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'He deserves to be the guy': Why Wilfried Nancy feels Cucho Hernandez should be MLS MVP
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- 'He deserves to be the guy': Why Wilfried Nancy feels Cucho Hernandez should be MLS MVP
Cucho Hernandez is one of five finalists for 2024 MLS MVP , and analysts agree the award will likely go to either Hernandez or Inter Miami star Lionel Messi .
"I'm fighting with Messi," Hernandez said. "It is really a pleasure to be in this position because the people can compare me with this kind of player."
Most analysts believe the MLS MVP award will come down to either Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (left) or Inter Miami star Lionel Messi (right).
Both Messi and Hernandez were top-five offensive producers during the regular season. Messi recorded 20 goals and 16 assists while Hernandez notched 19 goals and 14 assists.
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In Messi's first full MLS season since signing with Miami in July of 2023, his club set an MLS record with 74 standings points on the strength of a 22-8-4 record and earned the Supporter's Shield title.
The Crew finished second in the league's standings with a 19-6-9 record, and Hernandez's efforts helped Columbus set new marks in points (66) and goals (72).
"One thing is you can always look at numbers," Crew defender Malte Amundsen said. "He has great numbers for the season. And when we play with him on the field, obviously the opponents have to adjust when he's there and put a lot of focus on him. So, that sometimes gives space for our other guys."
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While Messi holds an advantage in goals and assists, one area in which Hernandez has an edge is the number of games he played.
Messi missed 15 of 34 regular-season games due to an ankle injury and international play. Hernandez sat out one MLS regular-season game serving a team-issued suspension for arguing with an assistant coach, dealt with a back injury that sidelined him for three games and received two call-ups to Colombia's national team but missed only seven games.
Crew forward Cucho Hernandez had 19 goals and 14 assists during the MLS regular season.
"For me, this is the consistency that is most important," Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said, "and Cucho has been consistent. Not only to score goals, but also to make assists and also to make the pass before the assist, and also defensively."
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Unsurprisingly, Nancy's conclusion when it comes to Hernandez: "He deserves to be the guy".
'I prefer to win trophies with my team': Is an MVP award enough for Cucho Hernandez?
Hernandez will find out if he has won the award sometime before the Dec. 7 MLS Cup final. (There is no exact time set for the announcement.) Columbus failed to defend its 2023 MLS Cup title , having been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by New York Red Bulls.
"I don't like to win the personal awards if we don't win," Hernandez said. "Since the beginning, I prefer to win trophies with my team than win some trophy for me."
Crew forward Cucho Hernandez led Columbus to a second-place finish in MLS play this season behind Supporter's Shield winner Inter Miami.
2024 MLS Defender of the Year Steven Moreira of the Crew offered a similar sentiment.
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"I was very proud when they told me that I was one the finalists this year," Moreira said. "But honestly, I feel (I would rather) go to the final, win again than be Defender of the Year finalist or whatever. Just win, because I enjoy more with my teammates, with the fans. Everyone's happy."
In addition to Moreira taking home MLS honors for this season, Darlington Nagbe was given the 2024 MLS Impact Award for his contributions to the Columbus community off the field, and Nancy was named MLS Coach of the Year for the first time in his career.
Complete list of Landon Donovan MLS MVP finalists
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Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF)
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Evander ( Portland Timbers )
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Cucho Hernández ( Columbus Crew )
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Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Wilfried Nancy, Crew discuss Cucho Hernandez's MLS MVP chances
