Landon Donovan, 20, became the youngest player to win the 2002 Honda Player of the Year Award, the top award for an American player.
Donovan received 497 points in the voting by a record of 277 sports journalists. Brad Friedel, another first-time finalist, finished second with 382 points. Claudio Reyna, who won the 2000 Honda Player of the Year Award and finished second in 1997, 1999 and 2001, finished third this year with 274 points
Each first-place vote was worth three points, a second-place vote was worth two points and a third-place vote one point.
''It is great honor to be named the Honda Player of the Year,'' said Donovan, who scored two goals in the 2002 World Cup and six overall this year for the United States. ''This year the U.S. team had an outstanding year, reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup, and to win this award when there are so many players who had great years really means a lot to me.''
Eric Wynalda previously was the youngest winner of the Honda Player of the Year Award at age 23 in 1992.
HONDA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR:
1991 Hugo Perez
1992 Eric Wynalda
1993 Thomas Dooley
1994 Marcelo Balboa
1995 Alexi Lalas
1996 Eric Wynalda
1997 Eddie Pope
1998 Cobi Jones
1999 Kasey Keller
2000 Claudio Reyna
2001 Earnie Stewart
2002 Landon Donovan