COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — For the first time since 2009, a Columbus Crew player has been named the best defender in Major League Soccer.
Columbus’ Steven Moreira was named the MLS defender of the year for the 2024 season, joining Chad Marshall (2009, 2008) and Robin Fraser (2004) as the third Crew player to claim the award. The Cape Verde international won the award after receiving a huge share of media votes over second-place finisher Jordi Alba from Inter Miami.
Moreira played in 27 games MLS games this season and was key in leading the Crew to one of the best defensive records in MLS. Columbus conceded just 40 goals in regular season play, the fourth-fewest in MLS, as Moreira was a staple in head coach Wilfried Nancy’s three center-back system. Moreira also was part of six of the Crew’s 10 shutouts this season.
He also contributed offensively for the Black & Gold scoring two goals, providing four assists, and ranking sixth among MLS defenders for completed short passes. Moreira’s play helped the Crew achieve club-record highs in points (66) and goals (72) during the MLS regular season.
The 30-year-old from France played every minute in the Crew’s run to the Leagues Cup title in August and the runners-up finish in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the spring. Moreira’s play earned him an MLS All-Star spot for the July match in Columbus, which MLS lost 4-1 to Liga MX.
Two more members of the Crew could claim individual awards with Nancy as a finalist for the coach of the year and striker Cucho Hernandez among the five finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award.
The Columbus Crew’s season concluded on Nov. 3 after being swept by the New York Red Bulls in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, ending the team’s MLS Cup title defense.