Luca Orellano Voted MLS Player of the Matchday for Matchday 30

September 3, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release

FC Cincinnati’s Luca Orellano was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 30 of the 2024 MLS season, the league announced Tuesday. Additionally, he was also named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 30.

Orellano earned his second MLS Player of the Matchday honor of the season (Matchday 16) and the eighth Player of the Matchday recognition in FC Cincinnati history. He is the third player in club history to earn multiple Player of the Matchday honors in the same season, joining Luciano Acosta (twice in 2023) and Brenner (three times in 2022).

Orellano was dominant in FC Cincinnati’s 4-1 win over CF Montréal on Saturday, scoring twice in the victory. He netted his first goal in the 53rd minute on a free kick from just outside the box, a rocket which deflected off the Montréal wall and into the back of the net.

The 24-year-old then sent TQL Stadium into a frenzy with a goal of the year candidate. Inside Cincinnati’s defensive half, Orellano sized up a free kick and caught the Montréal defense off guard, blasting a shot over 60 yards over the retreating goalkeeper for his second goal of the night.

With seven goals and six assists, the Argentine is the fourth player in club history to produce at least six goals and six assists in a single season, joining Luciano Acosta (four times), Brandon Vázquez (2022) and Brenner (2022). Orellano is the seventh player in MLS since 2003 to score multiple direct free kick goals in the same game and the first since Lucas Zelarayán for the Columbus Crew on May 22, 2021.

All-Time FC Cincinnati Player of the Matchday Winners

Matchday / Year
Player

17 / 2022
Brenner

30 / 2022
Brenner

34 / 2022
Brenner

14 / 2023
Luciano Acosta

34 / 2023
Luciano Acosta

16 / 2024
Luca Orellano

20 / 2024
Yuya Kubo

30 / 2024
Luca Orellano

2024 MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra Winners

Matchday
Player
Club

Matchdays 1 and 2
Christian Benteke
D.C. United

Matchday 3
Luis Suárez
Inter Miami CF

Matchday 4
Giorgos Giakoumakis
Atlanta United

Matchday 5
Luis Suárez
Inter Miami CF

Matchday 6
Lewis Morgan
New York Red Bulls

Matchday 7
Chicho Arango
Real Salt Lake

Matchday 8
Raúl Ruidíaz
Seattle Sounders FC

Matchday 9
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami CF

Matchday 10
Chicho Arango
Real Salt Lake

Matchday 11
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami CF

Matchday 12
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami CF

Matchday 13
Christian Benteke
D.C. United

Matchday 14
Denis…