Robinson was literally surprised by the USMNT award, but his performance indicates he should have expected it all the long

For the first time in what felt like forever, Antonee Robinson was caught off guard. Robinson has spent the past several seasons developing a reputation for always knowing what was coming. It's why he's become the pillar of consistency for both the U.S. men's national team and Fulham. Time and time again, Robinson has shown an ability to react to things before they happen. It's a unique gift that's made him one of the world's best.

Not this time, though. For once, he was the only one that didn't know what was coming and, once he realized it, all he could do was laugh.

It wasn't one of the Premier League's elite wingers that had gotten the best of Robinson; it was Tim Howard and U.S. Soccer. Working with Fulham, the federation put a plan in place. Robinson would sit down for what he thought was just another routine pre-game interview. Instead, Howard, his former Everton teammate, would let him in on a little secret: he had won U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year.

"That's mental," Robinson said after a stunned laugh Sunday morning. "That's unreal. I don't really even know what to say, to be honest. That wasn't the call I was expecting!"

In some ways, Robinson's award win is something of an surprise. Those on the outside would likely have pointed to Christian Pulisic as the favorite. Robinson himself has largely been hesitant to accept his place as a star, famously tweeting a clown meme last year when placed alongside Virgil van Dijk and Erling Haaland in a Premier League Team of the Year. Over the last few years, as recognition has poured in, it seemed as if Robinson was the only person unable to accept how good he's become.

The rest of the world continues to recognize Robinson's status now, though, and the more recent award only solidifies it. Robinson was the best the USMNT had in 2024, and that shouldn't surprise anyone anymore, not even the man himself.

Getty Images SportRobinson's standout 2024

It certainly hasn't been easy for a defender to win this award. Just one, Oguchi Onyewu (in 2006), has won it since 1995. Well, make it two now.

Nominated alongside Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Tim Ream, Robinson won with 55 percent of the weighted vote total, which includes votes from all over the American soccer landscape. This nomination was Robinson's second, having previously been among the finalists in 2022. In total, 27 players have won the award, with Robinson joining that legendary group of the USMNT's all-time greats.

On the national team front, Robinson started for the USMNT 11 times in 2024, helping preserve four clean sheets. Two of those clean sheets came in massive matches: the CONCACAF Nations League final against Mexico and the road win over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League. He also provided one of his trademark assists, too, to help the USMNT defeat Jamaica in November.

Robinson's win is just as much about his club's successes, too. Fulham's 2023-24 Player of the Year, Robinson provided 10 assists throughout the 2024 calendar year and currently finds himself right at the top of the Premier League assist chart. Only Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka have set up more goals than the Fulham star, and neither of them are fullbacks.

It's a much-deserved win for Robinson, who didn't just claim the award due to Pulisic fatigue. Yes, the AC Milan star has claimed four of these awards (2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023) and he for sure would have been a deserving winner this time around, too. But there's simply no denying Robinson's level in 2024. Statistically, he's competing with, and beating the very best, and, time and time again, he's proven to be right next to Pulisic as an irreplaceable star for the USMNT.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Robinson said of the award. “Representing our country isn’t something you do for individual accolades. It’s always about putting the team first and trying to do my best for the boys and for the country, so to be rewarded for that is an amazing feeling.”

Despite his performance on the field, Robinson wasn't expecting any sort of award. In fact, right up until the last minute, he was totally in the dark about it all.

AdvertisementPulling off the surprise

It was a carefully worked operation, one that required cooperation between U.S. Soccer and Fulham. Neither wanted to ruin the surprise so, as a result, Robinson's triumph was kept largely quiet.

On one side of the Atlantic, a plan came together. After tallying votes and realizing they'd landed on Robinson, U.S. Soccer set out to find a way to make a unique announcement, one that reflected Robinson's success in the Premier League, specifically. To help make that announcement, they landed on Howard, who himself was a two-time winner of the award. Conveniently, Howard is also an analyst for NBC's Premier League coverage, which meant he wouldn't arouse suspicion if Robinson saw him pop up for a video interview.

Robinson would be set up for what he believed would be a standard pre-match conversation with Howard ahead of Fulham's clash with Ipswich (the clubs eventually played to a 2-2 draw). After speaking to several UK-based outlets as part of an afternoon-long media run, Robinson believed his conversation with Howard would be about his recent Premier League successes. He was wrong. Howard, who was starring for Everton when Robinson was with the club as an academy player, gave him the good news in a moment that, given their history, was special for both men.

"I was excited to have the opportunity to surprise Antonee with this news," Howard said. "He’s had such an outstanding year for both club and country. What stands out the most when I watch him play for the USMNT and weekly for Fulham in the Premier League is his ability to consistently perform at an elite level. Achieving that is difficult and to do it while representing your country is extremely special. And of course, most importantly, we are fellow Evertonians! Turns out Jedi and I were at the club at the same time, so to help recognize him in this moment means a lot.”

And to say Robinson was stunned is an understatement.

“I probably looked a little silly because I was shocked!" he said. "I thought it was just a random interview with Tim about how the season was going, so when he told me I’d won I was just in disbelief because it was the last thing I expected. Obviously, Tim had an incredible career with the national team and throughout his club football so it was a thrill to have that news delivered by him.”

On the other side, Fulham did everything in their power to keep the reveal a secret. No one other than the club's communications staff was informed. Even manager Marco Silva was kept in the dark on Robinson's triumph. To preserve the big announcement, everything was kept quiet, which meant no one at the club would find out until Sunday, just like the rest of the world.

There will be an acknowledgment or celebration at some point. From the top level, Fulham have a deep connection with American soccer, having leaned into the moniker bestowed upon them due to the contributions of Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride, and Tim Ream. Robinson is in that category, too, joining Dempsey as a U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year winner.

Perhaps most importantly, he's a valued member of the Fulham side, one that the club's manager, Silva, relies upon more and more each day.

Getty Images SportAn evolving player

This season is Robinson's fifth with Fulham, and it's undoubtedly his best yet. When he arrived in 2020, he was a young defender looking to turn Championship experience into a legitimate Premier League chance. He'd just had a potential move to AC Milan pulled out from under him due to an irregular heart rhythm. Fulham was the club that would offer him the chance he needed to show what he can do.

He's paid back that trust in full. Now, as the calendar turns to 2025, he's unquestionably the club's best player. Only Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore have contributed to more Fulham goals than the American during this 2024-25 season, and he's doing it from the left-back position.

Silva is uniquely positioned to comment on Robinson's rise. He originally saw Robinson during his one-year stay at Everton. At the time, the fullback was a youngster looking to break through at his boyhood club. The player he now managed is someone vastly different.

"I've known him for a long time, he was an Everton payer when I managed there, and now, I get to work with him again here at Fulham," Silva said. "He's much more mature, he's not emotional during the game. Most of you don't know him personally but he is very emotional, and he is a quiet person, but his game is much more balanced now and much more mature if I can say.

"Now when he has a good or not-so-good action it will not impact him so much, he takes some steps as a defender, and he is getting solid. We have been working with him and demanding of him and giving him the confidence."

That confidence is showing every week. Robinson is playing like one of the Premier League's elite and, although he hasn't really been willing to admit it, his game speaks volumes.

Getty Images SportThe Premier League's best?

The assists speak pretty loudly, largely because they are measurable. It's easy to see Robinson's name next to Salah and Saka and come to the conclusion that he's playing well. It's not just the assists, though; the underlying numbers are wild, too.

According to FBRef, Robinson is in the upper percentiles of a series of key statistics when compared to other fullbacks. He's in the 87th percentile in progressive carries, 81st percentile of successful take-ons, and 91st percentile of progressive passes. Those numbers point to one thing: when Robinson gets the ball, it moves forward and it usually leads to danger. In many ways, Robinson played like a modern fullback, one whose job is to influence the attack from those wide positions.

However, there's an old school about him, too. He's in the 95th percentile in both interceptions and clearances, showing his game sense when his team doesn't have the ball. He's in the 80th percentile in tackles per game and is above average in aerials, too, which showcases his physicality. Then factor in the pace and ability to get up and down the line, and both the numbers and the eye test point to one thing: Robinson is very, very good.

The Premier League's best? On form, he certainly is and his statistics and ability further back that up. Robinson is better than many have given him credit for, but this award is just further proof of how elite the fullback has been.