Yeimar Gomez Andrade was named to the 2024 MLS Best XI on Tuesday, becoming just the third Seattle Sounders player to earn that distinction twice. Unlike the other two defenders who made the team, Yeimar was not a finalist for Defender of the Year. That likely means he and Jackson Ragen, who was a finalist, largely split the vote.
There should be no controversy that Yeimar earned this honor, though. Yeimar was named the Sounders Defender of the Year by teammates and was the leader of a unit that allowed the fewest goals (35) in MLS this season. The Sounders also led MLS with 13 shutouts, 11 of which were in games Yeimar started. Individually, he led MLS with 57 interceptions and his 141 clearances were the eighth most in MLS.
Yeimar had also been named MLS Best XI in 2021, joining Chad Marshall (2014, 2018) and Raúl Ruidíaz (2020, 2021) in having earned that distinction twice while playing for the Sounders.
2024 MLS Best XI
- Goalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)
- Defenders: Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF), Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Seattle Sounders FC), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew)
- Midfielders: Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Evander (Portland Timbers), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
- Forwards: Christian Benteke (D.C. United), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
