Lucho Acosta shone brighter than any other player – even Lionel Messi – in Major League Soccer in 2023.

However, the FC Cincinnati playmaker was already a known quantity in the league. There were other players who either came from nowhere or reached new heights who enjoyed a breakout year. Here are five of them.

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By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

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Noel Buck (New England Revolution)

Noel Buck made a big impact for the New England Revolution even as the Foxborough outfit endured a challenging year on and off the pitch. The emergence of Buck as one of the brightest young players in the league was one highlight with the 18-year-old tipped to achieve big things in the sport.

Buck is a midfield all-rounder. He can contribute on all sides of the game and is capable of operating as a number six or eight and can even play in a wide position. The teenager is comfortable on the ball and has the work ethic expected of central midfielders in the modern game. 

Born in the USA, Buck made his England U19 debut earlier this year and caused a stir by turning up to a Revolution match in a retro Three Lions shirt. The 18-year-old could still improve his attacking decision-making and has still to grow into his frame, but 2023 was the year Buck showcased his potential. 

Drake Callender (Inter Miami)

Inter Miami will remember 2023 as the year Lionel Messi made the move to South Florida. However, it was also the year that Drake Callender completed his transformation into one of the best goalkeepers in the league. Not so long ago, the 26-year-old was third-choice for Inter Miami. He also spent 2021 playing in USL League One. Now, he’s Tata Martino’s first-choice.

The inaugural Leagues Cup was defined by Messi’s goalscoring performances, but Callender was just as much of a match-winner, saving two penalties and scoring one in the final shootout against Nashville. Callender was rewarded with his first USA call-up in August and could be in next summer’s Copa America squad if he starts next season well. 

Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami)

Gregg Berhalter has persuaded several dual-nationals to play for the USA with Argentina-eligible Benjamin Cremaschi called up for the first time in September. The 18-year-old caught the eye for Inter Miami this year, scoring two goals and assisting four more in 28 MLS appearances. Even more is expected of him in 2024.

Cremaschi is an extremely talented two-way midfielder who is most comfortable as a number eight. The teenager is naturally creative and is excellent at finding half-spaces between the lines where he can disrupt opposition defences. With Messi alongside him, Cremaschi has the perfect mentor to learn from.

Griffin Dorsey (Houston Dynamo)

Griffin Dorsey was already an established member of the Houston Dynamo first team entering 2023, but his performance levels reached a new level this season. While Dorsey started the campaign as a depth option, he quickly made himself a key figure for Ben Olsen’s team and become indispensable.

“He’s one of the stories in MLS, and he should be,” said Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark. “What he brings to our team with his pace, the amount of ground he covers, his strength – he’s just a real force to be reckoned with in the way he plays.” 

Dorsey is a crucial part of the way Houston play out from the back with the 24-year-old finishing the season as the team’s defensive leader in goals (three), assists (two), key passes (15) and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.37). He also ranked highly in progressive carries per 90 minutes (3.33) and fifth in successful take-ons per 90 minutes (1.23). 

Duncan McGuire (Orlando City)

Duncan McGuire earned himself a reputation as one of the best finishers in MLS this season, scoring 13 goals in 31 appearances (12 of them off the bench). Not so long ago, McGuire was playing college football, but he is now widely seen as one of the best young forwards the USA has right now.

McGuire was handed his first U23 call-up for the USA in October and many believe he will one day make the step up to the senior team at some point in the future. The 22-year-old has been compared to Daryl Dike who also made a name for himself in college before jumping up to MLS with Orlando City.

“They are similar players in terms of willingness and energy and big body in presence up top, both of them have willingness to work,” said Orlando manager Oscar Pareja when comparing McGuire and Dike. Another full season in MLS could help McGuire reach even higher heights next year. 

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Major League Soccer’s MVP and Golden Boot winner are both represented in the FotMob best XI from the league in 2023, as are Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati and MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

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By James Nalton, MLS expert

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The best of the rest have not been forgotten. The XI includes players from all positions and takes into account performances throughout 2023. It could, in theory, operate as a functional team if it were to actually take to the field!

Goalkeeper: Roman Burki

Put simply, St. Louis City would not have finished top of the Western Conference were it not for goalkeeper, Burki. The former Dortmund stopper was one of the most important signings for the 2023 expansion team under coach Bradley Carnell whose setup helped the team overachieve in its debut season. To back this up, only Daniel of San Jose, who also deserves a mention, prevented more goals according to the data.

Right-Back: Julian Gressel

With more chances created per 90 minutes than the likes of Barreal and Kai Wagner, Gressel remained one of the most creative wing-backs in MLS. Along with forward Christian Ramirez, he helped change the game for Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference final against FC Cincinnati – a key moment in their run to becoming the 2023 MLS Cup champion.

Right Centre-Back: Yeimar Gómez

The Seattle defender was the main reason his team finished the season with the joint-fewest goals conceded in MLS. The Sounders also had the lowest xG against in the league, and the Colombian’s proactive defending stopped many attacks in mid-flow, finishing the season with a league-high 77 interceptions.

Left Center-Back: Robin Jansson

Despite finishing second in the overall table, Orlando City went under the radar somewhat, and the same could be said of its left-sided defender, Jansson. The Swede featured in every game for Orlando in 2023, providing an outlet to start attacks through passing and ball-carrying as well as being a solid defensive presence.

Left-Back: Álvaro Barreal

The Argentine was the most attacking full-back in a league that boasts a number of them, He offered a regular threat down the left, cutting inside as well as overlapping and helping define FC Cincinnati’s attack as much as lauded teammate and compatriot Acosta. Barreal scored seven goals and made eight assists across the regular season and playoffs.

Midfield: Obinna Nwobodo

The Nigerian midfielder’s importance to FC Cincinnati was especially highlighted during his absence against Philadelphia Union and at the start of the game against Columbus in the playoffs. Nwobodo was joint top among midfielders for interceptions and tackles combined in 2023, alongside the Crew’s Aidan Morris who fully deserves a mention here too.

Midfield: Héctor Herrera

The Mexican talisman came into his own in 2023, providing the class and leadership Houston Dynamo hoped he would bring to the franchise when they signed him in 2022. He set the tempo for the team that won the US Open Cup and made it to the Western Conference final.

Attacking Midfield: Luciano Acosta

The No.10 or second striker position is always a strength for MLS as a league so it can be difficult to pick just one player here. This season, the task was made slightly easier by the standout play of the league’s eventual MVP, Acosta. His performances propelled Cincinnati to the Supporters’ Shield, registering 17 goals and 10 assists in the regular season. Simply the league’s best player in 2023.

Right Wing: Cristian Espinoza

It was another productive season for San Jose’s creative right-winger, who finished the 2023 regular season having created more chances than any other player, with 101. Espinoza completed the season with a return of 13 goals and eight assists, and also the highest expected assists tally in MLS at 13.29.

Left Wing: Denis Bouanga

The Gabon international has been a goalscoring, counter-attacking machine from the left wing in 2023. His goals in the playoffs were key to LAFC’s run to the MLS Cup final after a disappointing regular season by the West Coast club’s standards. Bouanga’s 20 goals saw him claim the Golden Boot award.

Striker: Cucho Hernández

Even prior to his MLS Cup final MVP performance, Cucho was the standout striker in MLS throughout the 2023 regular season. He was ideal for the brand of attacking football the Crew played under Wilfried Nancy, contributing to build-up, pressing from the front, and most importantly for a player in his position, scoring goals.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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You can follow every match from the 2023 MLS season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Most expansion teams struggle in Major League Soccer, but FC Cincinnati struggled more than most. Three successive ‘wooden spoons’ – unofficially awarded to the team that finishes bottom of the league each season – were illustrative of a franchise that took a while to get on its feet. In 2023, though, Cincy broke into a sprint.

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By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

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Pat Noonan’s team dominated the regular season, winning the Supporters’ Shield by a comfortable margin of six points. Had it not been for a late collapse from 2-0 up against the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference final, FC Cincinnati would have reached the MLS Cup final too. They were in contention for a Shield and Cup double.

Some fans argue Cincy’s 2023 campaign was ultimately a disappointment. If MLS Cup is the league’s biggest prize, Noonan and his players were made to rue not clinching it when the opportunity was clearly there for them to do so. The pain was exacerbated by rivals Columbus winning MLS Cup instead.

Most, however, expect Cincy to be contenders again next season such is the strength of the foundations put in place by Noonan. In a league increasingly defined by distinctive ideologies – like the high-risk approach used by Wilfried Nancy at Columbus – FC Cincinnati’s greatest strength is their ability to adapt. That gives them a chance in most matches they play.

Noonan toggles between setting up his team to play with the ball and against it. This is clear in the possession numbers recorded by Cincy this season with their average share of the ball varying wildly from one match to the next. FC Cincinnati can be expansive and attack-minded, but also know how to stay compact and restrict opponents.

Many of Noonan’s ideas can be likened to those of Jim Curtin, who he served under as an assistant manager at the Philadelphia Union. General Manager Chris Albright also worked at Subaru Park, so it’s unsurprising that there is so much overlap between FC Cincinnati and the Union in terms of playing style and general ethos.

Lucho Acosta flourished as Cincy’s primary attacking difference-maker in 2023, winning the MLS MVP award with a record of 18 goals and 12 assists over the regular season and play-offs. His talent had been clear since his time at DC United, but Noonan built around him to get the best out of the Argentine. Acosta is Cincy’s attacking hub.

“Lucho is a pain in the ass,” said Noonan, describing Acosta’s importance to FC Cincinnati. “But he’s a good pain in the ass. He’s so talented, and he does have freedoms that some of his teammates don’t. But it’s because of what he’s capable of doing with those freedoms that helps us win games.”

Álvaro Barreal is another creative force with the left wing back statistically MLS’s most dangerous passing threat from dead-ball situations. Brandon Vazquez suffered a drop-off in his goalscoring numbers from 2022 (when he netted 19 times in the regular season) to 2023 (when he scored just eight), but the USA international is still a highly effective focal point up front.

Summer signing Aaron Boupendza offered another dimension in the final third after the loss of Brenner to Udinese. Then there’s the midfield pairing of Obinna Nwobodo and Junior Moreno, who give Cincy presence and physicality in the centre of the pitch, and defensive leaders Yerson Mosquera and Matt Miazga at the back. 

Shrewd recruitment and good coaching has been at the core of Cincy’s dramatic improvement from their first three seasons in MLS to now. Even when results were poor, the club – and its fans – could see what Noonan was trying to achieve. The lack of relegation in MLS allowed FC Cincinnati to build something over a number of years.

Cincy’s fans also deserve credit for their role in the team’s turnaround. They made TQL Stadium the most difficult venue for away teams to visit in 2023 – FC Cincinnati suffered just two regular season defeats at home. The city has cultivated an authentic football culture and that passion energises all areas of the club.

Until there are orange and blue ribbons hanging from the MLS Cup trophy, however, FC Cincinnati will still feel they have something left to prove. One last thing to achieve. The way they have improved season-on-season, it would be foolish to doubt the capacity of Noonan and his players to get even better. 

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

The dust and the confetti have settled on another MLS Cup final, as Columbus Crew wowed the league with its style of football culminating in a triumphant finale.

It’s a style that peaked in the postseason, proving they can win games, when required, as well as being enjoyable to watch for the most ardent, and more casual observers of the league.

A 2-1 win against Los Angeles FC in the final, with goals from the eventual MLS Cup MVP Cucho Hernández and Yaw Yeboah, capped off a memorable season for the Crew.

Denis Bouanga continued his goalscoring feats in knockout football and his goal with 15 minutes to go gave LAFC late hope, but the team from the west coast were unable to defend their crown.

There is a new crew in town.

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By James Nalton, MLS expert

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A Victory for Nancyball

What even is Nancyball?

The style of football employed by Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy promotes positive possession play, proactive pressing, and a team ethic coupled with a desire to entertain the fans and each other.

It is as much a mindset as it is a tactical instruction. 

Amid a league of counter-pressing and counter-attacking frenzy, the Crew invite the pressure, revel in it and, in theory, pass around, and through it.

The 82 goals scored by the Crew across 2023 in MLS was the most by an MLS Cup winner in a single season. The entertainment was certainly present.

It didn’t always go smoothly, and Columbus conceded 38 goals in 20 games away from home in MLS competition during 2023. 

But that doesn’t matter to Nancy. As long as the players are working to the plan and constantly honing their ability to execute it, the belief is that improvement will come, as will the results.

At home, it was more productive. The Crew has one of the best defensive records in the league at Lower.com Field, where they obviously feel more comfortable practising this style.

And with the MLS Cup final being played at said home, there was always a chance Nancyball could shine on the biggest stage of all.

The team that focuses on its vision of how football should be played, rather than on results alone, secured the biggest result of them all, producing one of the most memorable MLS Cup wins in the process.

Given the manner in which it was achieved, it might also prove to be important to the development, evolution, and perception of the game in the lands of major league soccer.

An Assist for the Ages

It was the kind of incisive, visionary pass that might be played by an attacking playmaker from the edge of the area, but instead, it was played from the Columbus Crew defensive line.

Left centre-back Malte Amundsen received the ball just inside the opposition half following some flowing, darting Columbus Crew build-up play.

A gap opened up in front of him and the Dane played one of those passes that directs the recipient as much as it does the ball.

Yeboah played an important part. This is not a worldie of an assist if he doesn’t finish it, and it gave the Crew a second goal to further galvanise them and justify their approach.

Both wide centre-backs are particularly notable in this style.

On the right, Steven Moreira regularly ventures forward in open play, and early on in the final found himself in an advanced position near the LAFC box. A signal of intent.

On the left, the Crew use another converted full-back in Amundsen to assist with the directness of the build-up.

He saved his most direct pass for what turned out to be the MLS Cup winning goal.

Defining Darlington Nagbe

This was Nagbe’s second MLS Cup win with the Crew and his fourth in total. 

The Liberia-born, Ohio-raised former United States international previously won the league’s biggest prize with Portland Timbers in 2015 and Atlanta United in 2018 before the two Crew triumphs in 2020 and 2023.

In many ways, this was Nagbe’s defining MLS Cup win. He has found a team and a style that perfectly aligns with his strengths and the way he plays the game.

It is a shame his relationship with the United States national team never found similar harmony, as he would have gone down as one of the best midfielders in USMNT history. He still should, and will, go down as one of the best US soccer has seen.

The lack of international involvement shouldn’t diminish his contributions, his quality, his importance to American soccer, or his legendary status in the league in which the 33-year-old has spent all 12 years of his top-level soccer career to date.

Nagbe finished the final with a pass success of 96%, summing up his role as a facilitator in this team.

His delayed pass for Amundsen in the build-up to the second goal, drawing an LAFC defender before moving the ball on, created the space for the Dane’s highlight-reel assist.

It was Nagbe in a nutshell, doing the integral work that within the team allows others to shine.

Assisted by promising midfield teammate Aidan Morris, Nagbe was this iteration of Columbus Crew and Nancyball encapsulated.

LAFC’s Failed Defence

LAFC entered 2024 as the defending Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup champions. A team on the verge of all-time MLS greatness who were also among the favourites to lift the Concacaf Champions League.

Runs in the Champions League can often be considered a distraction to MLS regular season play.

This, coupled with the number of seemingly meaningless games in the main body of the MLS season means focus for the teams involved can understandably fall on the big continental tournament.

LAFC made it all the way to the Champions League final, in June, but lost to Mexican side Club León across two legs.

They could then turn their attention to the regular season once again, but finished a disappointing third in the Western Conference, and eighth in the overall standings, as FC Cincinnati claimed the Supporters’ Shield title.

The 2022 Shield winners were some way off that level in 2023 but still had a chance to defend their MLS Cup at the end of the year.

Once into the final, there was hope they might.

Bouanga was on fire in front of goal in knockout football, as he had been throughout the year in the Leagues Cup and Champions League, scoring in all but one of LAFC’s playoff games.

But in the end, LAFC failed in their second big final of the year. 

Bouanga got his name on the scoresheet again, but it was ultimately a consolation goal which will be of no consolation to a team that was so close to cementing a legacy as one of the best in MLS history.

Future Challenges

There is now the mouthwatering prospect of seeing Columbus Crew and Nancy take their enterprising brand of football into next season’s Concacaf Champions Cup (the new name for the Champions League).

It’s a style of football that in many ways has transcended the league in which it has been played.

It may attract glances from outside of MLS in the same way Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi or Fernando Diniz’s Fluminense have, gaining attention from the wider soccer community.

And the Crew will now get the chance to go continental, further showcasing their characteristics to the rest of the Americas, and anyone else who continues to be intrigued as to how far such an approach can take this team.

Next year, there is an MLS Cup to defend, too, when Columbus will also be among the favourites to top the league and lift the Supporters’ Shield. Exciting times for an exciting team.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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You can follow every match from the 2023 MLS season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.