In outstanding debut season in MLS, Argentinian National Team player wins honor after contributing a team-high 18 goal contributions in 29 MLS appearances
NEW YORK (Tuesday, October 25, 2022) – Major League Soccer today announced Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada as the 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year. The award recognizes the year’s most impactful new MLS player who has prior professional experience.
- Soundbytes and video of Almada’s reaction to being named MLS Newcomer of the Year is available HERE.
- CLICK HERE for photos and highlights from Thiago Almada’s 2022 MLS season.
Almada joined Atlanta United as a Designed Player on February 9, 2022, and made his MLS debut on March 13 against Charlotte FC. He opened his MLS account with a goal in his second appearance of the season, a 3-3 draw vs. CF Montréal on March 19 in which he helped Atlanta United erase a two-goal deficit in the 85th minute and earn a point. Almada led the club with 12 assists this season, a figure that tied for the seventh most in the league, and added six goals. He was one of only six players in MLS to record at least 12 assists and five goals during the season. Almada was selected to the MLS Team of the Week on five occasions (Weeks 11, 13, 25, 30, and 31).
Almada becomes the second Atlanta United player to earn this award after Paraguayan international Miguel Almirón was awarded in 2017 during the club’s inaugural MLS season. Almada emerged victorious over fellow finalists and standout newcomers Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernández (Columbus Crew) and Djordje Petrović (New England Revolution).
Building on his success for Atlanta, Almada joined former Atlanta United midfielder Gonzalo ‘Pity’ Martinez as just the second player from Major League Soccer to earn a call-up with the Argentina National Team. The Argentinian native earned his first national team call-up in a set of friendly matches against Honduras (Sept. 23) and Jamaica (Sept. 27).
The Newcomer of the Year award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results.
Name |
Player Vote |
Club Vote |
Media Vote |
Average Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Almada, Thiago (ATL) |
13.50% |
19.10% |
10.60% |
14.40% |
Hernández, Juan ‘Cucho’ (CLB) |
12.40% |
6.40% |
21.10% |
13.30% |
Petrović, Djordje (NE) |
3.60% |
8.50% |
21.10% |
11.07% |
A full list of previous MLS Newcomer of the Year award winners can be found below:
Season |
Player |
Club |
|---|---|---|
2022 |
Thiago Almada |
Atlanta United |
2021 |
Cristian Arango |
Los Angeles Football Club |
2020 |
Lucas Zelarayán |
Columbus Crew |
2019 |
Carles Gil |
New England Revolution |
2018 |
Zlatan Ibrahimović |
LA Galaxy |
2017 |
Miguel Almirón |
Atlanta United |
2016 |
Nicolás Lodeiro |
Seattle Sounders FC |
2015 |
Sebastian Giovinco |
Seattle Sounders FC |
2014 |
Pedro Morales |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
2013 |
Diego Valeri |
Portland Timbers |
2012 |
Federico Higuaín |
Columbus Crew |
2011 |
Mauro Rosales |
Seattle Sounders FC |
2010 |
Álvaro Saborío |
Real Salt Lake |
2009 |
Fredy Montero |
Seattle Sounders FC |
2008 |
Darren Huckerby |
San Jose Earthquakes |
2007 |
Luciano Emílio |
D.C. United |
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer -- celebrating its 27th season in 2022 -- features 29 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, including 2022 expansion team Charlotte FC and St. Louis CITY SC, which debuts in 2023. Starting in 2023, the Apple TV app will be the exclusive destination to watch every single live MLS match. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.
