The Real Salt Lake forward has shown his class this season, firing Pablo Mastroeni’s side to the top of the Western Conference.
When former LAFC striker Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango returned to MLS last season, Real Salt Lake had high expectations for their new Designated Player signing. Arango’s goals helped LAFC to their first-ever MLS Cup title in 2022 but his subsequent spell in Mexico with Pachuca was less successful.
The Colombian enjoyed a decent start to his time in Utah, notching six goals in 11 games after joining midway through the 2023 campaign. However this season, now fully integrated into this talented RSL team, he is proving himself to be one of the best all-round strikers in the league and has provided eight goals and three assists in ten MLS games.
His influence extends far beyond those statistics and he has quickly become a crucial cog in this well-honed RSL system. As the focal point of the attack Arango drops deep to link the play and release the likes of Diego Luna and Carlos Gómez on the flanks. He captains the Western Conference leaders and head coach Pablo Mastroeni has been full of praise for his star striker.
“Chicho’s doing everything that we’re asking. I think he’s playing with a ton of confidence,” Pablo Mastroeni told reporters after a recent 4-0 win over Chicago Fire. “I think one of the things he said to the group today before the game was, ‘If you want to be a champion, we have to conduct ourselves like champions, and that’s getting a result tonight.’”
Who is the top scorer in MLS?
Arango’s form has been incredible and his numbers impressive, but he finds himself in second place in the MLS scoring charts. Top spot belongs to Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who has scored nine goals in just seven appearances so far.
Messi may have the edge at the moment but Arango will still be many experts’ tip to finish with the MLS Golden Boot. Despite his incredible output, Messi has missed a lot of soccer for Miami and has started just 55% of their MLS games in 2024. A combination of age, injuries and international duty means that he may only start around 20 regular season games this season, far fewer than Mastroeni can hope to get out of Arango.
Last month MLS expert Taylor Twellman revealed that Arango, not Messi, is his tip to be crowned MLS Most Valuable Player and the Colombian may have the better prospects of long-term success this season. His RSL side look a more consistent, cohesive team than the star-studded Herons and their key players – Arango, Luna, Braian Ojeda – are more physically durable.
This weekend Real Salt Lake host Sporting Kansas City knowing that dropped points will likely see them forfeit top spot in the West. With the likes of LA Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps and Minnesota United putting together strong early runs the standard in the Western Conference has been raised for 2024. Despite that, RSL look well-equipped to go the distance this year and team captain Chicho Arango will be central to their success.
