Luciano Acosta wins 2023 MLS MVP award, outshining Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada

Luciano Acosta secured the title of 2023 MLS MVP with a resounding 60.37% of the votes, surpassing notable figures including Lionel Messi, Denis Bouanga, and Thiago Almada.

The FC Cincinnati midfielder’s stellar season, marked by 18 goals and 12 assists, propelled him to the top of the 30-man shortlist.

Acosta’s remarkable achievement positions him ahead of competitors, with LAFC forward Denis Bouanga securing second place with 14.97% and Thiago Almada at 6.46%.

The captain and No. 10, who also won AT&T 5G Goal of the Year honours, steered the Orange & Blue to their second consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs as they qualified for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Acosta, 29, initially joined Cincinnati in 2021 and was rewarded with a long-term contract extension in September.

The former DC United star, who captained the MLS All-Stars against Arsenal this summer, has 43 regular-season assists since arriving in the Queen City (second-most of any MLS player). And no player has produced more goal contributions than Acosta’s 136 (58g/78a) since his MLS debut in 2016.