Luciano Federico "Lucho" Acosta (born 31 May 1994) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.
.jpg) Acosta with FC Cincinnati in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luciano Federico Acosta | ||
| Date of birth | 31 May 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | FC Cincinnati | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Comunicaciones | |||
| 2007–2014 | Boca Juniors | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2016 | Boca Juniors | 25 | (2) |
| 2015 | → Estudiantes (loan) | 27 | (1) |
| 2016 | → D.C. United (loan) | 31 | (3) |
| 2017–2019 | D.C. United | 95 | (21) |
| 2020–2021 | Atlas | 33 | (3) |
| 2021– | FC Cincinnati | 108 | (41) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2024 | |||
Career
Boca Juniors
Acosta made his professional debut for Boca Juniors on 9 February 2014, when Boca tied against Newell's Old Boys, replacing Juan Manuel Martínez for the 2014 Final.[1] Acosta appeared in the Xeneizes as a starter throughout the 2014 Torneo Final.
D.C. United
In 2016, Acosta went on a season-long loan to D.C. United of Major League Soccer. Acosta made his competitive debut on in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal match against Queretaro. He scored his first goal for D.C. United in the 86th minute of a league game against the New England Revolution on 23 April.
After the 2016 season, D.C. United purchased Acosta’s contract outright for a club record fee.[2] He scored his first professional hat-trick on 13 August 2018 when playing for D.C. United against Orlando City and the match ended 3–2 in favor of D.C. United.[3] On 21 October 2018, Acosta provided an assist for Wayne Rooney following an outstanding dribble, and also scored himself in a 3–1 win over New York City FC which secured a play-off spot in the MLS Cup for D.C. United.[4]
Since Wayne Rooney's arrival to D.C. United, Luciano and Wayne developed a good chemistry together in the field and provided goals and assists to each other. Their chemistry made them to be considered to one of the best duos in all of MLS.[citation needed] D.C. United fans nicknamed their duo "Luchoroo".[5]
Before the 2019 season, Acosta was very close to sign for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. Sources said the offer to D.C. United was under US$10 million and Acosta was scheduled to arrive at Paris for his medical.[6] In the 2019 MLS Season, Acosta's form was declining,[citation needed] and was starting to get pushed out of the first team. After the 2019 season, Acosta's contract with D.C. United ended. He played his last game for D.C. on 19 October 2019, in a MLS playoff game against Toronto FC. On 12 November 2019, Acosta told an Argentine radio channel, 'La Mano de Dios', that former D.C. teammate Wayne Rooney told him he wanted to bring him to Derby County, where Rooney was going to become player-coach in 2020.[7]Acosta left D.C. United at the end of the 2019 season when his contract expired.[8][9]
Atlas
On 19 December 2019, it was announced that Acosta would join Liga MX side Atlas on 1 January 2020.[10][11][12] Acosta scored his first goal for Atlas against Tijuana on 31 January 2020.[13]
FC Cincinnati
On 17 March 2021, Acosta returned to Major League Soccer, joining FC Cincinnati on a three-year deal as a designated player. FC Cincinnati acquired his MLS rights from D.C. United in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money plus potential future incentives.[14] He made his debut for the club on 17 April 2021 in their opener against Nashville SC. He scored in the 8th minute as FC Cincinnati drew 2–2 away.[15]
Personal life
Acosta holds a U.S. green card, which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[16]
Career statistics
- As of match played 18 May 2024[17]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Boca Juniors | 2013–14 | Argentine Primera División | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 2 | ||
| 2014 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Total | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| Estudiantes (loan) | 2015 | Argentine Primera División | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7[b] | 1 | — | 38 | 2 | |
| D.C. United (loan) | 2016 | MLS | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 35 | 3 |
| D.C. United | 2017 | MLS | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 5 | ||
| 2018 | 33 | 10 | 2 | 1 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 36 | 11 | |||
| 2019 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 34 | 6 | |||
| Total | 126 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 137 | 25 | ||
| Atlas | 2019–20 | Liga MX | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21 | 23 | 2 | — | — | — | 23 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | ||
| FC Cincinnati | 2021 | MLS | 31 | 7 | — | — | — | 31 | 7 | |||
| 2022 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 1 | 34 | 11 | |||
| 2023 | 32 | 17 | 5 | 1 | — | 7[e] | 3 | 44 | 21 | |||
| 2024 | 14 | 7 | — | — | 4[c] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8 | ||
| Total | 107 | 41 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 127 | 47 | ||
| Career total | 318 | 72 | 17 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 363 | 79 | ||
Honours
FC Cincinnati
Individual
- MLS Best XI: 2018,[18] 2022,[19] 2023[20]
- MLS All-Star: 2022,[21] 2023[22]
- MLS Player of the Month: July 2023,[23] August 2023[24]
- MLS Goal of the Year: 2023[25]
- MLS Most Valuable Player: 2023[26]
- MLS top assist provider: 2022[27]
References
External links
- Luciano Acosta at Soccerway