NEW YORK (Tuesday, June 21, 2022) – New York Red Bulls midfielder Luquinhas was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire for the 15th week of the 2022 MLS season.
Luquinhas scored his fifth goal of the season on Saturday in the Red Bulls’ 2-0 win over Toronto FC that saw them move into second place in the Eastern Conference. His five goals are the second most on the Red Bulls this season and are tied for the most by a midfielder in their debut MLS season. The Brazilian has scored or assisted in two-thirds of his starts (six-of-nine) and the Red Bulls are 4-1-1 in those matches.
With the Red Bulls leading 1-0 in the 56th minute, the team intricately played the ball from defense to attack, which sprung forward Tom Barlow whose effort was saved into the path of Luquinhas. The midfielder raced onto the ball a few yards outside of the box and carefully hit a one-time chip over a diving Toronto defender and goalkeeper for the second goal of the match (Watch Here).
Luquinhas is the second Red Bulls player to win MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire this year, joining Lewis Morgan in Week 2. Only the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes have had multiple players win the MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire this season. Luquinhas is the first Red Bull player to receive the honor in his debut MLS season since Luke Rodgers in 2011.
The Red Bulls will look to win consecutive games when they travel to face LAFC at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday, June 26 (3 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes).
The MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire is selected each week 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 a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
