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The Leagues Cup champion Columbus Crew also had two selections with forward Cucho Hernandez and MLS Defender of the Year Steven Moreira.
The Best XI is voted on by media members, MLS players and club technical staffs. The 2024 squad includes players from eight countries and nine teams and features seven first-time honorees.
Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke of D.C. United and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga join Messi and Hernandez in the four forwards selected.
The three midfielders are Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati, Evander of the Portland Timbers and Riqui Puig from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Seattle Sounders defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade joins Alba and Moreira on the back line, while MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina is the first-ever Best XI honoree for Charlotte FC. It was the fourth selection for Acosta and the second selection each for Bouanga, Hernandez and Yeimar.
Meanwhile, nter Miami’s Javier Mascherano is ready to silence the sceptics as he takes the reins with little managerial experience under his belt, he told reporters on Tuesday on rejoining his former Barcelona and Argentina teammate Lionel Messi at the MLS side.
Team owner Jorge Mas seemed to confirm many fans’ suspicions when he said this week that Messi had a part in influencing the hiring of Mascherano, according to media reports, after the two players spent years on the pitch for club and country.
The 40-year-old Mascherano, who coached Argentina’s youth teams after hanging up his boots four years ago, has never managed a club but said he had every confidence he could deliver despite his short coaching resume.
“Obviously people in the world are going to have opinions and that’s a valid opinion, of course,” he told reporters on Tuesday via an interpreter.
“I am convinced I can do it. I have no doubt.”
Miami named Mascherano head coach days after Gerardo “Tata” Martino stepped down from the role, following the top-seeded team’s shocking first round defeat in the MLS Cup playoffs at the hands of ninth seed Atlanta United last month.
Mascherano, who won two Champions Leagues, five LaLiga titles, five Spanish Cups and two Club World Cups with Barca, has no experience in the top-flight North American league but said proof of his abilities would be in the team’s results.
“I have been a coach for three years already and have trained the youth groups for Argentina and there’s always pressure, even though they’re youth,” he said.
“And I’ve also had 20 years of my career and everything that I’ve gone through,” added the former defensive midfielder, who also played for Liverpool, River Plate and Corinthians -Reuters.
Mascherano will be managing his former Barca teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets as well as Messi. – Sun.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter