NEW YORK (Monday, September 9, 2024) – Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Albert Rusnák was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 31 of the 2024 MLS season.
Rusnák scored his first career MLS hat trick as part of the Sounders’ 4-0 victory on the road against the Columbus Crew. Rusnák’s hat trick came in his 230th MLS regular-season game, as he became the third player in MLS history to record their first hat trick in their 200th game or later, joining Kei Kamara (279) and Mike Magee (226). In 2024, Rusnák leads the Sounders in goal contributions (20), assists (12), and key passes (61). The Slovakian midfielder is only the fifth player in club history to produce at least 20 goal contributions in a single season, joining Clint Dempsey, Nico Lodeiro, Obafemi Martins, and Fredy Montero.
Rusnák opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time when he stepped up to a direct free kick and perfectly placed his strike around the wall and into the side netting (Watch Here). After Jordan Morris doubled the lead the Sounders’ lead in the 60th minute, Rusnák made it 3-0 just seven minutes later through a low-driven shot that snuck inside the near post (Watch Here ). He wrapped up his hat trick in the 70th minute with a perfect one-timed effort that flew into the top corner of the net (Watch Here).
Rusnák is the second Seattle player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra this season, joining Raúl Ruidíaz (Matchday 8). This is the second time that Rusnák has earned the honor in his career after previously doing so seven years ago for Real Salt Lake on Matchday 6 of 2017.
Seattle looks to continue their ascent up the Western Conference when they host Sporting Kansas City at Lumen Field on Sunday, September 15 (7:15 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FS1).
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.
