Major League Soccer unveiled FC Cincinnati’s star attacking midfielder Luciano Acosta as the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 regular season.
Acosta won the 2023 Landon Donovan MVP award with overwhelming support from the voting panel consisting of players, media, and club staff. The 29-year-old had a total of 60.37% votes, finishing ahead of LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga (14.97%) and Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada (6.46%).
Acosta played 32 games in the regular season, scoring 17 goals and adding 14 assists while leading FC Cincinnati to first place in the Western Conference and MLS’ best 20-5-9 record. Acosta continued his good form in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring once and dishing two assists, helping his team advance to the Conference Finals.
“I’m very proud of this team,” Acosta said. “I think everybody deserves something this year. We deserve more. We have to give it our all. Let’s go.”
Luciano Acosta first arrived in MLS in 2016, signing with D.C. United. He spent four years with D.C. before joining Liga MX side Atlas. However, less than two years later, Acosta returned to the United States and signed with Cincinnati as a Designated Player.
Acosta has 58 goals and 78 assists in his seven years in MLS. He had three seasons with at least 10 goals and 10 assists, making him only the sixth player in the history of the league to achieve this feat.
