COLUMBUS–The Columbus Crew today announced their annual Club award winners, highlighting standout contributions from players on and off the pitch at all levels of competition.
Most Valuable Player: Cucho Hernández
Golden Boot: Cucho Hernández
Defensive Player of the Year: Steven Moreira
Humanitarian of the Year: Darlington Nagbe
Kirk Urso Heart Award: Evan Bush
Crew Academy Player of the Year: Chase Adams
CUCHO HERNÁNDEZ – MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Forward Cucho Hernández has been selected as the MVP for the second consecutive season. A 2024 MLS Best XI honoree and Landon Donovan MLS MVP runner-up, Hernández finished the year with a career-best 19 goals and 14 assists in 27 league appearances, setting a new Crew standard for goal contributions in one season (33). On Aug. 25, Hernández was named Best Player of Leagues Cup 2024 after tallying a brace in the final to lead the Crew to a 3-1 victory over LAFC in front of a sellout crowd at Lower.com Field.
A first-time MLS All-Star selection, Hernández represented the Crew and MLS in the Skills Challenge on July 24 and additionally scored in the 17th minute of the All-Star Game in front of a home crowd at Lower.com Field on July 24.
CUCHO HERNÁNDEZ – GOLDEN BOOT
Cucho Hernández earned his second Columbus Crew Golden Boot award after leading the team with a career-high 19 goals in the 2024 regular season campaign. He recorded 20 goals and 16 assists in 25 matches across all competitions since the Concacaf Champions Cup Final on June 2. In his second full season with the Black & Gold, Hernández became the first player in Club history and only the 19th in MLS history to post multiple seasons with both 10+ goals and 10+ assists after surpassing his totals from 2023 (14 goals, 11 assists).
STEVEN MOREIRA – DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Recognized as the 2024 MLS Defender of the Year on Nov. 13, the defensive stalwart started 23 of his 27 regular season appearances this year, contributing two goals and four assists while logging 2,253 minutes. The Crew conceded just 29 goals (1.26 goals per game) when Moreira started and the fourth-fewest goals in MLS this season (40) overall. He featured in six of the 10 matches the Crew recorded shutouts and ranked sixth among all MLS defenders in short passes completed (407) and second among Crew defenders in goal contributions with six (two goals and four assists). The French born, Cape Verde international held a 95.3 percent passing accuracy in regular season play. With his assist to Hernández on Matchday 35, Moreira became the 16th player to record at least 20 assists in regular season play in club history.
This is the second Crew Defensive Player of the Year honor for Moreira, who this season was also honored with his first MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI selections.
DARLINGTON NAGBE – HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
The two-time Crew Humanitarian of the Year, Darlington Nagbe was selected as this year’s 2024 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award winner by Major League Soccer. The honor is awarded to MLS players who are dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion, enriching lives, and improving communities across the U.S. and Canada. Nagbe was selected for his tireless efforts working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio. For more than 75 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio have provided young people with essential support, guidance, and resources to help them succeed in life. In addition to his dedication to the organization, Nagbe has a celebrated MLS career marked by a longstanding commitment to positively impact his local community. Across the greater Columbus area, Nagbe has collaborated with numerous organizations, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the On Our Sleeves Movement for Children’s Mental Health.
A highly respected leader and current captain of the Columbus Crew, Nagbe has established himself as an MLS legend and has won four MLS Cup titles. In just the last two seasons in Columbus, Nagbe was named a 2024 MLS All-Star, and the Crew won both the 2023 MLS Cup presented by Audi and 2024 Leagues Cup.
EVAN BUSH – KIRK URSO HEART AWARD
Evan Bush is the 11th Crew player to receive the award after Kirk Urso was posthumously honored in the accolade’s inaugural year in 2012. Bush was chosen as the player who best exemplified the qualities in a teammate and became “the heart” in the Black & Gold locker room this season. In his 13th season in MLS, Bush appeared in two matches for the Crew, earning the start in road matches against Charlotte FC on March 23 and at Real Salt Lake on April 13.
Bush displayed his veteran leadership and drive to compete on and off the pitch every day, battling through injury with professionalism and positivity. The consummate professional throughout his career, Bush was an example to not only his teammates but also to the Crew 2 and Academy athletes who are able to witness his dedication to continually seeking improvement for himself and those around him.
CHASE ADAMS – ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
For his outstanding contributions in 2024, forward Chase Adams has been recognized as the Columbus Crew Academy Player of the Year. The 16-year-old started the season representing Columbus Crew 2 on an amateur agreement before earning an MLS NEXT Pro contract in early August. Adams appeared in 19 games (16 starts), leading the team with 10 goals, and helping propel Crew 2 to a third straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
A young player who developed into a leader on and off the pitch, Adams was recognized for his efforts and selected to represent the Crew in the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. On July 23, Adams started the match and wore the captain’s armband in the first half of the annual showcase of North America’s top young players held at Historic Crew Stadium.
In 2024, Adams made two appearances for the U.S. Under-16 Men’s Youth National Team, before being called up for the U-17s, appearing in three matches (two starts). Most recently, Adams represented the U-17 MYNT for November training camp in Florida.
