By Favian Renkel and Justin Ruderman
Welcome back to Week 30 of Justin and Favian’s Weekly MLS Awards where SBI staff writers Justin Ruderman and Favian Renkel bring you a glimpse at the best of each week in MLS.
The final Best of MLS for 2024 is in the books!
Here is a closer look at this week’s selections:
Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
For the first time in MLS history, a player came off the bench to score a hat trick with an assist to top it off. Of course, it was Lionel Messi in his final regular season game of his first full season in MLS to put an exclamation mark on his MVP campaign.
You better believe he received my vote for MLS MVP.
Favian Renkel: Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF)
Following Justin’s theme in his pick, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi became the first duo to each score 20 goals in a single MLS season for the same team. So, it was a no-brainer that they had to be the players of the week for the final MLS weekly.
Luis Suarez single-handedly kept Inter Miami in the game after they fell two goals behind against the New England Revolution, with the MLS points record on the line. Without Suarez, the gap might have been too much for Lionel Messi to overcome as a substitute.
In my opinion, Suarez’s two goals and a stunning acrobatic assist seal the deal for this MLS Weekly pick and his Newcomer of the Year award.
Young Player of the Week
JR: Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)
In need of a win to secure a top-three finish in the Western Conference, Diego Luna delivered for Real Salt Lake with a second-half equalizer before hitting the crossbar and eventually leading the fast break which led to a winning own goal by Vancouver. Luna also created a match high two chances unable to be converted by teammates.
You better believe he received my vote for MLS Young Player of the Year.
FR: Aziel Jackson (Columbus Crew)
Aziel Jackson is yet…
Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/10/diego-luna-inter-miami-headline-the-best-of-mls-for-week-30
Author : Favian Renkel
Publish date : 2024-10-22 10:18:11
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