2023 MLS MVP: Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati

(November 27, 2013) FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta has been named the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, beating out LAFC forward Denis Bouanga and Atlanta United FC’s Thiago Almada.

Acosta received 60.37% of the vote among players, media, and technical staff, thanks to his league-leading 31 goal contributions during the regular season, with 17 goals and 14 assists. He helped FC Cincinnati to their first Supporters Shield and is just the sixth player in league history to record three or more seasons with at least 10 goals and 10 assists.

Standing tall at 5’3″, Acosta is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and began his professional career with Boca Juniors in 2014. He spent the 2016 campaign on loan with D.C. United before making the move permanent a year later, scoring 25 goals in 137 league and cup appearances. He spent 15 months with Liga MX side Atlas before joining FC Cincinnati.

Acosta’s 43 regular-season assists since 2021 are the second-most of any MLS player during that time, and he has been a prolific attacking player ever since he entered the league in 2016 with D.C. United, scoring 58 goals and adding 78 assists, the most goal contributions by any player in that span. Only Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC, last year’s MVP, has made more contributions since Acosta made his Cincinnati debut in 2021.

Acosta is the ninth South American-born player to earn the MLS MVP honor and the first since Josef Martínez won the award with Atlanta United in 2018. Other Argentines to win the award are Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers, 2015), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew, 2008), and Christian Gómez (D.C. United, 2006).

Huge congrats to Acosta and the FC Cincinnati organization!

Link to official MLS press release: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-cincinnati-s-luciano-acosta-named-2023-landon-donovan-mls-mvp