LOS ANGELES (Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022) – Major League Soccer today announced that LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández was named a finalist for the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award.
In his third season in LA, Chicharito, 34, led the Galaxy and finished tied fourth in the league with 18 goals scored and added two assists in helping guide the club to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019. In his last 12 games to finish the 2022 MLS Regular Season, Chicharito’s 11 goals ranked tied for first in the league. Additionally, Chicharito’s 15 goals scored from open play finished tied for second in the league behind only FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez (16).
Notably, the 18 goals scored and 2,598 minutes played for the Galaxy in league play this year marked Chicharito’s highest scoring season and the most minutes played across his 17 years playing professional soccer. In 68 games played (59 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy, the Guadalajara, Mexico native has scored 38 goals and five assists. Chicharito’s 37 goals scored in 65 regular-season played for LA ranks as the seventh-most in club history.
In addition to Chicharito, the four other finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player include forward Cristian 'Chicho' Arango (LAFC), goalkeeper Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), forward Sebastián Driussi (Austin FC) and Golden Boot winner Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), with the winner set to be announced throughout the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.
