LOS ANGELES (Thursday, July 6, 2023) – LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 23 of the 2023 MLS season.
Puig, 23, tallied the game-winning goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over LAFC in the 20th edition across all competitions of El Tráfico before a new MLS single-match attendance record of 82,110 fans at Rose Bowl Stadium on July 4. A 2023 MLS All-Star, Puig leads MLS in dribbles completed (68) and touches (1,785), ranks second in the league in passes completed (1,223) and ranks third in chances created from open play (39).
The Matadepera, Spain, native, has recorded two goals and five assists in 19 regular-season appearances (19 starts) for LA during the 2023 campaign. In 34 career games played (33 starts) across all competitions for the LA Galaxy, the first-time MLS All-Star has tallied six goals and 10 assists. Puig becomes the first Galaxy player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire since Dejan Joveljić on Matchday 14 of 2022. The Spaniard is also the third player in Galaxy history to earn the honor due to his performance in El Tráfico, joining Zlatan Ibrahimović (twice) and Sebastian Lletget (Matchday 10 of 2020).
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 23 was selected by media voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprised the entire vote for Matchday 23. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
Next up, the LA Galaxy look to extend their six-match unbeaten run in league play when the club plays host to the Philadelphia Union at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, July 8 (7:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, LA Galaxy Radio, LA Galaxy Spanish Radio).
