Argentinian Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Costa won the ‘MVP Landon Donovan’ award on Monday, the best player of the MLS season, after a year in which he led his team by the hand to the ‘sign of supporter’ championship ( best team in the regular season), first title in the club’s history.
Acosta scored 17 goals and 14 assists in the regular season and Cincinnati is still in contention for the MLS playoffs, with the semi-final against the Colombo Crew on Saturday.
The Buenos Aires midfielder graduated from Boca Juniors and was also elected with 60.37% of the votes ahead of Denis Bouanga from Gabon (14.97%) and Thiago Almada from Argentina (6.46%).
Costa He is the ninth South American player to win the MVP title and the first since 2018, when the Venezuelan defeated José Martinez. He is the fourth Argentinian, after Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers, 2015), Guilherme Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew, 2008) and Cristiano Gomez (DC Unidos, 2006).
Argentina is now the country with the most MLS MVP winners, after the United States.
With his stellar performance, Acosta helped Cincinnati qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League.
MLS has awarded the “MVP of the Season” award since 1996 and determines it through player votes, club coaching staff and a small group of media, including EFE.
Since signing with Cincinnati (2021), Acosta is the second-highest player in the league with the most assists (43), behind Uruguayan Nicolas Lodeiro of the Seattle Sounders, at 80.
That year, Acosta also won the award for the best goal of the season, for the ‘Maradonian’ goal scored against him by Charlotte. Receiving the ball in the defensive half of the field, in the 78th minute, on September 23, he moved away from Frenchman Adilson Malanda with a “whistle” and attacked the opponent’s defense.
He dribbled past two other opponents, entered the area and beat the goalkeeper with a team-registered right-footed shot.
(With information from EFE)
Source: La Neta Neta
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