Winners revealed in Orlando City UK’s 2024 end-of-season awards

/ Taylor Williams

This past week, we asked Orlando City SC supporters on X to select their Orlando City SC Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year for 2024 as part of our annual Orlando City UK end-of-season awards.

A public vote designed to recognise the standout Orlando City SC players in our promising, yet ultimately unfruitful 2024 campaign, we can now proudly reveal the winners as voted by you!

Thank you to all 226 of you who cast your votes across our three awards categories on X – we truly appreciate your involvement!

So without any further ado, here are your Orlando City UK 2024 end-of-season award winners!

2024 Orlando City UK Player of the Year

2018 winner: Yoshimar Yotún
2019 winner: Nani
2020 winner: Pedro Gallese
2021 winner: Pedro Gallese
2022 winner: Facundo Torres
2023 winner: Robin Jansson

With 43% of the vote, Facundo Torres is the deserved winner of Orlando City UK’s ‘Player of the Year’ honour.

In a season that could have faltered after a rocky start, El Cuervo elevated himself and the team to new heights.

Ultimately, Torres carved his name into Orlando City SC folklore with record-breaking achievements and memorable moments.

Looking back, Facu’s turning point came on June 19 when his 81st minute equaliser (2-2) spared our blushes after playing with a man advantage for over half the game at Charlotte FC.

Expertly cushioning Nicolás Lodeiro’s corner one-time, Torres then stroked a left-footed shot past Kristijan Kahlina to spare Orlando City SC total embarrassment at 10 vs. 11.

Significantly, Facu’s strike came just a game after an agonising penalty miss against Los Angeles FC – but we’ll get to that.

Ultimately, from the Charlotte FC (A) game forth, Facundo Torres was a man on a mission.

Fast forward to October 2, and it was a record-breaking night for El Cuervo in our 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium.

On the night, Torres calmly slotted home his 45th goal for the Lions, becoming Orlando City SC’s all-time leading goalscorer (45) across all competitions.

Facundo Torres’ milestone was a huge moment for both him and the club, as he surpassed Cyle Larin’s previous record (44 goals) and cemented his place in Orlando City SC history.

As if that wasn’t enough, Torres added to his legend on October 27 with a difficult, decisive finish in our 2-1 Round One (game one) win over Charlotte FC in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Another historic moment for Torres, this was not only Facu’s first-ever goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

It was a goal that also saw him set a new club record with 19 goals in a single season.

Surpassing Cyle Larin’s long-standing single-season record of 18 goals set in 2015, Facu’s record-breaking goal further cemented his status as surely the greatest Orlando City SC player of all-time.

I mean, I think he is now, right?

Especially after almost single-handedly helping Orlando City SC win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – our first major honour as an MLS club.

But Facu’s 2024 journey wasn’t without its challenges.

On June 15, against Los Angeles FC, Facundo Torres missed a penalty – an agonising miss that mirrored the frustration and setbacks of Orlando City SC’s early season struggles.

Having gone scoreless in 13 of the Lions’ first 14 MLS games and missing out on Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay squad for the 2024 Copa América, Facu’s spirits were really low.

Shockingly blasting his penalty high over Hugo Lloris’ bar, this was a rare slip-up by Torres, who had converted every single penalty (8 from 8) for Orlando City SC up to that point.

The disappointment was palpable, as even fan favourite Nani watched on, reminiscing on his own up-and-down penalty record in purple.

Yet, Facundo Torres showed the resilience that has come to define his Orlando City SC career, rallying back with a spectacular second half of the season.

If there’s one thing Orlando City SC fans know, it’s that Torres thrives during the business end of the year.

Ultimately, if Facundo Torres could maintain his peak form throughout an entire MLS season, he’d probably have already secured a transfer to Europe!

Facu’s early-season struggles tested his mettle, but ultimately, he rose to the challenge, helping Orlando City SC to a second successive top four Eastern Conference finish.

From June 19 onward, he scored 13 more MLS goals, bringing his 2024 MLS regular season total to 14 and his all-competitions tally to (20) – a feat no other Lion has achieved.

Facundo Torres’ clutch factor and his knack for delivering in critical moments make him a truly special player.

After all, who could forget November 9 when Torres scored *that* penalty rebound equaliser on 90+12 minutes against Charlotte FC?

This buzzer beater goal effectively saved our season, sending the game to penalties, where Facundo Torres scored again to help City progress 4-1, setting up our third-ever Eastern Conference Semi-Final.

Sure, Torres missed *that* golden chance to put Orlando City SC 1-0 up in our heartbreaking Eastern Conference Final defeat (0-1) to New York Red Bulls.

But in football, moments like these happen, and unfortunately, El Cuervo couldn’t capitalise when it mattered most.

While Orlando City SC’s 2024 season saw highs and lows, Torres eventually embodied the grit and flair that our supporters have come to adore.

Many congratulations on being our well-deserved 2024 Orlando City UK Player of the Year, Facundo Torres.

Orlando City SC 2 Philadelphia Union 1 – Highlights – October 2, 2024 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

2024 Orlando City UK Young Player of the Year

2018 winner: Chris Mueller
2019 winner: Benji Michel
2020 winner: Daryl Dike
2021 winner: Daryl Dike
2022 winner: Facundo Torres
2023 winner: Duncan McGuire

Your Orlando City UK ‘Young Player of the Year’ for 2024 is Ramiro Enrique with 56% of the vote.

Now 23-years-old, Enrique’s impressive late-season surge and string of clinical performances have taken his City career to new heights.

On fire since July, the Argentine forward consistently rose to the occasion when we needed him most.

Scoring against New York City FC in a 1-1 draw at home on July 20, this marked Ramiro Enrique’s fourth consecutive MLS game with a goal.

This streak would soon extend to six across all competitions, thanks to two more consecutive strikes in the 2024 Leagues Cup.

His prolific 6-in-6 run became a new club record, firmly placing Enrique among the Lions’ most exciting young talents.

Fast forward to October 5, and in a crucial 1-3 victory away at FC Cincinnati, Ramiro Enrique was brimming with confidence.

Just 10 minutes in, he connected with Kyle Smith’s perfectly whipped cross from the right, slotting home a precise first-time finish to open the scoring.

This marked Enrique’s seventh goal in just 12 MLS appearances, and he didn’t stop there.

Later in the game, Ramiro Enrique capitalised on some defensive miscommunication between FC Cincinnati’s Luca Orellano and goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

After Iván Angulo intercepted Orellano’s short back pass and fed a square ball to Enrique, the young forward calmly tapped in his second goal of the night.

It was a moment straight out of a FIFA highlight reel, and it epitomised Enrique’s poise and awareness on the pitch.

But Ramiro Enrique’s greatest-ever moment in purple was to come during City’s Eastern Conference Semi-Final against Atlanta United on November 24.

On 39 minutes, Enrique lunged to prod home the ball past Brad Guzan from point-blank range (1-0).

Enrique’s first-ever goal in the playoffs, this decisive goal ended up being enough to see Orlando City SC progress to their first-ever Eastern Conference Final.

But it wasn’t just these standout moments that defined Enrique’s season – it was his overall work rate, tenacity, and hunger that truly set him apart.

Mid-season, after finally resolving his green card issues, Enrique became a fixture in Oscar Pareja’s starting eleven, dislodging both Duncan McGuire and new Designated Player Luis Muriel from the lineup.

Few would’ve predicted this in pre-season, but Enrique’s form and relentless commitment to improving his game earned him a regular starting spot.

In fact, he started five more MLS regular-season games (12) in 2024 than he did in his debut campaign (7), reflecting his growing importance to the team.

Across the 2024 MLS regular season, Ramiro Enrique tallied eight goals and two assists over 1,082 minutes.

This impressive output speaks to his finishing ability, football intelligence, and adaptability – traits that have made other MLS fanbases sit up and take notice.

More than just a goalscorer, Enrique has become a key piece of Orlando City SC’s offensive setup, showing a maturity beyond his years in his link-up play, pressing, and knack for reading the game.

Soccer IQ clearly runs in the family because Ramiro Enrique is the son of Argentina’s 1986 FIFA World Cup winner Héctor Enrique.

Many congratulations on being our 2024 Orlando City UK Young Player of the Year, Ramiro Enrique!

Orlando City SC 1 Atlanta United 0 – Highlights – November 24, 2024 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

2024 Orlando City UK Newcomer of the Year

2018 winner: Chris Mueller
2019 winner: Nani
2020 winner: Pedro Gallese
2021 winner: Silvester van der Water
2022 winner: Facundo Torres
2023 winner: Duncan McGuire

With 40% of the vote, Nicolás Lodeiro is your Orlando City UK ‘Newcomer of the Year’ for 2024.

It’s a fitting honour for a seasoned maestro whose presence has brought both flair and experience to Orlando City SC in 2024.

Announced as a City player on January 4, Lodeiro joined after departing his beloved Seattle Sounders, where he’d already clinched two MLS Cups and a CONCACAF Champions League title.

Filling the creative void left by fellow Uruguayan midfielder Mauricio Pereyra, who returned to Nacional, the veteran quickly proved he’s still got plenty to offer, signing a contract through 2024 with an option for 2025.

Remarkably, despite his pedigree, Lodeiro hasn’t occupied a Designated Player slot, giving City great value from his dynamic play.

Over the course of the 2024 MLS regular season, Lodeiro logged 1,697 minutes for City and achieved an impressive 11 assists across just 16 starts.

Across all competitions, Nicolás Lodeiro actually ended up with 13 assists this year, tying our current single-season records set by Facundo Torres (2022), Mauricio Pereyra (2023), and Martín Ojeda (2024).

This is a testament to Lodeiro’s tireless work rate, vision, and technical prowess.

Though Martín Ojeda has now established himself as Oscar Pareja’s starting number 10, Lodeiro has still added quality depth to Orlando City SC’s roster.

Showcasing an impressive level of fitness and resilience, Nicolás Lodeiro appeared in all 34 of our regular season fixtures.

Despite being 35, his engine is as relentless as ever, covering a vast amount of ground and influencing the play from all areas of the pitch.

One of the highlights of Lodeiro’s season came on August 31, during Orlando City SC’s commanding 3-0 win over Nashville SC.

Cutting inside to assist Facundo Torres for City’s third goal of the night, Nicolás Lodeiro’s setup was not only his tenth assist of the season but also a historical milestone.

It also saw him become the 12th player in MLS history to total at least 90 career regular season assists.

These stats reinforce why he’s revered as one of Major League Soccer’s most decorated playmakers, still even at this late stage in his career.

As for his only Orlando City SC goal this 2024 MLS regular season, it was a beauty to behold.

Back on March 23, against Austin FC (2-0), Lodeiro scored a stunning free-kick in our very first MLS win of the year.

After Esteban Rosano called handball on Jhojan Valencia on 62 minutes, up stepped Nicolás Lodeiro to take a dangerous free-kick on the edge of Los Verdes’ box.

Bending a deliciously accurate strike beyond Brad Stuver, it was an outstanding way for the Uruguayan to score his first MLS goal for City.

It was classic Lodeiro – precise, powerful, and memorable.

A free-kick that started out wide of Stuver’s right hand post, it expertly bent on frame in the nick of time.

Top bins indeed!

Showcasing his signature celebration by taking off his boot and putting it to his ear like a phone, this is a longtime tribute to his father who sadly passed away back in 2011.

By performing this celebration, Lodeiro keeps his father’s memory alive by calling him in heaven.

A very touching tribute indeed!

Many congratulations on being our 2024 Orlando City UK Newcomer of the Year, Nicolás Lodeiro!

Orlando City SC 2 Austin FC 0 – Highlights – March 23, 2024 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

…

Support Orlando City UK

Passionate about what we do, Orlando City UK content will always be free. The most important thing for us is sharing our love of Orlando City SC with you all and donations are by no means expected. However, if you enjoy our content, a token towards the regular maintenance of Orlando City UK is hugely appreciated!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *