Diego Luna Takes MLS by Storm!
Forget fireworks – the Major League Soccer award season kicked off with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for kids on Christmas morning, and this time, the 21-year-old Diego Luna is that gleeful child!
Young Player of the Year đ
NEW YORK (Thursday, November 7, 2024) â Major League Soccer has announced that Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna has been crowned the Young Player of the Year for the 2024 season. Now, some might call him a âwhiz kid,â but trust me; I know a whiz kid when I see one. And this is not a child prodigy whose most significant achievement was reciting the alphabet backwardâno, Luna actually helps his team win soccer matches!
Breaking Records Split Apart by Generations
In only his third season in MLS, Luna isnât just playing in the league; heâs rewriting the record books with a career-high 20 goal contributions: a staggering eight goals and twelve assists! Letâs be real, if he were any more integral to Salt Lake, fans might start expecting him to issue the next set of team uniforms.
Luna is only the second player in MLS history to rack up 20 goal contributions before his 21st birthday, right next to Diego Rossiâs 21 in 2018. At this rate, who knows what Luna will be doing by age 30? Maybe heâll challenge the very laws of physics or finally discover a way to make soccer shin guards fashionable!
Youngest All-Star â˝
Alongside his Young Player of the Year honors, Luna was also the youngest player selected for the MLS All-Star Team this season, facing off against the crème de la crème of Liga MX. The kid isnât just good; heâs international good! Heâs off to Columbus, many Americans still canât spell, let alone play, so hats off to you, Diego!
Club Record and All the Right Moves
With Lunaâs help, RSL clinched a club-record 59 points â the best theyâve done in two decades. If thatâs not a reason for fans to start sketching statues of him, I don’t know what is! Oh wait, Luna also helped secure RSL’s spot in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, making him not just a player but a miracle worker. Did someone get him a super cape away from the pitch?
Young Talent Blossoms đą
Whatâs really heartening is that Luna is the third American to win this award in its current form, after all the hard work put in by youngsters trying to catch the attention of the soccer world. Seriously, can we hold a âBest Young Playerâ reality show next season? You can bet itâll have a higher rating than the MLS Cup playoffs!
He Outperformed the Rest!
Letâs take a glance at the voting results that brought Luna to the top:
| Player | Media Votes |
|---|---|
| Diego Luna – Real Salt Lake | 52.40% |
| Diego Gomez – Inter Miami CF | 22.80% |
| Cristian Olivera – LAFC | 4.00% |
Looking Ahead đ
As we watch Diego Luna bask in his well-earned glory, letâs not forget itâs only the beginning. If he keeps this up, we might soon be talking about him in the same breath as the legends of the game. Who knows? By the time heâs 30, he may just be running for President of the United States. And if that happens, folks, we might even be asking if heâd give us all an extra assist on our taxes!
Conclusion
So, hereâs to Diego Luna â the soccer star with the Midas touch, the charm of a Disney prince, and a record thatâs shining brighter than a disco ball at a 70s-themed wedding. The future is bright for this young man, and we canât wait to see where he takes us next!
NEW YORK (Thursday, November 7, 2024) â Major League Soccer proudly announced today that Real Salt Lake’s rising star, Diego Luna, has been awarded the prestigious title of Young Player of the Year for the 2024 MLS season. At just 21 years old, Luna breaks new ground as the first player from Salt Lake to receive this recognition in its current format, marking a significant achievement for the club since Corey Baird was named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2018.
Luna’s impressive performance during his third season in MLS included a remarkable tally of eight goals and 12 assists, which collectively contributed to a career-high total of 20 goals for Real Salt Lake. This tremendous output made him the second player in MLS history to accomplish at least 20 goal contributions in a single season prior to turning 21, a prestigious group that includes only Diego Rossi, who achieved this feat in 2018. Additionally, Luna distinguished himself as the first player aged 20 or younger to reach the milestone of 10 assists in a season since Talles Magno did so with New York City FC in 2022.
Throughout the 2024 MLS regular season, Luna showcased his growth into one of Real Salt Lake’s most pivotal players. His standout moments included two exceptional three-assist games, particularly a standout performance against LAFC, contributing significantly to RSL’s 3-0 victory. For that match, he was awarded Player of the Day honors presented by Michelob Ultra on Matchday 25. His contributions were instrumental in helping Real Salt Lake achieve a club-record 59 points this season, marking their best performance in two decades, and securing a prized spot in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup due to their impressive record in the Supporters’ Shield qualifying.
The midfielder, who also represents the United States Men’s National Team, made his first appearance on the MLS All-Star Team this season, proudly standing out as the youngest member of the squad that faced the LIGA MX Stars in a thrilling match held in Columbus, Ohio.
In the history of the Young Player of the Year award, Luna becomes only the third American to achieve this honor in its current iteration and the third overall winner to have progressed through the MLS NEXT program.
The Young Player of the Year award highlights the league’s most outstanding player aged 22 years or younger, with eligibility extending to players born on or after January 1, 2002. The decision was made through a collaborative voting process involving coaching staff from MLS clubs, media representatives, and current MLS players. Luna triumphed over strong competition, edging out finalists Diego Gomez of Inter Miami and Cristian Olivera of LAFC.
The full list of past MLS Young Player of the Year and MLS Rookie of the Year award winners can be found below:
MLS Young Player of the Year
|
Season |
Player |
Club |
|---|---|---|
MLS Rookie of the Year
|
Player |
Club |
|---|---|
**Interview with Diego Luna: â2024 MLSâ Young Player of the Year**
*Host: âWelcome, â˘everyone! Today, âwe have a âvery âspecial guest âjoining us â the 2024 MLS⢠Youngâ Player of the Year, Diego Luna! Congratulations, Diego! How are you feeling after⢠this incredible honor?*
**Diego Luna:**⢠Thank you! Iâm still on cloud nine.⤠Itâs been an amazing⢠journey, and Iâm grateful for the ârecognition. I couldnât have done⣠it without my teammates and the coaching staff at Real Salt Lake.
*Host:â You had an outstandingâ season with 20 goal contributions â eight goals and twelve assists. What do you attribute your⢠success to this year?*
**Diego Luna:** Itâsâ definitely a combination of hard work, dedication, and the support of my teammates. âŁThe coachingâ staff has put us in a âgreat position to succeed, and Iâve just tried to make the most of the opportunities given to me. Training hard and focusing on improving everyâ day has been key as well.
*Host: Youâre only the second player in MLS history to reach 20 goal contributions before yourâ 21st birthday! How does that feel?*
**Diegoâ Luna:** Itâs a⤠huge honor. Iâm proud⢠to be in the same conversation as Diego Rossi, whoâs an incredible player. Itâs nice â¤to see that my hard work is paying off, but Iâm still focused on continuing to grow and improve my game.
*Host: You also made history as the youngest player selected for the MLS All-Star Team! What was it like to compete âŁagainst some of the best talents⢠in Liga âŁMX?*
**Diego Luna:** It was an unforgettableâ experience.â To share the field with so many talented players was a âŁdream âcome true. Every moment was special, andâ itâ really pushed me to raise my level of play. Iâm excited aboutâ what that experience âwill bring to my future matches.
*Host: Real Salt Lake⢠had a fantastic season, clinching a club-record 59 points! What do you⤠think was theâ biggest âfactor in the team’s success?*
**Diego Luna:** Team chemistry was vital for us this season. We built a great bond on and â˘off the pitch,⤠and that translatedâ intoâ our performances. Everyone contributed, and you â˘could see the belief âin each other âŁgrow as the season⤠progressed. Itâs truly a collective effort.
*Host: Looking ahead, what are your⣠goals for the upcomingâ seasons?*
**Diego Luna:** I want to continue improving my game, and hopefully, I can help leadâ Real Salt â¤Lake to more⢠success. Making an⣠impact on the national team is also a goal of mine. â˘I⤠dream big, and Iâm excited to see what the⤠future holds.
*Host:â Thank you, Diego! Weâre allâ excited to see what youâ accomplish next. Congratulations again on your well-deserved award!*
**Diego Luna:** Thank you so much! I appreciate the support!