NEW YORK (Monday, July 10, 2023) – Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Léo Chú was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 24 of the 2023 MLS season.
Chú scored two goals in the club’s 3-2 comeback victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday, July 8. The Brazilian midfielder continued his breakout 2023 season, producing the first multi-goal game of his career and setting a new single-season career-high in goals scored (three). Chú is the only player in MLS this season to record both a multi-goal game and a game with at least three assists. His 11 goal contributions (three goals, eight assists) in 2023 are the most by a Sounders player. Seattle’s win on Matchday 24 was their first at BC Place since September 15, 2018, and snapped Vancouver’s nine-game home unbeaten run.
Vancouver took the lead in the 24th minute, but Chú equalized in the 60th minute when he tapped home Jackson Ragen’s header from a corner kick to tie the game at 1-1 (Watch Here). After the Whitecaps regained their advantage in the 72nd minute, Chú tied the match in similar fashion once again just four minutes later. Nicolás Lodeiro’s set piece was headed on by Ragen into the middle of the six-yard box where Chú lunged to redirect the ball into the net (Watch Here). Although, Chú was not credited with a goal or assist on the game-winning score, his well-struck effort in second-half stoppage time was saved by the Whitecaps goalkeeper, but fell to Seattle’s Yeimar, who slotted it home to give the Sounders all three points (Watch Here).
Chú becomes the second Seattle player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire this season, joining Jordan Morris. The Sounders have had multiple players earn the honor in the same season for the first time since 2020 when Morris and Raúl Ruidíaz both did so. Chú and Portland Timbers midfielder Evander (Matchday 12) are the only Brazilian players to win the award this season.
The Sounders look to make it three straight wins when they travel to face the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Matchday 25 this Wednesday, July 12 (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
