NEW YORK (Friday, Nov. 12, 2021) – New York City FC forward Valentín Castellanos has been voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Month by members of the media for October/November of the 2021 MLS season.
Castellanos scored six goals and added one assist in October/November, scoring a goal in each of the final four games over the period as NYCFC secured their place in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs and homefield advantage for their Round One match vs. Atlanta United.
Castellanos used the goal burst over the final stretch of the MLS campaign to win the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, with 19 goals on the season, along with eight assists, winning the honor with more assists for the season.
Castellanos started his goalscoring streak with a pair of goals in NYCFC’s 6-0 win vs. D.C. United on Oct. 23 at Yankee Stadium, scoring the brace within the opening 11 minutes of the match. In NYCFC’s next match on Oct. 27, Castellanos converted a penalty kick for the only goal of the game in a win against Chicago Fire FC at Yankee Stadium.
Then on Oct. 30 at DRV PNK Stadium, Castellanos recorded his second two-goal game of the month and also added an assist, involved in all of NYCFC’s goals in a 3-1 win vs. Inter Miami CF, hitting a long-range effort in the 33rd minute before finishing off a counterattack on a breakaway in the 60th minute. The win secured NYCFC’s berth in the postseason.
On Decision Day (Nov. 7), Castellanos headed home NYCFC’s goal in a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union at Yankee Stadium, securing his club’s top-four finish in the Eastern Conference and also wrapping up the MLS Golden Boot in the process.
Castellanos was named MLS Player of the Month for the second time this season, also garnering the honor in August, the third time in his MLS career he has won the award.
New York City FC begin their participation in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday, Nov. 21, when they face Atlanta United at Yankee Stadium (3 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports).
MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
