Charlotte FC Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina Named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Croatian shot-stopper becomes first CLTFC player to earn an individual year-end award

CHARLOTTE, NC (Tuesday, November 12, 2024) – Major League Soccer today announced that Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina was named the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

Kahlina is the first-ever Charlotte FC and Croatian to earn an individual MLS Year-End Award. He finished the 2024 season with 121 saves and 12 shutouts. Per American Soccer Analysis, his -10.47 G-xG ranks as the second-best individual goalkeeping season in MLS since 2013, only behind Djordje Petrovic’s -10.75 in 2022.

During the 2024 season, Kahlina was the only goalkeeper to rank in the top five in both saves (121) and goals against average (1.09). Among all qualifying goalkeepers this season, Kahlina is ranked in the top five of the following statistics:

• 1st – Save Percentage (75.63%)
• T-1st – Shutouts (12)
• T-1st – Minutes Played (3,060)
• 3rd – Goals Against Average (1.09)
• T-3rd – Saves (121)

The Croatian became the first Charlotte FC player to play every minute in a season and made his 100^th appearance for the Club on October 19^th against D.C. United. Kahlina helped anchor the best defense in the Eastern Conference, which propelled the Club to its highest points tally (51).

He is just the fourth European to claim the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honor, joining Roman Burki (Switzerland), Vito Mannone (Italy), and Jimmy Nielsen (Denmark).

The MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, which honors the best goalkeeper in MLS during the 2024 regular season, was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results, with finalists Hugo Lloris (LAFC) and Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew) finishing second and third respectively in the voting: