The Crew’s Cucho Hernandez and Steven Moreira have been named to the MLS 2024 Best XI team, which honors the top players at each position for the season.
This marks the second consecutive season Hernandez has been honored as one of the top forwards in the league. He scored 19 goals in 2024 as opposed to 16 last year, and he recorded more assists during the regular season, going from 11 to 14.
There were only two teams that saw multiple players named to the MLS Best XI. In addition to Columbus, Inter Miami had two players earn honors in forward Lionel Messi and defender Jordi Alba. The honorees were voted on by a mix of media members, coaches and players.
Oct 2, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) moves the ball around Inter Miami CF in the second half at Lower.com Field.
Both Hernandez and Messi are finalists for the 2024 MLS MVP award, which is the only regular-season award yet to be announced by the league. The winner is expected to be announced ahead of the MLS Cup final on Saturday between New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy.
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Moreira is the first Crew defender to be named to the team since Jonathan Mensah in 2020. In November, Moreira was named MLS Defender of the Year, beating out fellow Best XI defender, Jordi Alba from Inter Miami.
Nov 1, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) celebrates scoring a penalty kick goal with defender Steven Moreira (31) during the second half of the first round MLS Cup Playoffs matchup against Atlanta United at Lower.com Field. The Crew won 2-0.
The last time the Crew had two players make the Best XI team was in 2015 with Ethan Finlay and Kei Kamara.
Here is MLS’ 2024 Best XI team:
- Forwards: Christian Benteke (DC United), Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Midfielders: Evander (Portland Timbers), Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Riqui Puig (Los Angeles Galaxy)
- Defenders: Jordi Alba (Inter Miami), Yeimar Gomez Andrade (Seattle Sounders), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew)
- Goalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cucho, Steven Moreira named to MLS Best XI from Columbus Crew
