The CONCACAF awards are back, and for the third time ever a combination of fans, national team coaches/captains and media will get a chance to vote on various categories. As always, because this is CONCACAF after all, Mexico wins. After a solid year, several Canadian men's and women's national team players are up for awards, as is Toronto FC and US men's national team captain Michael Bradley.

If award voting is you sort of thing, you can do that by clicking on this link. Fans get to vote on pretty much everything on the ballot, although sadly John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes is not a possible candidate. Below are some of the notable candidates to awards for fans of TFC, CanMNT and CanWNT.





Male Player of the Year

Cyle Larin (Canada/ Orlando City) - The MLS rookie of the year had an outstanding first campaign in the league, and a great year for both club and country. He would get a starting role with the national team and score 4 goals, including one that went off his backside to give Canada a crucial 1-0 victory over Honduras in World Cup qualifiers. At the club level he scored an outstanding 17 goals, not bad for the 20-year-old future of Canadian soccer.

Michael Bradley (United States/ Toronto FC) - The captain of the United States national team saw mixed results when playing for both club and country this year. The United States had a disappointing campaign which included losing the CONCACAF Cup and bowing out in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup. As captain, however, Bradley would add three goals to his national team tally. He would score five more for Toronto FC, and add six assists.

Other Nominees: Andres Guardado (MEX), Bryan Ruiz (CRC), Clint Dempsey (USA), Hirving Lozano (MEX), Javier Hernandez (MEX), Jesus Corona (MEX), Oribe Peralta (MEX), Rodolph Austin (JAM)

Female Player of the Year

Christine Sinclair (Canada/ Portland Thorns): For the first time in more than a decade Christine Sinclair was not named Canadian soccer player of the year. While at 32 she has slowed down slightly, she is still one of the best in the world and the region. Now up to 158 goals, Sinclair will begin her pursuit of Abby Wambach for most international goals in female soccer history.

Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada/ West Virginia University): She makes it impossible to believe she is just 20, but at "just 20" she is one of the best players in the world. Buchanan stormed onto the scene this year to end Sinclair's reign as Canadian player of the year. At the same time she would win the best young player award at the 2015 World Cup in Canada.

Other Nominees: Alex Morgan (USA), Carli Lloyd (USA), Becky Sauerbrunn (USA), Hope Solo (USA), Julie Johnston (USA), Megan Rapinoe (USA), Raquel Rodriguez (CRC), Shirley Cruz (CRC)

Female Goalkeeper of the Year

Erin McLoed (Canada/ Houston Dash): While there was always a possibility that Karina Leblanc took the net from her at Canada 2015, McLoed left no doubt in anyone's mind who the starting keeper was for the national team. She had a strong World Cup and remains a vital piece of the women's national team during this Olympic year.

Other Nominees: Alyssa Naeher (USA), Ashlyn Harris (USA), Cecilia Santiago (MEX), Dinnia Diaz (CRC), Hope Solo (USA), Kimika Forbes (TRI), Michele Dalton (USA), Rosemary Chandler (USA), Michelle Betos (USA)





Male Best XI

Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC): In theory, all three Toronto FC designated players could make the cut for the CONCACAF men's best 11 after a strong 2015. The strongest of all, of course, was Giovinco who won the league's MVP award, Newcomer of the year award and Golden Boot. He also had 22 goals and 16 assists while leading Toronto to their first ever playoff appearance.

Jozy Altidore (USA/ Toronto FC): As much as he has been a controversial figure around Toronto FC since his arrival in 2015 in the sense that fans still aren't sure about him, Altidore delivered in 2015. Scoring 13 goals in just 25 matches, he was among the league's best scorers. While it was an up and down year for Altidore with the national team, he would add 6 more goals to his international tally.





Female Best XI

Ashley Lawrence (Canada/ West Virginia University): Lawrence went into Canada 2015 as a relative unknown for most supporters familiar with at least the notable names of the women's team. She would quickly change that, however, scoring against the Netherlands and having an otherwise very strong tournament for Canada.

Janine Beckie (Canada/ Texas Tech University): At 21 year's of age Janine Beckie is just starting to make a name for herself on the Canadian women's national team scene, but is one of the country's most promising young players. She scored three goals for the national team this year.