Donovan wins 3rd USSF male athlete award

Published Dec. 21, 2009 9:14 p.m. ET

foxsports

Landon Donovan was voted the U.S. Soccer Federation's Male Athlete of the Year for the third time Monday, and Hope Solo became the first goalkeeper to win the women's award.

Donovan, who last week was loaned from Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy to Everton of England's Premier League, also won the award in 2003 and 2004. He is the second three-time winner of the male award, joined Kasey Keller (1997, 1999 and 2000).

Donovan was voted his first MLS most valuable player of the year award this year and won his sixth Honda Player of the Year honor, given annually to the U.S. national team's top player. He also won the Honda award from 2002-04 and from 2007-08.

Donovan had three goals and nine assists during the final round of qualifying for next year's World Cup, and the 27-year-old has an American-record 42 goals in 120 international appearances. He helped the Los Angeles Galaxy reach the MLS Cup final, where it lost on penalty kicks to Real Salt Lake.

Solo was voted MVP of the Algarve Cup in Portugal and was voted WPS Goalkeeper of the Year for the St. Louis Athletica. She allowed one goal in six international matches.