Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 4. Cucho Hernandez

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Cucho Hernandez was sold to LaLiga's Real Betis for a fee around $16m after an unbelievable two and a half years in Columbus. The price tag was perhaps a bit disappointing for Crew fans, especially considering NYCFC just sold Santiago Rodriguez to Brazil for the same price. Cucho has a serious case to be the best player in Major League Soccer since he joined the league. In 2024, he scored another 19 goals as Columbus' star man. The club has now lost a lot of its top attacking talent across the last few years but are still well-equipped for a good season. Hernandez went 74 minutes in his Betis debut as the 25-year-old hopes to improve on his pre-Columbus numbers in Europe.

The Colombian began his year the only way he knows how, a game-winning goal in the ifrst match of the year. He nearly did the same in match two, though it was negated by a late Minnesota equalizer. He scored a valuable goal in a CONCACAF Champions Cup series win over Monterrey. In June, the inevitable explosion finally game. Across 14 consecutive games stretching into late August, he contributed to a goal in every single game, bar just one. He terrorized Sporting Kansas City with a hat trick, dropped two on New England and led his team to the Leagues Cup final during the stretch. His brace and assist against LAFC won the Crew the tournament. A double in a win over Philadelphia led them into the posteason as the No. 2 seed. Columbus shockingly lost to the New York Red Bulls in the first round.

Even though Cucho's last game in Crew colors did not end how everyone expected, he was always going to make a move back to Europe playing the way he was. He will have a chance to compete for the starting striker job at a top-half Spanish club next to a rejuvenated Antony. The move came after he scored 19 goals and 14 assists, his best season by six goal contributions. He created 2.27 chances per 90 and sent 3.05 long balls on target per 90. These are both nearly unheard of for strikers. His quick feet and smaller frame allows him to drop deeper and set up his teammates in a variety of ways. He also averaged two successful dribbles per 90. He was unlike no other player in the league and Columbus will have a massive hole at its striker position after his departure. Cucho comes in at No. 4.

4) CUCHO HERNANDEZ | FWD, CLB | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

19 GOALS

2.27 CHANCES CREATED PER 90 (98%)

3.05 ACCURATE LONG BALLS PER 90 (100%)

2 SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES PER 90 (97%)