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Atlanta United Forward Giorgos Giakoumakis Voted MLS Player of the Matchday Presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 27

Published on August 21, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK - Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 27 of the 2023 MLS season.

Giakoumakis scored both of Atlanta's goals in the club's 2-0 victory on the road against Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on August 20. With his brace, the 28-year-old Greek striker is now tied for second in the race for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi with 12 goals this season. His 12 goals are the second-most by an Atlanta United player through his first 18 career games, trailing only club legend Josef Martínez, who had 18 goals in his first 18 MLS games. The club's win was their first ever regular-season victory in Seattle, after previously going 0-1-2 in the three prior meetings. Giakoumakis (36 shots) and St. Louis CITY SC's Nicholas Gioacchini (36 shots) are the only players in MLS this season to score at least 10 goals on fewer than 40 shots.

Giakoumakis opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he leapt and thunderously headed home Brooks Lennon's corner kick from near the penalty spot. The Greek international doubled the lead and wrapped up all three points in the 65th minute with another headed finish. Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Thiago Almada picked out Giakoumakis's run at the far post and the forward did the rest, heading the ball into the corner of the net from close range.

Giakoumakis becomes the third different Atlanta player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire this season, joining Thiago Almada (Matchdays 1 and 4) and Caleb Wiley (Matchday 3). The Five Stripes join the Philadelphia Union as the only clubs to earn the MLS Player of the Matchday honor four different times in 2023. This is the first time in club history that three different players have won the award in the same season.

Atlanta will look to win consecutive matches when they host Nashville SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Matchday 28 this Saturday, August 26 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).

The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire 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 a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.

2023 MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire Winners

Matchday Player Club

Matchday 1 Thiago Almada Atlanta United

Matchday 2 Lucas Zelarayán Columbus Crew

Matchday 3 Caleb Wiley Atlanta United

Matchday 4 Thiago Almada Atlanta United

Matchday 5 Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders FC

Matchday 6 Simon Becher Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Matchday 7 Dénis Bouanga Los Angeles Football Club

Matchday 8 Carlos Vela Los Angeles Football Club

Matchday 9 Mikael Uhre Philadelphia Union

Matchday 10 Leonardo Campana Inter Miami CF

Matchday 11 Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC

Matchday 12 Evander Portland Timbers

Matchday 13 Brandon Cambridge Charlotte FC

Matchday 14 Luciano Acosta FC Cincinnati

Matchday 15 Julián Carranza Philadelphia Union

Matchday 16 Carles Gil New England Revolution

Matchday 17 Julián Carranza Philadelphia Union

Matchday 18 Alan Pulido Sporting Kansas City

Matchday 19 Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC

Matchday 20 Damir Kreilach Real Salt Lake

Matchday 21 Ryan Gauld Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Matchday 22 Randall Leal Nashville SC

Matchday 23 Riqui Puig LA Galaxy

Matchday 24 Léo Chú Seattle Sounders FC

Matchday 25 Dániel Gazdag Philadelphia Union

Matchday 26 Diego Luna Real Salt Lake

Matchday 27 Giorgos Giakoumakis Atlanta United

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 21, 2023


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