There were a total of 852 goals during the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro regular season, but only one ended up winning the 2022 Goal of the Year award.
New England Revolution II midfielder Ryan Lima edged four other finalists after delivering a sensational strike in the early stages of the regular season. Lima’s long-range strike in a 3-2 victory over FC Cincinnati 2 on April 17 was chosen as our inaugural Goal of the Year winner.
The 21-year-old cut into the middle of FC Cincinnati’s side of the field before unleashing a missile into the top-left corner. Lima would finish the campaign as one of Revolution II’s top players, scoring four goals and adding four assists in 16 appearances for Clint Peay’s squad.
Lima beat out many top goals for the award, edging St Louis CITY2’s Selmir Pidro, Philadelphia Union II’s Stefan Stojanovic, and Houston Dynamo 2’s Marcelo Palomino.
We asked all MLS NEXT Pro fans to vote on Twitter for this season’s award, and Lima’s effort earned him roughly 50.4% of the 2,584 votes.
