The USL Championship announced on Monday its Golden Awards for the 2026 regular season, honoring Phoenix Rising FC’s Ihsan Sacko as its Golden Boot winner, Detroit City FC’s Carlos Herrera as the Golden Glove winner, and Las Vegas Lights FC’s Christian Pinzón as the Golden Playmaker after each delivered standout campaigns for their clubs.
Sacko led the Championship with 17 regular season goals, capping his second season with the club in spectacular fashion to claim the Golden Boot. The French forward recorded five goals in Rising’s final three games of the season, including a goal and assist in the side’s 3-3 draw against Lexington SC on Saturday night, to lead the side into the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs. Sacko’s 22 goal contributions also led the league overall as the 24-year-old averaged a goal every 135.6 minutes.
His stats don’t stop there. Sacko was named to the USL Team of the Week seven times across the 2026 season and led the team in shots (63) and chances created (55) across 2,305 minutes played. Notably, the forward was named Mid-Season Player of the Year back in June.
Sacko becomes the third player from Phoenix Rising FC to claim the award after Solomon Asanté (2019) and Junior Flemmings (2020), which now stands tied for the most Golden Boots claimed by a single club in the USL Championship’s history.
“He deserves it. He puts in the work, he’s got the mentality of a lion honestly, nothing wavers him” Odunze said. “He deserves it and he just has more and more goals to score so listen, if we keep feeding him, we’ve got more and more goals to come.”
All-Time USL Golden Awards –
USL Championship Golden Boot Winners
2026 – Ihsan Sacko, Phoenix Rising FC
2025 – Peter Wilson, Oakland Roots SC
2024 – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery
2023 – Albert Dikwa, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
2022 – Milan Iloski, Orange County SC
2021 – Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
2020 – Junior Flemmings, Phoenix Rising FC
2019 – Solomon Asanté, Phoenix Rising FC
2018 – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC
2017 – Dane Kelly, Reno 1868 FC
2016 – Sean Okoli, FC Cincinnati
2015 – Matt Fondy, Louisville City FC
2014 – Kevin Molino, Orange County SC
2013 – Jose Angulo, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC / Dom Dwyer, Orlando City SC
2012 – Dennis Chin, Orlando City SC
2011 – Jhony Arteaga, F.C. New York
USL Championship Golden Playmaker Winners
2026 – Christian Pinzón, Las Vegas Lights FC
2025 – Aodhan Quinn, Indy Eleven
2024 – Noah Fuson, Rhode Island FC
2023 – Jorge Hernández, San Antonio FC
2022 – Antoine Hoppenot, Detroit City FC
2021 – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic
2020 – Solomon Asanté, Phoenix Rising FC
2019 – Solomon Asanté, Phoenix Rising FC
2018 – Emmanuel Ledesma, FC Cincinnati
2017 – Chris Wehan, Reno 1868 FC
2016 – Villyan Bijev, Portland Timbers 2
2015 – Bryan Burke, Louisville City FC
2014 – Kevin Molino, Orlando City SC
2013 – Matt Dallman, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
2012 – J.C. Banks, Rochester Rhinos
2011 – Tadeu Terra, F.C. New York
USL Championship Golden Glove Winners
2026 – Carlos Herrera, Detroit City FC
2025 – Damian Las, Louisville City FC
2024 – Eric Dick, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
2023 – Danny Vitiello, Sacramento Republic FC
2022 – Kyle Morton, Louisville City FC
2021 – Evan Louro, Tampa Bay Rowdies
2020 – Danny Vitiello, Sacramento Republic FC
2019 – Matt Pickens, Nashville SC
2018 – Evan Newton, FC Cincinnati
2017 – Tomas Gomez, Rochester Rhinos
2016 – Tomas Gomez, Rochester Rhinos
2015 – Brandon Miller, Rochester Rhinos
2014 – John McCarthy, Rochester Rhinos
2013 – Andrew Dykstra, Richmond Kickers
2012 – Kristian Nicht, Rochester Rhinos
2011 – Miguel Gallardo, Orlando City SC
