Sporting Kansas City forward Andre Luiz is one of three finalists for MLS Newcomer of the Year along with Orlando City SC forward Antoine Griezmann and Houston Dynamo FC forward Guilherme, Major League Soccer announced on Thursday.
The finalists for the annual award received the highest average votes from MLS club technical staff, MLS players and select media members with each group accounting for one-third of the overall results.
Andre joined Sporting Kansas City in August as a Designated Player via a club-record transfer from Olympiacos FC and the 24-year-old Brazilian made an immediate impact in Major League Soccer with eight goals and three assists in 13 appearances.
“Andre has been unbelievable,” said Sporting Kansas City President of Soccer Operations and General Manager David Lee. “We have to continue to push him to deliver even more in his second season with a full preseason behind him. He's a fantastic player for this league and we're very fortunate to have him.”
Andre became the first player in club history to receive four end-of-year awards – winning the team’s MVP, Golden Boot, Offensive Player of the Year and Goal of the Year honors – and he is only the third KC player all time to be named a finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year along with Claudio Lopez (2008) and Alan Pulido (2020).
In addition, Andre is one of 18 finalists for the 2026 AT&T MLS Goal of the Year – earning the nomination with a sensational solo effort against the Philadelphia Union on Sept. 19 – with fan voting open online until 10:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 16.
Andre was among the league’s elite attackers over the final eight weeks of the season with the most goals (8) and third most goal contributions (11) while recording the third fastest top speed (22.91 miles per hour) in MLS this year.
Most Goals in MLS Since Sept. 12
Andre Luiz (Sporting Kansas City) 8
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) 8
Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) 8
Andre re-wrote the Sporting KC record books, becoming the first player in club history to score seven goals in his first seven games and the first SKC player to record 10 goal contributions in his first 10 appearances. Among SKC starters all-time, Andre has the highest rate of goal contributions while ranking second on the goals per game chart.
Player |
Goal Contributions Per Game |
1. Andre Luiz |
11 in 13 games (.846) |
2. Preki |
169 in 218 games (.775) |
3. Miklos Molnar |
13 in 17 games (.765) |
Regular season careers with minimum one start
