25.10.2022 - 20:58 | source: MLS/Transfermarkt | Reading Time: 2 mins

World Cup next?

Almada wins newcomer award - Atlanta star most expensive player in MLS history

Atlanta United's record transfer Thiago Almada has been voted 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year ahead of Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernández and New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrović. Almada won the trophy after scoring six goals and seven assists in 29 Major League Soccer regular season games for Atlanta United.

Almada becomes the second Atlanta United player to earn this award after Paraguayan international Miguel Almirón in 2017 during the club's inaugural season. Almirón was sold two years later for a league record €24 million to Newcastle United. Almada also holds a transfer record. The $16 million transfer fee makes the 21-year-old Argentine the most expensive signing in Atlanta United and MLS history (overview).

Despite the mega transfer, Almada, who has the second highest market value in MLS behind Toronto FC's Lorenzo Insigne, was unable to lead Atlanta United to the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Five Stripes stripes finished 11th in the Eastern Conference, eight points out of the playoff race. The same can be said about Hernández and Petrović, as the Crew, and the Revolution, respectively, missed out on the playoffs.

Insigne, Almada & Co. - The most valuable MLS players

Jefferson Savarino | Real Salt Lake City | Market value: $6.6m

1/25

Djordje Mihailovic | CF Montréal | Market value: $6.6m

2/25

Efraín Álvarez | LA Galaxy | Market value: $6.6m

3/25

Ryan Gauld | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Market value: $7.15m

4/25

Carles Gil | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m

5/25

Riqui Puig | LA Galaxy | Market value: $7.7m

6/25

Brenner | FC Cincinnati | Market value: $7.7m

7/25

Facundo Torres | Orlando City SC | Market value: $7.7m

8/25

Dániel Sallói | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.25m

9/25

Gabriel Slonina | Chicago Fire FC | Market value: $8.25m

10/25

Lucas Zelarayán | Columbus Crew | Market value: $8.8m

11/25

Josef Martínez | Atlanta United FC | Market value: $8.8m

12/25

Federico Bernardeschi | Toronto FC | Market value: $8.8m

13/25

Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | Market value: $8.8m

14/25

Denis Bouanga | Los Angeles FC | Market value: $8.8m

15/25

Luiz Araújo | Atlanta United FC | Market value: $8.8m

16/25

Jesús Ferreira | FC Dallas | Market value: $8.8m

17/25

Alan Velasco | FC Dallas | Market value: $8.8m

18/25

Cucho Hernández | Columbus Crew | Market value: $9.9m

19/25

Sebastián Driussi | Austin FC | Market value: $11.0m

20/25

Emanuel Reynoso | Minnesota United FC | Market value: $11.0m

21/25

José Cifuentes | Los Angeles FC | Market value: $11.0m

22/25

Talles Magno | New York City FC | Market value: $11.0m

23/25

Thiago Almada | Atlanta United FC | Market value: $16.5m

24/25

Lorenzo Insigne | Toronto FC | Market value: $22.0m

25/25

Despite missing out on the playoffs, is Almada headed to the World Cup?

In September, Almada became just the second MLS player in history after Pity Martínez to be called up to the Argentine national team. Almada made his national team debut on Sep. 24, playing 36 minutes in the 3-0 win over Honduras. There is certainly a chance Almada could be part of Argentina's World Cup squad.