_ The striker becomes the fourth Mexican player to earn the honor since 2010_
NEW YORK (Friday, June 30, 2023) – Sporting Kansas City forward Alan Pulido was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Month for June 2023.
Pulido was clinical in front of goal during the month of June, scoring an MLS-best six goals over the span. The Mexican forward added an assist as well, as his seven goal contributions were also the most in the league in June. Pulido scored in four consecutive matches from June 3 to June 21, becoming the first Sporting player to do so since Johnny Russell in 2021 (eight consecutive games). Seven of Sporting Kansas City’s eight goals in June were either scored or assisted on by Pulido. In addition to Player of the Month honors, Pulido also captured MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 18 after his two-goal, one-assist performance in Kansas City’s 4-1 victory over Austin FC.
After missing 2022 due to a season-ending knee injury, Pulido has returned to his goal scoring form in 2023. The Mexican leads Sporting Kansas City with 10 goal contributions (seven goals, three assists) on the year. Since joining Kansas City in 2020, Pulido has scored 21 goals and tacked on 11 assists in 49 MLS matches. Pulido’s 0.43 goals per game average is currently the second-best mark in club history trailing only Dom Dwyer at 0.45 (minimum 20 goals).
This is the first time that Pulido has been voted MLS Player of the Month and he becomes the first Sporting Kansas City player to win the award since Felipe Gutiérrez in March 2018. Pulido is the fourth Mexican player to earn the honor since the start of 2010, joining Javier Eduardo López, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, and Carlos Vela (three times).
Sporting Kansas City will welcome Vancouver Whitecaps to Children’s Mercy Park on July 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) as Pulido looks to stay red-hot in the hopes of leading his club to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
|
