Soccer <\/p>\n
Major League Soccer has unveiled the 2024 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire, recognizing the league\u2019s top players at each position.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The Best XI \u2013 determined by media members, MLS players and MLS club technical staffs \u2013 represents eight countries and nine clubs. There are seven first-time honorees.<\/p>\n
Leagues Cup winners Columbus Crew<\/a> and Supporters’ Shield champions Inter Miami CF<\/a> lead the way with two representatives each.<\/p>\n After winning the Golden Boot presented by Audi<\/a> with a league-leading 23 goals, Benteke<\/a> is D.C. United<\/a>‘s first player to earn Best XI honors since Luciano Acosta<\/a> and Wayne Rooney in 2018. The Belgian striker accounted for 44.23% of the Black-and-Red’s goals \u2013 the highest mark in MLS this season \u2013 and was dominant in the air.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Bouanga<\/a> became the fourth player in MLS history to log back-to-back 20-goal seasons, powering LAFC<\/a> to the Western Conference No. 1 seed. The Gabon international also provided 11 assists, joining Carlos Vela<\/a> (49 in 2019) as the only player in LAFC history with 30 goal contributions in a single season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Cucho<\/a> directly factored into nearly half of the Crew<\/a>‘s 72 goals, finishing with 33 goal contributions from 19 goals and 14 assists. That form earned the Colombian star call-ups for World Cup qualifiers, as did leading Columbus to the Leagues Cup title<\/a> and Concacaf Champions Cup final<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Messi<\/a> led MLS with 36 goal contributions (fifth in league history) despite playing in just 19 matches amid injuries and Copa Am\u00e9rica duty. The Argentine icon and eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner provided 20 goals and 16 assists, captaining Miami as they won the Supporters’ Shield<\/a> and set a single-season points record<\/a> (74).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Acosta produced a career-high 33 goal contributions via 14 goals and a co-league-best 19 assists, resulting in a third-straight Best XI selection. FC Cincinnati<\/a>‘s captain boasts the ninth-most assists (97) in MLS history, and has surpassed Diego Valeri and Christian G\u00f3mez for the most Best XI honors by an Argentine (four).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Evander<\/a>‘s 34 goal contributions were the second-most in MLS, trailing only Lionel Messi. Portland<\/a>‘s club-record signing scored 15 goals and his 19 assists were tied atop the league leaderboards. The Timbers’ No. 10 is the third-ever Brazilian to get a Best XI nod, joining Luciano Emilio (2007) and Jo\u00e3o Paulo<\/a> (2021).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Puig<\/a> finished the regular season with 13 goals and 15 assists, conducting the Galaxy<\/a>‘s fearsome attack alongside Gabriel Pec<\/a>, Joseph Paintsil<\/a> and Dejan Jovelji\u0107<\/a>. The Spanish playmaker also led MLS in completed passes (2,497) and touches (3,240). He is LA’s first Best XI honoree since Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107 in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Alba<\/a> scored four goals and led all defenders in assists (14), the eighth-most in MLS. The Spanish left back proved crucial in Inter Miami lifting their first-ever Supporters\u2019 Shield title and setting an MLS regular-season points record (74).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Yeimar<\/a> was pivotal as Seattle<\/a> conceded a league-low 35 goals, partnering with Jackson Ragen<\/a> in central defense. Additionally, 11 of their 13 league-leading shutouts came when the Colombian started. Yeimar joins Chad Marshall and Ra\u00fal Ruid\u00edaz<\/a> as the only Sounders players to earn two Best XI nods with the club.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Moreira<\/a> shined as a right-sided center back in the Crew’s possession-centric system, contributing 2g\/4a in the attack. The 2024 MLS Defender of the Year<\/a> and Cape Verde international also helped Columbus allowed a club-low 40 goals during a 34-game campaign.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Kahlina<\/a> posted a career-high 12 shutouts and led MLS in save percentage (75.63%), helping Charlotte<\/a> concede the second-fewest foals (37) of any team this season. The Croatia native and 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year<\/a> is Charlotte’s first-ever Best XI honoree.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n