FC Cincinnati superstar and captain Luciano Acosta was named the 2023 MLS MVP on Monday, becoming the first player in team history to earn the award. Here’s what you need to know.
- The 29-year-old attacking midfielder had 17 goals and 10 primary assists this season, leading Cincinnati to win the Supporters’ Shield, the club’s first-ever trophy.
- Including secondary assists, Acosta’s 31 goal contributions (17 goals, 14 assists) led MLS in 2023.
- Acosta finished with 60 percent of the total vote, well ahead of second-place Dénis Bouanga (15 percent) and third-place Thiago Almada (6 percent).
Took his game to another dimension & had a season for the ages. ✨@fccincinnati’s Lucho Acosta is the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP! pic.twitter.com/pGlSS5gSwH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 27, 2023
Why Acosta deserves MVP
Individual excellence, team success, leadership and incredible highlight reel moments: Acosta deservingly was named MLS MVP.
Beyond the box score numbers and team success, Acosta’s underlying metrics show his dominance. Acosta was in the 99th percentile among MLS attacking midfielders/wings in shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (7.08), 96th percentile in expected assists (0.35) and 91st percentile in non-penalty xG + xA (0.58).
Acosta is the face of a club that underwent a historic turnaround. He joined in 2021 and, in his first season, Cincy finished bottom of MLS. In 2022 after general manager Chris Albright and coach Pat Noonan took over, Acosta was central to their plans and strategy. He was pushed higher up the field, with two forwards ahead of him, and tasked with carrying the attack.
Over the last two years, Acosta has 27 goals and 22 assists.
Acosta and Cincy host the Eastern Conference final on Saturday, looking to produce a new milestone. If they win, Cincy will host the MLS Cup on Dec. 9.
Prior to joining Cincinnati from Mexico’s Atlas, Acosta starred for D.C. United from 2016 to 2019.
Required reading
(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski / Getty Images for USSF)