Chicago Fire FC Forward Hugo Cuypers Voted MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 24

NEW YORK (Friday, July 5, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC forward Hugo Cuypers was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 24 of the 2024 MLS season.

Cuypers recorded his first career brace, which included the game-winning goal in the 90+2’, as part of the Fire’s dramatic 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Union. In his debut MLS season, Cuypers leads the Fire with nine goals and has scored in five of his last six matches. Among the players with at least nine goals this season, the Belgian forward is one of six to have not scored any from the penalty spot. It marked the second time this season that the Fire have overcome a two-goal deficit to secure a win and scored three goals after the 80th minute. Prior to this year, Chicago had not won a match after being down by two goals since August 23, 2009, nor had they scored three goals after the 80th minute since July 4, 2001.

With Chicago trailing 3-1 late in the second half, Cuypers pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute, receiving a headed cross from Chris Mueller and flicking his own headed finish into the open net (Watch Here). After Gastón Giménez equalized in the 89th minute, Chicago and Cuypers took all three points in the 90+2’ as he volleyed home Maren Haile-Selassie’s looping cross from close range (Watch Here).

Cuypers is the first Chicago player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday since Jhon Durán on Matchday 20 of 2022. Alongside D.C. United’s Christian Benteke (two), Belgian players have won three Player of the Matchday honors this season, joining Argentina (four) and Colombia (four) as the only countries with at least three in 2024.

Chicago returns to action on Sunday, July 7 when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park for the first time since 2022 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an X (formerly known as Twitter) fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.