He and his team dominated the regular season from beginning to end and set records with their march to the Supporters’ Shield, so it’s fitting that Carlos Vela has won the final MLS Player of the Month presented by EA Sports of 2019, awarded for performances during September and the season’s final round in the first week of October.
Even missing their first two matches of September due to a hamstring injury, LAFC’s Mexican star was his typical effervescent self during the home stretch, bagging seven goals in five games – with at least one strike in every game he took part in – and he ends the season on a nine-match scoring streak, the second-longest in league history. He also won the March and April POTMs.
Vela capped his magnificent campaign with a hat trick vs. the Colorado Rapids on Decision Day presented by AT&T, running his league total to 34 goals, smashing the all-time single-season record of 31 that itself seemed superhuman when Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez achieved it last year.
“Cracklitos” and his LAFC teammates will look to finish their historic season with a run to the MLS Cup title when they enter the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs against an opponent yet to be determined after their first-round bye.
MLS Player of the Month presented by EA Sports is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
