After Luciano Acosta impressed during his 2016 loan and acclimatized to the physical demands of Major League Soccer, D.C. United announced the permanent signing of midfielder Luciano Acosta from Boca Juniors on November 16. The Argentine maestro, who proved to be one of the most creative and exciting players to watch in the league, was at the heart of the Black-and-Red attack week in and week out.
“It is much more physical and the rules are a bit different,” said Acosta about adapting to life in MLS. “Every week I am a little more comfortable not only in the league, but with the team and with our players here.”
The 22-year-old’s confidence continued to grow throughout the 2016 regular season and his ability to beat defenders and wide-range of passing made him a constant threat to opposing team’s back lines.
“A guy like Lucho [Acosta] can neutralize any drill because he is such a special player,” said D.C. United captain Bobby Boswell about Acosta’s performance in training. “Lucho is the X-factor in training. If he is on your team you are probably going to win the game.”
Fans quickly grew to love Acosta because he never shied away from attempting the spectacular and his audacious chip to score against New England on April 23 showed the Black-and-Red faithful just how special the player is. The chip earned the midfielder a 2016 Goal of the Year nomination and was notable moment in Acosta’s growing comfort levels for D.C. United.
"That’s why he’s here; he’s got a lot of magic in him,” said D.C. United assistant coach Chad Ashton after Acosta’s wonder goal against New England.
U.S. Men’s National Team defender Steve Birnbaum added, “We’ve seen him in practice, obviously, and he’s super cheeky and tough to defend. So we knew something special was going to come at some point...he’s a great player. So none of us were really surprised when he did that, but it was a great finish."
The Buenos Aires native played an evident and important role in the revamped D.C. United attack that scored a league-high 36 goals in the second-half of the season. He led the team with 11 assists and created the second most chances on the team with 49 (behind Lloyd Sam’s 52). His stellar record of two key passes per 90 minutes is comparable to MLS All-Stars Sebastian Giovinco’s (1.8 per 90 minutes) and Giovani dos Santos’ (1.7 per 90 minutes) production levels in 2016.
The young midfielder understandably impressed in his first season and it came as no surprise after three MLS Team of the Week selections and three AT&T Goal of the Week nominations that Acosta was the 14th name on Major League Soccer’s elite 24 Under 24 list. At just 22 years old, there is a high ceiling for Acosta’s development and fans can look forward to the continued maturation and ascent of the Argentine in the 2017 MLS season.
“I'm very happy to have chosen to come to this league and this team,” said Acosta about his decision to join D.C. United. “It has helped me grow as a player and it has helped me grow off the field personally in various aspects by getting to know a new country. To mature as a person, it has helped me a lot and I'm very happy.”
