Samuel Charron named Canada Soccer’s Para Soccer Player of the Year

Samuel Charron from Ottawa, Ontario has been named Canada Soccer’s 2022 Para Soccer Player of the Year. One of the best in the world, the 24-year old footballer won his second IFCPF World Cup Player of the Tournament award in 2022.

“Samuel is a great captain and leader both on and off the field for our National Team,” said Drew Ferguson, Canada Soccer’s Para Soccer National Team Head Coach. “We had a great World Cup and Samuel was the Most Valuable Player as we finished ninth in the world. He suffered a fractured finger in our first game, but he played the next four games with a soft splint and never once doubted himself. He is just not the type of player who plays at less than 100% or wants to sit on the sideline.”

Charon led Canada with five goals and three assists while playing every minute of Canada’s five matches in the competition. He scored the 1:0 winner against Netherlands, scored twice against Venezuela, and scored two late goals to send their Australia match into extra time. He also assisted on Yuri Costa’s 1:0 winner against Spain to secure ninth place in the tournament.

Charron, who has been part of the Canadian program since 2010, is now a three-time winner of the Para Soccer Player of the Year award (2016, 2019, 2022). He has represented Canada at five IFCPF World Cups (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022) and won the Player of the Tournament award twice (2019 and 2022). He has scored 48 career goals in 56 international “A” matches.

Alongside Charron, previous winners of the Para Soccer Player of the Year award are Jamie Ackinclose (2017), Brendon McAdam (2012), Liam Stanley (2013, 2014), Trevor Stiles (2015), and Damien Wojtiw (2018).