Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 7. Luciano Acosta

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Luciano Acosta had another fantastic season in 2024 but will be playing with a brand-new team in 2025. FC Dallas acquired the star attacking midfielder from FC Cincinnati for $5m. He scored 14 goals and assisted 19 in his most recent campaign. In 2023, he won the MLS MVP Award. Acosta was the first true star in the club's MLS era after a rough first few seasons in the league. The way he went out was fairly ugly, though the fans can never truly have hatred for him after all the greatness he brought to Cincy. His 2024 was up there with the previous year, it can even be argued it was his best as he tied his career-high in assists.

The Argentine sprinkled a few goal contributions in the opening games of the season, but things got out of control in April. He began an incredible run with assists in back-to-back games and a goal to beat Atlanta United. He followed that up with a goal in three straight games, all victories as well. In a 3-1 win over St. Louis, he scored and assisted the other two. After a two-match break, he came back with a hat trick of assists against San Jose and a brace against Philadelphia. He also scored and assisted in a shocking 6-1 result over Miami. He scored a handful at the end of the regular season as Cincy advanced to play NYCFC in the postseason. He assisted one goal in the three games and went out in penalties.

Acosta had a fantastic FC Cincinnati career and now finds himself in a fresh situation. He will be setting up Petar Musa in Dallas, which should be no problem for the crafty creator. Acosta has played with all sorts of strikers and had success with most of them. Dallas does have a bit less going for them on the wings than his former team, but he is the type of player that can make everyone around him better. He created 3.63 chances per 90 and hit on 1.84 crosses. He completed nearly three dribbles per 90 on the season. It will be difficult to post such high numbers in his first year down in Texas, but if anyone can do it, it's him. Luciano Acosta comes in at No. 7.

7) LUCIANO ACOSTA | MID, FCC | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

19 ASSISTS

3.63 CHANCES CREATED PER 90 (100%)

1.84 SUCCESSFUL CROSSES PER 90 (93%)

2.81 SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES PER 90 (93%)