Yeimar Gomez Andrade was named to the 2024 MLS Best XI on Tuesday, becoming just the third Seattle Sounders player to win the honor twice. Unlike the other two defenders who made the team, Yeimar was not a finalist for Defender of the Year. That probably means he and Jackson Ragen, who was a finalist, largely disagreed.

However, there should be no controversy that Yeimar deserves this honor. Yeimar was named the Sounders Defender of the Year by his teammates and was the leader of a unit that allowed the fewest goals (35) in MLS this season. The Sounders also led the MLS with 13 shutouts, 11 of which came in games Yeimar started. Individually, he led MLS with 57 interceptions and his 141 clearances were the eighth most in MLS.

Yeimar was also named MLS Best XI in 2021, along with Chad Marshall (2014, 2018) and Raúl Ruidíaz (2020, 2021), who received this award twice while playing for the Sounders.

MLS 2024 Best XI

• Goalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)
• Defender: Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF), Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Seattle Sounders FC), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew)
• Midfielder: Luciano “Lucho” Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Evander (Portland Timbers), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
• Forward: Christian Benteke (DC United), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)