(Monday, April 28, 2025) – For the third time in 10 weeks this season, RSL playmaker Diego Luna is recognized by Major League Soccer for his weekend heroics, again named to Matchday 10’s fictional XI.
Saturday evening in San Diego, Luna needed just 10 minutes on either side of halftime to bag his third career brace – and second of the season – to score a pair of go-ahead goals and lead RSL to an eventual 3-1 victory over San Diego FC as the Claret-and-Cobalt snapped a two-game slide.
Late in the first half, Luna intercepted a loose San Diego pass and immediately dribbled towards goal, splitting two defenders at the top of the box with a scintillating, swerving shot into the upper right-hand corner of the net for an 1-0 RSL lead.
Early in the second half, Luna stepped up to the spot following an adjudicated handball in the San Diego box. With a wry smile and a calm demeanor, Luna cooly slotted a low roller to his left after tricking the San Diego ‘keeper to go the wrong way, converting his first penalty since the Houston playoff series in 2023 and giving RSL a 2-1 lead.
Luna, who now has five goals and two assists in his last six RSL matches, was recently named Utah’s Professional Male Athlete of the Year at the Governor’s State of Sport Awards, presented by the Utah Sports Commission. The 2024 MLS All-Star - also the reigning MLS Young Player of the Year – was praised afterwards by RSL boss Pablo Mastroeni:
“I don't think we can talk about Diego developing anymore. He's the guy. He's the guy that plays with the chip on his shoulder. He's one of our best defenders. He's obviously the guy that's putting the ball in the back of the net. He's doing it all for our group.
“Really unusual for a player of his age to kind of carry that type of burden for a group, but his shoulders are broad and his heart is big.”
With his brace earlier in the month against LA Galaxy, Luna became the youngest player in RSL history (21 years, 208 days) to amass 15 goals AND 15 assists in his career on the Wasatch Front. The most recent two-goal performance was Luna’s third-ever, his first arriving back on July 15, 2023, against the New York Red Bulls just ahead of his departure to represent the U.S. in that summer’s FIFA World Youth Championships in Argentina.
This weekend, Luna and RSL travel to Vancouver for a Saturday evening 7:30p MT kickoff against former Captain Damir Kreilach and the CONCACAF Champions Cup Semifinalists. Last week’s San Diego trip kicks off a run that sees RSL play six of eight overall away from home between now and the end of May, with upcoming trips to Vancouver, Dallas, Colorado, Austin and LA Galaxy.
RSL is back in Sandy on Wed., May 14 against Portland Timbers FC, arriving at what is expected to be another sold-out America First Field. The 7:30p MT kickoff has tickets remaining at www.RSL.com/tickets.
