North Charlotte Today

As Kristijan Kahlina reaches 100 appearances for Charlotte FC, his contributions to the team have made him a strong contender for the Major League Soccer (MLS) Goalkeeper of the Year award. The 32-year-old Croatian has been instrumental in his team's performance, consistently making critical saves and earning respect among fans and peers alike.

Despite not being widely recognized on a global scale or even within the United States, Kahlina's influence is undeniable. His popularity surged during Charlotte FC's inaugural season when fans eagerly purchased jerseys bearing his name. Over three years, he has become an essential figure in Charlotte, enhancing the profile of the goalkeeper position both locally and beyond.

Kahlina attributes improvements in his game to better positioning and game reading. This season, he demonstrated these skills with notable performances such as a crucial save against Portland Timbers that preserved five consecutive clean sheets. Another memorable moment was against Chicago Fire FC when he made a vital stop during stoppage time, leaving opponents questioning how they failed to score.

The humility Kahlina exhibits extends to discussing his achievements. He downplayed a penalty save against Cincinnati, crediting teammate Adilson Malanda for guidance. Despite this modesty, his efforts helped secure a significant away victory for Charlotte FC.

Statistics support Kahlina's prowess; he ranks second in positive impacts among MLS goalkeepers since 2013 and third in goals prevented this season according to G-xG metrics. With 11 clean sheets and a 75.5% save percentage while playing every minute of the season, he has been crucial to Charlotte FC’s historic year.

Kahlina expressed aspirations of being recognized alongside prominent names in soccer: “It would mean a lot to me... I am happy to be there with big names." While maintaining humility about his status, there's little doubt that Kahlina deserves consideration as MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.