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The Round of 16 of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup finished on Thursday after an exciting two weeks of action.
There were many excellent individual performances over the course of the 16 matches, yet these 11 players stood out the most at their respective positions.
Goalkeeper
Esteban Andrada, Monterrey – Andrada only conceded one goal against a very dangerous FC Cincinnati team in a 3-1 aggregate victory. He finished with seven saves and four clearances.
Defenders
Getsel Montes, Herediano – Herediano are the lone Central American team standing thanks in part to Montes, who scored a goal, had three steals and four clearances in the 3-1 aggregate victory against Robinhood of Suriname.
Jonathan Mensah, New England Revolution – Mensah was immense in New England’s two matches with Alajuelense in making 16 clearances and four saves in the 5-1 aggregate win.
Emilio Rodriguez, Pachuca – Pachuca got back-to-back clean sheets against the Philadelphia Union in a 6-0 aggregate final, with Rodriguez getting an assist and four steals while completing almost 85 percent of his passes.
Midfielders
Luis Romo, Monterrey – Romo was seemingly everywhere in the 121 minutes he was on the field against FC Cincinnati. He scored in the second leg 2-1 win and had two steals.
Tomas Chancalay, New England Revolution – Chancalay scored two goals against Alajuelense in the first leg to give him four for the tournament, making him the joint-top scorer.
Esmir Bajraktarevic, New England Revolution – The On The Rise player for the Round of 16 had a goal and an assist against Alajuelense.
Diego Valdes, Club America – Club America survived a ferocious Chivas comeback in their 5-3 aggregate victory thanks in large part to Valdes, who had a goal, an assist, a steal and a clearance over the two legs.
Forwards
Lionel Messi, Inter Miami – The Argentina superstar and Round of 16 Game-Changer looked right at home in the Champions Cup with a goal in each leg in the 5-3 aggregate victory over Nashville SC. He also had an assist.
Salomon Rondon, Pachuca – Rondon simply took over Pachuca’s tie with Philadelphia, notching a hat-trick in the second leg.
Luis Suarez, Inter Miami – Suarez formed a dynamic duo with Messi against Nashville and finished with a goal and an assist in each leg.
