Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 13. Chicho Arango

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Chicho Arango's 2024 season is quite the curious case. He was headed straight for the MVP, only to end up on an entirely new team months later. The San Jose Earthquakes acquired the striker for $1.4m GAM. He has shown his ability to score goals for both Real Salt Lake and LAFC now, though his most recent season could not have been more front-loaded. Arango essentially is ranked so high just because of the first half of the season, so imagine if he kept even a portion of his production up. He finished the season with a lovely 17 goal and 12 assist stat line and yet he failed to score a single time after the month of July. His 2024 is one of the biggest mysteries in the league's recent years but his blazing start still needs its respect.

The Colombian scored his first in St. Louis during the second game and followed it up with a goal and assisst in a 3-0 win over his former team. St. Louis felt his wrath soon after, conceding a hat trick to him in 20 minutes. He scored a brace and added an assist against Chicago Fire in a 4-0 away victory. He scored the 81st minute winner in a 1-0 triumph over Sporting Kansas City. In a tight battle with LA Galaxy, he scored another brace during a 2-2 draw. A chaotic 5-3 result over Colorado included two more goals along with another assist. He dropped another triple against Austin FC and was beginning to look unstoppable. In June, he amassed stats that most players never reach in a full season. There was no other choice for MVP at the time. He scored against Atlanta in July, received a suspension and was never the same upon his return. He did not even start the final game of his RSL career, a playoff elimination by Minnesota.

Arango's season is one that is very difficult to understand, but it seems that another change of scenery was necessary. For such a prolific scorer, he sure does make quick stops. He scored 35 goals in 52 matches for LAFC, moved to Pachuca for just 13 games and five goals then returned to MLS to score 25 in 52 for RSL. Now, he will lead the line with Josef Martinez in San Jose at his fourth club in two years. In 2024, he took 4.61 shots per 90, one of the most frequent shooters in the league. He also created 1.84 chances per game as a forward and won possession back over once a match as well. If he can bring the first half of 2024 to 2025, the Earthquakes could be in for their most successful season in a long time. Arango comes in at No. 13.

13) CHICHO ARANGO | FWD, RSL | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

17 GOALS

4.61 SHOTS PER 90 (96%)

1.84 CHANCES CREATED PER 90 (93%)

1.13 POSSESSION WON FINAL THIRD PER 90 (94%)