Best XI Of Leagues Cup Group Stage 2024

The Group Stage of Leagues Cup has come to an end with the New England Revolutions PK shootout win over Nashville SC. It was a fun Group Stage as we saw upsets, some surprising standouts, continued continental rivalries, and much more! But, to get a little spotlight to even more of the standouts of this year’s Group Stage, here is my picks for the MLS Aces “Team of the Group Stage”:

Goalkeeper - Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC)

Leftback - Ralph Orquin (FC Juarez)

Centerback - Franco Russo (Queretaro FC)

Centerback - Xavier Arreaga (New England Revolution)

Rightback - Yamil Asad (FC Cincinnati)

Central Midfielder - Marcel Ruiz (Toluca FC)

Central Midfielder - Daniel Pereira (Austin FC)

Attacking Midfielder - Evander (Portland Timbers)

Winger - Denis Bouanga (LAFC)

Striker - Ramiro Enrique (Orlando City SC)

Winger - Facundo Torres (Orlando City SC)

Bench - Camilo Vargas (GK, Atlas FC), Luis Reyes (FB, Atlas FC), Chidozie Awaziem (CB, FC Cincinnati), Jared Stroud (CM, D.C. United), Jack Panayotou (CM, New England Revolution), Gabriel Pec (Winger, LA Galaxy), and Christian Benteke (ST, D.C. United)

I really tried to keep the players that I selected to be from clubs that advanced into the Knockout Round of Leagues Cup. But I did end up selecting two players who did end up missing out on the rest of the tournament; Dayne St. Clair and Franco Russo. St. Clair put on a show in between the sticks for Minnesota United, keeping them even close to being in a place to potentially advance. St. Clair came up with 22 saves across 2 games played and only allowed 2 goals in that time as well. The other non-advancing member of this team is Queretaro centerback Franco Russo. Queretaro didn’t have the most impressive offensive showing in this tournament, but, defensively they played the likes of FC Cincinnati and NYCFC tough. Queretaro and Russo only allowed 1 goal across two games. He was the best defensive player over the course of both games and deserves a spot here. The rest of the backline consists of winback Yamil Asad for FC Cincinnati who scored in both games, Xavier Arreaga who was the Revs best defender as the Revs won their group, and left-back Ralph Orquin for Juarez who recorded an assist in group stage action. 

Moving into the midfield, there were a lot of fun players to select from. Ultimately, the first player I am starting with is the standout player from the entire Group Stage if you ask me… Dani Pereira. Austin shocked many around U.S. soccer by winning their group and much of that end result came from the performances of Pereira who had a goal and an assist. His lower midfield “partner” in my team is Marcel Ruiz from Toluca who finished with 2 goals in their games against Chicago and Sporting Kansas City. Lastly, the final midfield player for me comes in the form of Evander from the Portland Timbers. The attacking midfielder finished with 3 assists across Portland’s two wins over Colorado and Club Leon.

My attacking three all come from Major League soccer, and more specifically two from Orlando City. Denis Bouanga might be the player of the tournament so far as he has 1 goal and 3 assists through two Group Stage games. Pairing him on my wings with Orlando City’s standout wide player of Facundo Torres. Torres had 1 goal and 2 assists in his two games against Montreal and San Luis. The final attacker does also come from Orlando City. Striker Ramiro Enrique has been on fire lately, but in Leagues Cup specifically he does have 2 goals and 1 assist in his opening two games. This tournament is full of controversy, but one thing that can’t be denied is there is a lot of fun soccer going on.