Set In Stone
Who was the best of the best in North America in 2021? For this year’s final story, we let all of you decide – players, creators, and supporters. Earlier this month, all of you nominated your top players across MLS, NWSL, USL, and the overall best player in North America. Last week, you chose from your list of selected finalists. Today, with the help of graphic designer Brian Colmenares we unveil the winners.
MLS: Taty Castellanos
After a glorious postseason, could it have really been anybody else? Sure, Carles Gil grabbed the MLS MVP award in 2021, but you chose Taty as your pick. League Golden Boot winner in the regular season with 19 goals and 8 assists, but he wasn’t done. The NYCFC marksman added 3 goals in 3 playoff games, including a crucial goal against the record-breaking Revolution in the Eastern Conference semis and an unforgettable header against the Timbers in MLS Cup. His regular season contributions and his clutch performances en route to the MLS Cup trophy did not go unnoticed by you.
NWSL: Trinity Rodman
At just 19 years old, she was the best young player in NWSL this year – there’s no doubt about that. Just like Castellanos, though, her clutch performances towards the end of the year catapulted her to the top, and you chose her as the best overall player in NWSL. Seven goals and seven assists for this dynamic forward that stole the show this season. And how can we forget that incredible assist to O’Hara in the final to clinch the cup for the Washington Spirit. For showing maturity, confidence and skill well beyond her age, you chose Trinity Rodman as your 2021 top NWSL player.
USL: Hadji Barry
This one was almost a no-brainer. 25 goals in 33 games for the Guinean forward. 115 minutes per goal and a conversion rate of almost 30% from all shots taken. Hadji Barry was an absolute goal machine this season, and you all noticed. He might’ve not earned the silverware that other nominees in this category did, but his stats simply speak for themselves. A force to be reckoned with in 2021.
North America Player of the Year
All of the three winners above are more than deserving of this award. But there can only be one. The 2021 North America Player of the Year, chosen by you, is… Taty Castellanos.
The NYCFC talisman stepped up big time, combining ridiculous stats, clutch performances in the playoffs, and the ultimate silverware to make his case. Players, creators, and supporters are all in agreement, Taty is our player of the year.
Behind the Sculptor
For this special unveiling of our winners, we collaborated with Los Angeles-based graphic designer Brian Colmenares to develop the look of our awards. Brian has previously worked for the LA Galaxy, and he’s continued in the soccer space through freelance work. For this project, we worked closely with Brian to properly unveil our winners. This is a brief part of his story and how things came to be.
Let’s take it all the way back. How did you get started with graphic design and soccer?
My love for graphic design definitely came first. I started drawing when I was a kid because of my older sister, and I just used to draw cartoons and stuff. Then I just kept doodling throughout high school until eventually, I had to pick a major when I went to college. I got to combine my love for illustrating and art with technology, which I found really cool.
In terms of soccer, I actually didn’t play it at all until very late. I was more of a baseball guy, and it wasn’t until my sophomore year in high school that I really got to kick a ball. My dad used to coach a Sunday league team, and he was short of players one time, so I filled in. Ever since then, I was hooked. I just kept showing up, and the following year I even made the varsity team at my school. We did well, and later on, I went on to play at the collegiate level too. Now I follow the Premier League and MLS, the latter mainly because I want to be a part of it becoming bigger here.
When and how did you combine that love for soccer and graphic design?
It happened as soon as I decided to go to Cal Poly Pomona. I was going for my graphic design major, and by then I had already fallen in love with soccer. I just remember thinking, ‘man, if I could combine these two things it would be perfect for me.’ I just didn’t know what that looked like. After college, I started searching for MLS clubs and seeing if I could join one. Fortunately, I went to see a speech given by the LA Galaxy creative director, and I just emailed him that night to connect. They ended up having a position open, and I applied immediately. I ended up getting the job and was there for two years. I even got to meet Zlatan.
You left the club in 2020, so how did you continue in the soccer space after that?
I was trying to figure myself out for a few months, and then I needed to find a full-time job. I found an agency to work at that focuses on marketing and advertising, but it’s not in the soccer industry. But I knew I still wanted to keep freelancing and associate myself with things that I love. At the beginning of every year, I make a list of things I want to accomplish or do. Among that list was working with Club Eleven, and here we are.
Here we are. So can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind the look of this project and the creative process?
I can't take full credit for it. Nick [Pecori] had the concept of creating this bust and the whole museum aesthetic. I just ran with it, and it was really tough, to be honest. Creating that look and making it appear right was really challenging. Last week, I even went to a museum to go look at statutes in person, so that was inspiring, and it helped with the process. It was a lot of trial and error, and just working with Nick back-and-forth. Some of the earlier versions looked totally different than what ended up as the final product, but I’m really happy with how it turned out.
And aside from the graphic design aspect of this project, can I ask who you voted for?
I had Raul Ruidiaz as my North America Player of the Year.
Excellent choice. Lastly, you mentioned how you like to make a list of things to accomplish in the new year. Any big plans for 2022?
I would like to start creating my own merchandise. I have a ton of unfinished projects -- sweaters, shirts, hats, and different things. And for one reason or another, I've always found a way to not go through with it. So this next year, my focus is going to be to push that. I just want to make cool stuff that I like, whatever that may be. If people are into it, cool. I just feel like someday in the future I will regret it if I don’t make everything I want to make. I just want to create.
