FC Cincinnati acquired on March 17, 2021 midfielder Luciano Acosta as a Designated Player via transfer from Liga MX side Atlas F.C. after acquiring his MLS priority from D.C. United in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money plus the potential for future GAM based on agreed upon incentives. FC Cincinnati signed Acosta to a three-year contract with an additional option year.
2023 (FC Cincinnati): After a career season for the Orange and Blue, Acosta was named the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player for the first time in his career and became the first player in club history to garner the honors with over 60% of the votes across the league … named to the MLS Best XI for the third time in his career, and second year in a row with FCC (FC Cincinnati, 2022 & D.C. United, 2018) … named captain of the 2023 MLS All-Star team against Arsenal … led MLS with 31 goal contributions, netting 17 goals and assisting on 14 team goals … led the league with 10 games of two-or-more goal contributions, and with seven regular season games with multiple goal contributions, he added one more game to that total with a goal and an assist against the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 29 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series … earned several individual awards in 2023, as he was named MLS Player of the Matchday twice (Matchdays 14 and 38) and MLS Player of the Month in back-to-back months (July and August) … became the first winner of MLS Player of the Month in consecutive months since Josef Martínez (July-August 2019) and now only trails Martínez, Landon Donovan, and Carlos Ruiz (all with six) for most monthly awards in MLS history … Eleven times was Acosta named to the MLS Team of the Matchday … received MLS Goal of the Year after a spectacular solo goal against Charlotte FC in September in front of a sellout crowd at TQL Stadium.
2022 (FC Cincinnati): Named FC Cincinnati’s Most Valuable Player in 2022 for the captain’s impressive campaign for the Orange and Blue … named to the MLS Best XI and was an MLS All-Star … led MLS with 19 assists and scored double-digit goals (10) for the second time in his MLS career (D.C. United, 2018) … Acosta’s 29 combined goal contributions were tied for the third-highest mark in the league and trailed only Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar and Philadelphia Union’s Daniel Gazdag … was named the MLS Player of the Month in June and was named to the 2022 MLS Team of the Week six times. He featured in the weekly award for three consecutive weeks earlier in the year (9, 10, 11-bench) … provided at least one goal or assist in 11 of FC Cincinnati’s 12 regular season wins this year … he became the Orange and Blue’s all-time leader in appearances as captain, finishing the year with 57 career starts wearing the armband … in addition to leading the league in assists, he also led MLS in assists from open play (12), intentional assists (12) and he ranked second in chances created (93) … scored two game-winning goals, on April 30 at Toronto FC and May 14 at Chicago Fire FC … led the team with five game-winning assists … scored from the penalty spot in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at the New York Red Bulls to level the score before Brandon Vazquez scored the game-winner later in the second half.
2021 (FC Cincinnati): Made 31 appearances, including 30 starts, where he scored seven goals and a team-high and club-record high 10 assists … Scored the opening goal of the 2021 season for the Orange and Blue at Nashville SC in the eighth minute (Apr. 17) … assisted a goal in his return to action May 16 at the TQL Stadium opener vs. Inter Miami CF … returned to the score sheet June 26 at Toronto FC in a 2-0 win … scored a goal and assisted another in the 2-2 draw vs. the Columbus Crew (July 9) … recorded an assist at CF Montréal (July 17) … scored vs. Atlanta United FC (July 21) in the 1-1 tie … assisted the FCC goal vs. Orlando City SC (Aug. 7) in the 1-1 tie … assisted a goal at New England Revolution (Aug. 21) … recorded an assist in consecutive games when he did in the 3-2 loss at the Columbus Crew (Aug. 27) … became the second player in club history to assist multiple goals in a game (Sept. 11) vs. Toronto FC (Emmanuel Ledesma – 7/6/19 vs. HOU) in the 2-0 win … scored in consecutive games at D.C. (Sept. 25) and Toronto (Sept. 29) … scored his final goal of the season vs. Chicago Fire FC (Oct. 20) … assisted the final goal of the season on Decision Day vs. Atlanta United FC (Nov. 7) … twice earned MLS Team of the Week honors (Week 10 and 24) and three more times earned a bench spot on the squad.
2020 (Atlas F.C.): Made 34 appearances, including 27 starts, scoring three goals and adding two assists across all competitions.
2019 (D.C. United): Made 31 starts, 22 appearances, where he scored six goals and added two assists … appeared in the club’s lone MLS Cup Playoff game vs. Toronto FC … in the season opener vs. Atlanta United FC, scored a goal and assisted the other in the 2-0 win … tallied his next goal in Colorado (April 13) in a 3-2 road win … scored against the Columbus Crew (May 4) in a 3-1 win … scored in consecutive games vs. Chicago Fire FC (May 29) and vs. San Jose (June 1) … tallied his final goal at the Philadelphia Union (Aug. 24).
2018 (D.C. United): In his third year with the club, Acosta was a crucial part of the Black-and-Red midfield. He set new career-highs in games played (33), games started (32), minutes (2,753), goals (10) and assists (17). The Argentinian lead the club with 27 total points, tallying 10 goals and 17 in 33 appearances. He was second in the league with 17 assists, just one shy of the league record for 2018. The midfield maestro was integral to United’s offensive attack, ranking second on the team in minutes played (2,753), shots (60), and goals (10). On Aug. 12, Acosta scored his first career hat-trick against Orlando City SC; his final, game-winning goal came deep in stoppage time in the 96th-minute. His efforts that game saw Acosta named the Alcatel MLS Player of the Week in addition to the Goal of the Week award for his game-winner. Acosta finished the season with 10 weekly awards: seven MLS Team of the Week inclusions, one Goal of the Week, and two Player of the Week selections (Weeks 24 and 31).
2017 (D.C. United): The second-year midfielder was a constant figure in the United lineup, making 31 appearances (30 starts), the most of any United player. Acosta was the Black-and-Red’s top scorer, finishing tied for the team lead in goals (five) and was second in assists (five). The Black-and-Red were 5-0-0 when Acosta scored and his four game-winning goals was the fourth most in Major League Soccer in 2017. The Argentine maestro was an influential creative figure in United’s attack and led the team with 53 key passes in 2017. He also led the club in minutes (2,419), shots (46) and shots on goal (24). Against Atlanta on April 30, he recorded his third career multi-point game, scoring and providing an assist to earn him an MLS Team of the Week selection.
2016 (D.C. United): In his first season in Major League Soccer, the creative Argentine adapted well, finishing the year with 31 appearances (25 starts) and leading the team in assists (11). He scored his first MLS goal on 4/23, a sublime chip against the New England Revolution that went on to win AT&T Goal of the Week and Goal of the Month. Against Vancouver on 4/09, Acosta recorded his first two career MLS assists. He also tied a club record for assists in a match, notching three assists in United’s 6-2 victory over Chicago on 8/27.
2013-2014 (Boca Juniors / Estudiantes de la Plata): A creative midfielder, Acosta played for Boca Juniors in the 2013-14 season, recording two goals in 25 appearances with the club. The 21-year-old was sent on loan to fellow Argentine Primera side Estudiantes de la Plata, playing 27 times and recording 11 starts.
