the Year – Will Mackay
Goalkeeper Will Mackay was named Huntsville City Player of the Year. In his first season in the Nashville organization, the 18-year-old kept a club-record six clean sheets in 22 appearances. He's set to move onto a Nashville SC contract in 2027.
Ben Wright
Academy Player of the Year – Xavier Aguilar
U18 winger Xavier Aguilar was named Nashville's Academy Player of the Year. The 18-year-old broke into Huntsville City's lineup early in the season, making 22 appearances and scoring one goal.
Aguilar has committed to UC Irvine for the 2027 collegiate season.
200 Nashville SC Appearances – Alex Muyl, Dan Lovitz, and Hany Mukhtar
Nashville SC also recognized Alex Muyl, Dan Lovitz, and Hany Mukhtar for reaching 200 appearances for Nashville SC this season. The trio of players joined Nashville during their 2020 expansion season and have combined for a staggering 733 appearances and 60,404 minutes in all competitions in their seven years with the team.
With goalkeeper Joe Willis, who broke the 200 mark last season, no other players have hit 200 matches for the club, and have been a crucial piece of building a successful foundation for the success Nashville are having in 2026.
