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The MLS Team of the Week: Matchday 18

The MLS Team of the Week: Matchday 18

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FotMob’s MLS expert James Nalton picks five standout players from Matchday 18, including his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.

By James Nalton

The Top Two

9.7 FotMob rating: Christian Arango, Real Salt Lake

It is going to take some effort for a player not named Lionel Messi to claim the MLS MVP award in 2024. Real Salt Lake’s increasingly versatile Colombian forward Chicho Arango is putting in one such effort.

Three goals in a 5-1 win against a hapless Austin FC this weekend put him clear at the top of the league’s goalscoring charts on 16, three ahead of Christian Benteke’s 13 and four ahead of Messi’s 12.

Playing in this game as a No. 10 or support striker behind Ecuadorian forward Anderson Julio, who netted the other two goals, Arango showed how important he has been to RSL’s charge to the top of the Western Conference this season.

His first goal will be one of the goals of the season, and one of the all time memorable goals MLS has seen, struck from inside his own half and looping over stranded Austin goalie Brad Stuver.

9.5 FotMob rating: Alonso Martínez, New York City

New York City’s turnaround following a poor start to the season has seen them move within six points of Supporters’ Shield leaders Inter Miami, with two games in hand to potentially make up those six points.

Though the change in fortunes has been down to a group effort, there were two clear standout players in Friday night’s 5-1 win against San Jose Earthquakes.

Both came off the bench, and both provide hope that this good run of form isn’t just a flash in the pan.

Alonso Martínez entered the field with just under an hour played and went on to score a ten-minute hat-trick between the 85th and 95th minutes.

Preceding this goal haul was the return of wily Argentine attacking midfielder Maxi Moralez, making his first appearance since a cruciate knee ligament injury kept him out since last September.

A team that had at various times lacked both a goal threat and tactical control now have players available who can offer a solution to both, with Martínez’s late scoring spree turning a narrow 2-1 win into a convincing 5-1 statement to the rest of the league.

Three more standout performers

9.0 FotMob rating: Jordi Alba, Inter Miami

Alba was unlucky not to be part of a winning performance after playing a role in all three goals Inter Miami scored in a 3-3 draw at home to St. Louis City.

He assisted the first for Messi (see below), set Messi up for another brilliant chance which his teammate surprisingly couldn’t take, crossed low to the far post for Luis Suárez to turn one in, and scored a goal of his own getting on the end of a great ball over the top from Julian Gressel.

There was a space at his left back position as Indiana Vassilev scored St. Louis’ second goal, but this was more an issue with Miami’s defensive organisation issues that have remained a weakness among the many strengths in this team, as they were caught in transition.

In the end, Alba’s goal only rescued a point for his side, but this was one of the week’s standout performances even without the win.

9.0 FotMob rating: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

Inter Miami’s first goal in this game was all Messi. One of those goals where he sees the pass, which he made out to Alba, but also sees the next pass and almost dictates the return ball from his teammate.

When it’s a player he’s as familiar with as Alba, these can look like the smoothest moves, and it was the case when Messi took the return pass just inside the area and hit it first time to level the scores.

Messi’s rating is so high despite only scoring one goal thanks to three chances created, but also 15 dribbles attempted, nine of which were completed.

It wasn’t Messi’s best performance of the season, and he will have been disappointed not to score another goal on the night, but even at this level he’s still easily among the best players in the league.

9.2 FotMob rating: Liel Abada, Charlotte

The 22-year-old winger signed from Celtic to a Young Designated Player contract this season has not quite hit his stride yet, but there were signs in Charlotte’s memorable 3-2 win in Atlanta that something is brewing.

Abada scored two second-half goals that ultimately gave his side the win and meant Atlanta took nothing from the game despite a late goal of their own.

Abada’s first was one of the goals of the round, hit right footed into the bottom corner from outside the area. His second found the same part of the goal, but was strick with his left foot closer to goal.

Having a winger who is able to drift inside and score goals in this manner could be the difference between Dean Smith’s Charlotte side being also-rans in the East and being one that can challenge for a place in the top four.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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 MLS Team of the Week: Matchday 18

FotMob’s MLS expert James Nalton picks five standout players from Matchday 18, including his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.

By James Nalton

The Top Two

9.7 FotMob rating: Christian Arango, Real Salt Lake

It is going to take some effort for a player not named Lionel Messi to claim the MLS MVP award in 2024. Real Salt Lake’s increasingly versatile Colombian forward Chicho Arango is putting in one such effort.

Three goals in a 5-1 win against a hapless Austin FC this weekend put him clear at the top of the league’s goalscoring charts on 16, three ahead of Christian Benteke’s 13 and four ahead of Messi’s 12.

Playing in this game as a No. 10 or support striker behind Ecuadorian forward Anderson Julio, who netted the other two goals, Arango showed how important he has been to RSL’s charge to the top of the Western Conference this season.

His first goal will be one of the goals of the season, and one of the all time memorable goals MLS has seen, struck from inside his own half and looping over stranded Austin goalie Brad Stuver.

9.5 FotMob rating: Alonso Martínez, New York City

New York City’s turnaround following a poor start to the season has seen them move within six points of Supporters’ Shield leaders Inter Miami, with two games in hand to potentially make up those six points.

Though the change in fortunes has been down to a group effort, there were two clear standout players in Friday night’s 5-1 win against San Jose Earthquakes.

Both came off the bench, and both provide hope that this good run of form isn’t just a flash in the pan.

Alonso Martínez entered the field with just under an hour played and went on to score a ten-minute hat-trick between the 85th and 95th minutes.

Preceding this goal haul was the return of wily Argentine attacking midfielder Maxi Moralez, making his first appearance since a cruciate knee ligament injury kept him out since last September.

A team that had at various times lacked both a goal threat and tactical control now have players available who can offer a solution to both, with Martínez’s late scoring spree turning a narrow 2-1 win into a convincing 5-1 statement to the rest of the league.

Three more standout performers

9.0 FotMob rating: Jordi Alba, Inter Miami

Alba was unlucky not to be part of a winning performance after playing a role in all three goals Inter Miami scored in a 3-3 draw at home to St. Louis City.

He assisted the first for Messi (see below), set Messi up for another brilliant chance which his teammate surprisingly couldn’t take, crossed low to the far post for Luis Suárez to turn one in, and scored a goal of his own getting on the end of a great ball over the top from Julian Gressel.

There was a space at his left back position as Indiana Vassilev scored St. Louis’ second goal, but this was more an issue with Miami’s defensive organisation issues that have remained a weakness among the many strengths in this team, as they were caught in transition.

In the end, Alba’s goal only rescued a point for his side, but this was one of the week’s standout performances even without the win.

9.0 FotMob rating: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

Inter Miami’s first goal in this game was all Messi. One of those goals where he sees the pass, which he made out to Alba, but also sees the next pass and almost dictates the return ball from his teammate.

When it’s a player he’s as familiar with as Alba, these can look like the smoothest moves, and it was the case when Messi took the return pass just inside the area and hit it first time to level the scores.

Messi’s rating is so high despite only scoring one goal thanks to three chances created, but also 15 dribbles attempted, nine of which were completed.

It wasn’t Messi’s best performance of the season, and he will have been disappointed not to score another goal on the night, but even at this level he’s still easily among the best players in the league.

9.2 FotMob rating: Liel Abada, Charlotte

The 22-year-old winger signed from Celtic to a Young Designated Player contract this season has not quite hit his stride yet, but there were signs in Charlotte’s memorable 3-2 win in Atlanta that something is brewing.

Abada scored two second-half goals that ultimately gave his side the win and meant Atlanta took nothing from the game despite a late goal of their own.

Abada’s first was one of the goals of the round, hit right footed into the bottom corner from outside the area. His second found the same part of the goal, but was strick with his left foot closer to goal.

Having a winger who is able to drift inside and score goals in this manner could be the difference between Dean Smith’s Charlotte side being also-rans in the East and being one that can challenge for a place in the top four.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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.