FC Dallas star shocks MLS with numbers only legends have touched | OneFootball

FC Dallas midfielder Luciano Acosta joined a rare club. With his game-winner in the 2-1 win against Sporting Kansas City, the man added his name to the list of just seven MLS players with a minimum of 75 goals and 75 assists. An exclusive, choosy fraternity that enrolls only elite players with quality credentials. And he's now a member of it.

There were plenty of raised eyebrows when FC Dallas paid as much as $6 million to acquire Acosta from FC Cincinnati. Thirty years old, attacking midfielder, big investment. But soccer is one of those sports where cold statistics don't always tell the whole story. Sometimes all a player requires is the right spot, at the right moment, in the right jersey. And that's what came to pass. In Texas, Acosta was a missing piece that worked seamlessly. He arrived at a starving team, poised to step up, and already he's proving each dollar was worth it.

The moment that became a milestone

The goal that forever added Acosta's name to the list of all-time greats came in the 37th minute of the first half courtesy of Petar Musa. The game was still evenly balanced, the stakes were high, and Acosta responded to the challenge to level the scores. "The truth is that at halftime, I saw the stat. It's an honor to keep making history and I'm happy to have achieved this statistical milestone with Dallas," he said.

That's the point, he knew exactly what he'd done. And he did it full justice. Humble, but absolutely aware. A veteran who has respect for his own path without losing the hunger to keep going.

Instant response under Eric Quill

You can't miss the timing. The win came in Eric Quill's first home game as head coach. Following two home losses in succession, FC Dallas were crying out for a response. And they did. With Acosta leading the charge. Petar Musa captured the mood of the team with perfect accuracy: "We've done well away from home, but we wanted to get those three initial points here at home tonight, and we did. I'm extremely proud of this group. We played some excellent, excellent soccer today. We had a great amount of opportunities, and I think ultimately we deserved to win." That kind of statement shows the team is investing. It's not Acosta in all its glory. It's a unit that hungers for more. That believes in what it can accomplish.

A leader on and off the field

Acosta being in the team is of the type that sets the tone. Yeah, the guy's technically sound, but he's also driven, committed, competitive. And in a young team with an average age of 24, that sort of leadership counts. It's about demonstrating how to play with and without the ball. It's about observing the game, slowing it down when necessary, and flooring it when the time comes.

That's the kind of player who, beyond statistics, leaves a legacy. One day, the young players who are now sharing the locker room with him will look back and say, "I played with Acosta." And that's something statistics will never fully capture.

The historical list and the weight of each name

Fatiguing down the list that Acosta just joined is akin to browsing a sacred MLS Bible. Landon Donovan (145 goals, 136 assists). Jaime Moreno (133 goals, 102 assists). Dwayne De Rosario (104 goals, 77 assists). Diego Valeri (86 goals, 91 assists). Preki (79 goals, 112 assists). Steve Ralston (76 goals, 135 assists). All these names shaped what the league is today.