FC CINCINNATI
Will Luciano Acosta win MLS MVP? FC Cincinnati star signs contract extension
The 29-year-old has signed a new deal that will keep him at TQL Stadium through the 2026 MLS season.
Two-time MLS All-Star Luciano Acosta has penned a new deal with Supporters Shield leaders FC Cincinnati.
Acosta, often known as ‘Lucho’, has put pen to paper on a contract extension that keeps him at the club through the 2026 MLS season, with the option for a further year.
The Argentine is one of the most creative players in the league and has already contributed 14 goals and 11 assists in 27 matches this year. He is currently club captain at TQL Stadium and is the team’s all-time leader in both goals and assists in MLS.
In announcing the contract extension FC Cincinnati General Manager Chris Albright described Acosta as “a tremendously important player for our team and our club.”
Albright continued: “He’s clearly one of the best players in our league, capable of producing the spectacular moments that win you games.”
Acosta aiming to “return that love with a title”
FC Cincinnati are one of the newer teams in MLS, only making their debut in the league in 2019. Since then they have been on a steady rise, making it to the MLS playoffs for the first time in 2022.
They reached the Eastern Conference semi-finals last year, where they were narrowly beaten by eventual MLS Cup finalists Philadelphia Union.
This time around, with the team nine points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference, the team are on track to secure FC Cincinnati’s first piece of silverware.
Speaking after signing his contract extension, Acosta said that the club has become a “family” to him.
The Argentine said: “I hope to win many things with this team, with this city, and give back the joy that the fans give us all the time, every weekend, every day and return that love with a title.”
Who will win the MLS MVP Award?
The 29-year-old’s performances this year have made him one of the front-runners to be named the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP. His team are close to tying up the Supporters Shield and Acosta has been named in the MLS Team of the Matchday 10 times already this season.
His 14 goals put him just one off the Golden Boot leader, last year’s MVP Hany Mukhtar. Nashville forward Mukhtar is also in the conversation to be named MVP but his side are only just in the playoff places as things stand.
Aside from Acosta and Mukhtar, LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada and Lucas Zelarayan of Columbus Crew are also in the running.