Adriana Leon nominated for Canada Soccer player of the year

Boston Breakers forward Adriana Leon has been nominated for Canada Soccer’s 2017 player of the year.

It’s a very nice nod to a player who was seemingly out of the squad a couple of years ago but worked her way back in, notching three goals in six games for her country on top of six goals and six assists for her club.

Full list of nominees:

Janine Beckie (Houston Dash)
Kadeisha Buchanan (Lyon)
Jessie Fleming (UCLA)
Stephanie Labbe (Washington Spirit)
Ashley Lawrence (PSG)
Adriana Leon (Boston Breakers)
Rebecca Quinn (Duke)
Deanne Rose (University of Florida)
Sophie Schmidt (FFC Frankfurt)
Desiree Scott (FC Kansas City)
Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns)
Shelina Zadorsky (Washington Spirit)

Are the odds likely that Leon will win? Probably not, especially in a year with Christine Sinclair having won a title for her club and tacking on another four goals for Canada, or Kadeisha Buchanan winning a club title and Champions League with Lyon. But for a player who was once essentially dropped from Canada’s roster, to now be getting regular minutes for them (and scoring a goal every other game) and being nominated as one of their best players of the year has to be gratifying. Leon has definitely earned it after grinding her way through 2017.