NEW YORK (Wednesday, July 6, 2022) – FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Month for June 2022.
Acosta tied for the league lead with four goal contributions (one goal, three assists) in the month of June despite only playing in 137 minutes. The midfielder came off the bench and provided the game-winning assist vs. Orlando City SC on June 24 and totaled one goal and two assists in a 4-4 draw vs. New York City FC on June 29, including the game-tying helper. Only two other players totaled four goal contributions in June and he was the lone player to record three assists during the month. Cincinnati was one of five teams to post an unbeaten record (one win, two draws) in the month of June and it was their first unbeaten month (minimum two matches) in club history.
Acosta has helped propel FC Cincinnati to a 7-7-4 record on the season, which is the most points (25) and wins (seven) in club history. In Cincinnati’s seven wins this season, Acosta has produced a goal or an assist in six of those matches.
The Argentine leads MLS in both goal contributions (16) and assists (10) in 2022, while ranking second in key passes (48). He has produced at least one goal or assist in 13 different matches this season, which is the most in MLS with the next-closest player at 11 different games (New England Revolution’s Carles Gil). Acosta’s 33 goal contributions since the start of 2021 are the fourth most in MLS and his 20 assists are tied for the second most.
Acosta is the first FC Cincinnati player to be voted Player of the Month in club history. It is the second Player of the Month honor in his career (September 2018 with D.C. United), joining New York City FC’s ValentĂn Castellanos, Atlanta United’s Josef MartĂnez, and LAFC’s Carlos Vela as the only players to win multiple MLS Player of the Month awards since the start of 2018. Acosta is the 10th player in MLS history to be named Player of the Month with two different teams and Cincinnati is the 27th different team to have a player earn the honor.
The club is back in action on Saturday when they host the New York Red Bulls at TQL Stadium on Saturday, July 9 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
Month |
Player |
Club |
---|---|---|
March |
Lucas Zelarayán |
Columbus Crew |
April |
Sebastián Driussi |
Austin FC |
May |
Paul Arriola |
FC Dallas |
June |
Luciano Acosta |
FC Cincinnati |