Major League Soccer announced Monday that Colombian striker Cristian Arango of Los Angeles Football Club was voted ‘Recruitment of the Year’ in MLS US soccer for being considered the most impactful new player of the 2021 season.
The attacker becomes the second Colombian player to receive the award, joining Fredy Montero (2009).
In addition, he joins the select group of great figures such as Zlatan Ibrahimović (2018) and Paraguayan Miguel Almirón (2017), who previously achieved the award in their first season in MLS.
Arango joined LAFC on August 2 and made his debut six days later against the San Jose Earthquakes of Argentine coach Matías Almeyda.
The Colombian was recognized as MLS Player of the Week twice (Week 24 and Week 31) and was named the MLS Team of the Week three times.
Arango became the fourth player in LAFC history to record a hat-trick after achieving it against FC Dallas on October 20.
The 26-year-old former Millonarios FC forward was one of the most prolific in MLS history, concluding the season as LAFC’s best with 14 goals in his first 17 games in the North American league.
He also scored the fastest goal in LAFC history in just 20 seconds against Real Salt Lake on September 12, marking the eighth fastest goal in MLS history. (AFP)