MLS Aces 2024 Team of the Season!!!
With the end of every MLS season we here at MLS Aces drop two articles every season; the MLS Aces Award Winners and the MLS Aces Team of the Season articles. If you haven’t already, go and check out the MLS Aces Award Winners article that dropped yesterday. There are a few hints in there to who will be named later on in this article in terms of MLS Aces Team of the Season. For those who are reading our end of season articles for the first time, our MLS Aces MVP, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year all earn spots within our final Best XI (and again, you can find those in the article linked above).
With a league of 29 clubs it is really difficult to select only 11 players who should be represented as the league’s best at year end. Regardless who you are a fan of in this league, someone that you think should make this Best XI will not be in this team below. I am just giving you the heads up now… Tom, Jason, and a trusted group of fans from around the league voted upon this and here we have it… the 2024 MLS Aces Best XI. For reference sake from the jump, we went with a 3-4-3 formation:
Goalkeeper/MLS Aces Goalkeeper of the Year:
Matt Freese - New York City FC
Through an up and down season that New York City has had, Matt Freese has been the only constant for a club that has finished comfortably within the playoffs. The underlying numbers for Freese are ridiculous and in most categories he finishes either top 1 or 2 within MLS this year. His shot stopping ability has been top notch and without him, New York City FC are more of a play-in game team than anything else. I will give the nod to Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina as the other keeper deserving of this spot as well. Personally, Freese edges him out and that is the way we saw the vote go as well.
Centerback:
Micael - Houston Dynamo
As one of the more “under the radar” defenders in MLS, Micael had himself a stellar 2024 season. In almost 2,800 minutes played for Houston this year he led the way to have one of the best backlines/defenses in the league. Houston allowed only 39 goals in MLS which was 3rd best across all of the league. Micael was the difference for that defense finishing with some amazing underlying numbers across centerbacks. Micael should be on this Best XI and I am pumped to see him get the votes to be a part of it.
Centerback:
Adilson Malanda - Charlotte FC
Micael is a “smaller name” to make this Best XI and I am sure that some people could say the same about Charlotte FC’s Adilson Malanda. But just because someone is a lesser known name, doesn’t mean that they aren't one of the better players within MLS. The 22 year old French centerback has been the constant for the 2nd best defense in MLS in 2024. Even after the addition of Tim Ream, Malanda’s minutes never dipped. Malanda played almost 2,900 minutes within MLS this year and even added a goal to his resume. The young defender is easily another player I am happy with slotting into this backline for us.
Centerback:
Steven Moreira - Columbus Crew SC
The second award winner is here for this Best XI. Steve Moreira was voted as the MLS Aces Defensive Player of the Year and now earns his spot in our back three for the MLS Aces Best XI. Moreira was the best defender on a top 4 defense within Major League Soccer this season. The 30 year old played 2,100 minutes for Columbus within MLS and was the rock on that backline locking down so many top wingers game after game. Not only was he excellent on the defensive end, Moreira was a constant offensive threat. Moreira finished his MLS play with 6 goal contributions within MLS.
Left Midfielder:
Luca Orellano - FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati finished as one of the best teams within the Eastern Conference. The end of their 2024 regular season campaign has not been fantastic, but Luca Orellano has been pretty fantastic! The 24 year old has stepped up as the Alvaro Barreal replacement for Cincinnati and as the co-star to Lucho Acosta. In almost 2,700 minutes played for Cincinnati within MLS, Orellano finished with 17 goal contributions. With Lucho out much more this season, Orellano stepped up as the much needed star for this club in 2024 and is deserving of this spot on our Best XI.
Central Midfielder:
Evander - Portland Timbers
Where would the Portland Timbers be without Evander? Most likely in the basement of MLS which shows just how special this man was in 2024. Evander finished his 2024 campaign with 15 goals and 19 assists as the Timbers were able to make it into the Play-In game against the Whitecaps. Evander is truly a special talent, one that fits into the top five within this league. There is a reason why large clubs are looking at him this winter, Evander brings something special with him every single time he steps on a field.
Central Midfielder:
Riqui Puig - Los Angeles Galaxy
This man runs the LA Galaxy. I know people will point to Gabriel Pec or even newly added Marco Reus, but Puig is the metronome that keeps this Galaxy ticking. Puig had his best MLS season yet finishing with 13 goals and 15 assists across roughly 2,500 minutes played. He also finished with the most touches in the entire league by a pretty good margain. Many people look at his defensive workrate as a knock, and I get the argument, but that is not what this man’s role on this team is. Puig is the offensive spark, offensive connector, and he has been one of the best eleven players this MLS season.
Right Midfielder:
Lucho Acosta - FC Cincinnati
I am cheating here a bit to get the best possible eleven players on the MLS Aces team. Lucho Acosta is not a right midfielder, a right wingback, or anything of the sort. However… Lucho would pair nicely into this midfield quad of Orellano, Evander, and Puig. Last season’s MVP didn’t have the same quality of season in 2024, but it was still pretty damn good. Lucho finished this season with 14 goals and 19 assists within MLS. An offensive output like this deserves a spot on the Best XI. It also helps that no rightback or right wingback truly stood out enough this season to make the team over any other of these midfielders.
Left Winger:
Denis Bouanga - LAFC
If you finish a season with 30+ goal contributions as an attacker, you deserve to be a Best XI member. There are a few on this list already, but Denis Bouanga is one of the best we’ve seen in MLS. The LAFC winger finished 2024 with 20 goals and 11 assists after a special Decision Day. Bouanga was able to be a leader for an LAFC side that at the last minute took home the Western Conference regular season “title”.
Striker:
Cucho Hernandez - Columbus Crew SC
Our 2024 MLS Aces MVP has made our Best XI as striker! Cucho wasn’t too far behind the league leaders in goal contributions as he finished with 33 across his 19 goals and 14 assists. Cucho played out of his mind this season across all competitions, and I understand that this isn’t a Leagues Cup award (etc.), but Cucho was special in 2024. Cucho is the player that makes this Columbus Crew club tick and makes them one of the only true threats to Inter Miami for a MLS Cup title.
Right Winger:
Lionel Messi - Inter Miami CF
I mean the man is the G.O.A.T for a reason. Many people will have an issue with the minutes he played within MLS this season (1,485). To me, that is why he didn’t win MVP for our awards. However, leading the league in goal contributions on the club that won the Supporters’ Shield? Yeah… that is good enough to make the Best XI. Lionel Messi finished with 20 goals and 16 assists across all of his games for Miami this season. The impact of this man is truly just unmatched in this league.
