CARSON, Calif. (Friday, Dec. 19, 2014) –LA Galaxy legend and six-time MLS Cup champion Landon Donovan was recognized with the first Premios Univision Deportes’ “Lifetime Achievement award” at the inaugural Premios Univision Deportes (Univision Sports Awards), which aired nationally on Thursday night, on UniMás with a simulcast on UDN (Univision Deportes Network). MLS Commissioner Don Garber joined Donovan on stage to present him with the trophy.
Donovan, the most accomplished player in MLS history, finished his MLS career as the all-time leader in goals (144), assists (136), playoff goals (25), game-winning goals (41) and MLS All-Star goals (six). He is tied for the all-time MLS lead in game-winning assists (41) and playoff assists (14). He is a winner of six MLS Cups (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) – the most in MLS history – a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2005) and two MLS Supporters’ Shields (2010, 2011).
A total of 65 sports figures were nominated for their accomplishments on and off the field across multiple sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, boxing, auto racing and more. Premios Univision Deportes winners were decided by fans and a diverse committee of sports personalities, including journalists, broadcasters and retired world-class athletes. Fan-selected awards included Best Goal, Best Extreme Sports Athlete, Best Social Post of the Year and Best Artistic Performance by an Athlete.
Complete list of winners for Premios Univision Deportes 2014:
- Best Soccer Game of the Year – Germany 7 – Brazil 1 (2014 World Cup)
- Best Boxer of the Year – Miguel Cotto
- Best MLS Player of the Year – Marco Pappa
- Best Sports Moment of the Year – Miguel “El Piojo” Herrera
- Best Baseball Player of the Year – Nelson Cruz
- Best Liga MX Player of the Year – Alfredo Talavera
- Breakthrough of the Year – James Rodríguez
- Best Save of the Year – Guillermo Ochoa
- Best Car Racing Performance – Carlos Muñoz
- Best Basketball Player of the Year – Manu Ginobili
- Best World Cup Record – Faryd Modragón
- Best Hispanic Performance in Europe – Ángel di Maria
- Chespirito Award, For the Love of Sports – Community Hero Winner, Julio Gutiérrez
- Sports Achievement of the Year – Costa Rica National Team
- Goal of the Year – James Rodríguez
- Extreme Sports Athlete of the Year – Rafa Ortíz
- Athlete Post on Social Media – Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. (Twitter)
- Best Artistic Performance by an Athlete – Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama
- Humanitarian Work Award – Albert Pujols
- Parathlete of the Year Award – Héctor Picard
- Tennis Performance Award – Mónica Puig
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Landon Donovan
- Best Liga MX Coach – Antonio Mohamed
