This Player Surpassed Pulisic as the Best in CONCACAF
Panamanian midfielder Adalberto 'Coco' Carrasquilla was named the 2023/24 CONCACAF Player of the Year on Thursday, surpassing stars such as American Christian Pulisic and Canadian Alphonso Davies. Carrasquilla, who plays for the Houston Dynamo, becomes the first Panamanian footballer to win this award, highlighting the progress of Panama’s national team, which currently ranks fourth in the CONCACAF standings, behind Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
"I want you to know that I’m happy about this award, but I’m even happier about the support I received for this nomination," Carrasquilla told local media. He also dedicated the award: "This prize is first for God, but especially for the Panamanian people who are excited about their national team."
Other nominees included notable players such as Jamaica’s Leon Bailey (Aston Villa), Canada’s Jonathan David (Lille), and Mexico’s Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord). CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani congratulated Carrasquilla with a message: "On behalf of CONCACAF, congratulations, Coco, on a fantastic season," as stated in a press release from the Panamanian Football Federation (FPF).
Carrasquilla had an outstanding season with Panama, leading them to the 2023 Gold Cup final. He started six matches and scored the decisive penalty in the shootout against the United States in the semifinals. His excellent performance earned him the tournament’s best player award and a spot in the competition's Best XI.
The midfielder continued to shine by guiding Panama to the CONCACAF Nations League 2023/24 finals after defeating Costa Rica in the quarterfinals. This achievement marks the second consecutive edition in which Panama has reached the tournament’s final stages.
Carrasquilla also enjoyed success in the MLS with the Houston Dynamo. The Panamanian scored six goals across all competitions, helping the Dynamo qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. He was instrumental in the team’s US Open Cup victory and their run to the Western Conference Final. The club also advanced past Saint Louis City SC in the Champions Cup but was eliminated by eventual runner-up Columbus Crew.
