By Sabrina Mason

NEW YORK (Tuesday, September 3, 2024) – FC Cincinnati midfielder Luca Orellano was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 30 of the 2024 MLS season.

Orellano scored twice, including a remarkable free kick goal from within his own half, as part of Cincinnati’s 4-1 home victory over CF Montréal. The brace was Orellano’s second of the season, as he has now accumulated seven goals and six assists from his wingback position during the 2024 regular season. 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.

With Cincinnati leading 1-0 in the 53rd minute, Orellano scored his first goal of the match after his direct free kick deflected off the wall and into the side netting (Watch Here). Four minutes later, the dynamic Argentine made it 3-0 in sensational fashion as he saw the Montréal goalkeeper off his line and struck a free kick from over 60 yards within his own half, bouncing over the head of the ‘keeper and nestling into the net (Watch Here).

This is the second time that Orellano has been named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra this season, as he also took home the award on Matchday 16. Orellano is the third player in club history to earn multiple Player of the Matchday honors in the same season, joining Acosta (twice in 2023) and Brenner (three times in 2022).

FC Cincinnati returns to action after the FIFA international window when they host the Columbus Crew in the Hell is Real derby at TQL Stadium on Saturday, September 14 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an X (formerly known as Twitter) fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.

COURTESY MLS COMMUNICATIONS