Jamaican international Donovan Ricketts was named Major League Soccer's Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday for the second time in his career while his Portland teammate, Argentine midfielder Diego Valeri, was named MLS Newcomer of the Year.

The awards came three days before Sporting Kansas City plays host to Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup playoff championship final.

Ricketts, 36, led MLS with 14 clean sheets in his first season with the Timbers.

Ricketts also won the award in 2010 while with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

MLS Cup finalist goalkeepers, Real's Nick Rimando and Sporting's Jimmy Nielsen were second and third respectively in voting for the award by a media panel.

Valeri, 27, led MLS by creating 13 goals while scoring 10 in his first season with the Timbers after leaving Argentine side Lanus in January.

He became the third player in a row from Argentina to win the top newcomer award after Columbus forward Federico Higuain last year and Seattle midfielder Mauro Rosales in 2011.

Portuguese defender Jose Goncalves of New England was second with Vancouver's English midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker third.