Toronto FC forward Federico Bernardeschi was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 15 of the 2024 MLS season.
Bernardeschi earns Player of the Matchday honours after producing his first career MLS hat trick and leading Toronto FC to a 5-1 rivalry victory against CF Montréal at home on Saturday night (Watch Highlights From His Performance Here). The Italian’s hat trick was only the second in the history of the 401 Derby, joining Toronto’s Ayo Akinola on July 16, 2020, and the first for Toronto FC in any MLS match since Akinola’s aforementioned hat trick. Since April 27, Bernardeschi has totaled six goals and three assists, with his six goals leading MLS over that span. After scoring just six goals in their first seven games of the season, Toronto has tallied 15 goals in their last seven matches and climbed to fifth place in the Eastern Conference (22 points, 7-6-1).
With Toronto up 1-0 in the 12th minute, Bernardeschi doubled the home side’s advantage by unleashing a well-struck left-footed effort into the roof of the net (Watch Here). After Toronto made it 3-0, the Italian forward added his second goal of the match in the 58th minute when his curling cross from outside the 18-yard-box evaded the Montréal defenders and goalkeeper to find the side netting (Watch Here). Just two minutes later, Bernardeschi completed his hat trick as a deflected pass from Derrick Etienne Jr. fell to him and he slotted his effort home from close range (Watch Here).
This is the first time Bernardeschi has been named MLS Player of the Matchday in his career and he is the first Toronto FC player to earn the honor since Michael Bradley on Matchday 22 of 2022.The last Italian player to win the award was former Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco in 2017 (Matchday 25).
Toronto and Bernardeschi will look to win another MLS match at home when they face FC Cincinnati on Saturday, May 25 at BMO Field (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The MLS Player of the Matchday 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.
