Barca Residency Academy alum Diego Luna has been named the 2024 MLS Young Player of the Year. Recognizing the 21-year-old midfielder’s breakout season at Real Salt Lake and cementing his status as one of the league’s brightest rising stars.
Luna delivered a breakout season with Real Salt Lake, tallying an impressive 20 goal contributions (8 goals, 12 assists). This performance ranked second-highest on the team and played a pivotal role in RSL’s record-breaking 59-point season, which propelled them to a strong finish in the Western Conference standings and secured qualification for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The 2024 MLS All-Star and rising US international is the second player in league history to record at least 20 goal contributions in a single season before turning 21, joining Diego Rossi, who achieved the feat in 2018 with 12 goals and 9 assists.
Luna also ranked No. 2 on the MLS 22 Under 22 list, making the list that highlights the league’s most promising young talents for the second consecutive year.
The Barca alum is just the third American to earn the award in its current iteration and the third to have played in the MLS Next.
Eligible players for the Young Player of the Year award must be 22 or younger, born on or after January 1, 2002. The accolade is decided through a vote by MLS club technical staff, media members, and current players. Luna topped the competition, edging out fellow finalists Diego Gómez (Inter Miami CF) and Cristian Olivera (LAFC).
