CINCINNATI — The most valuable player in the entire MLS this season is one who wears Orange and Blue.
MLS announced the FC Cincinnati captain and midfielder Luciano Acosta is the 2023 MLS MVP on Monday, ahead of a formal announcement and trophy presentation from the team.
At TQL Stadium Monday afternoon, Acosta became emotional as he spoke, tearing up as he thanked his family for their support and sacrifice.
“The grass didn’t grow. You just played.”Luciano Acosta grew up playing soccer on fields with no grass.At a young age, doctors told Lucho he was done growing.“They said I couldn’t make it because I was too small.”Today, @LuchoAcosta94 was named 2023 @MLS MVP 🏆🎥 Part of… pic.twitter.com/sz4vwlZ1L8
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) November 27, 2023
"When we came to the United States to start playing in this country, it was very hard," he said, wiping tears from his eyes.
Acosta went on to thank the team and Jeff Berding, CEO of FC Cincinnati.
"When I had the first meeting with Jeff, I talked with Jeff and I said 'I want to make history for this club, I want to create a memory for this club,' and here we are, Jeff. Thank you," said Acosta.
It's the first time a Cincinnati athlete playing in a major league sport has been named MVP since Joey Votto accepted the honor from the MLB in 2010 — 13 years ago.
To fans of FC Cincinnati — and maybe even Major League Soccer as a whole — it's not altogether shocking that Acosta is the player named most valuable in the league this year. It's not even his first MLS award this year.
On Nov. 9, the MLS announced Luciano Acosta was awarded the 2023 AT&T 5G MLS Goal of the Year for his solo goal against Charlotte FC on Sept. 23.
FC Cincinnati welcomed Acosta to the roster in March of 2021 and the rest has been history-making.
Since joining the team, he has consistently been one of FC Cincinnati's best players and top scorers.
So far in 2023, Acosta has played 35 games, racking up over 2,500 minutes played; Acosta started 32 of those games.
In September, Lucho signed a contract extension with FC Cincinnati that will keep him playing for the Queen City through 2026, with an option for 2027, though the financial components of the contract were not disclosed.
FC Cincinnati will host the Columbus Crew on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Eastern Conference finals and for the right to play in the MLS Cup Final. Tickets for that game went on sale for season ticket members at 10 a.m. and for general public at 1 p.m.
The Crew beat Orlando City 2-0 in its conference semifinal match while FC Cincinnati defeated the Philadelphia Union to advance with a last-minute goal.
