Tai Baribo Named MLS Player of the Month for February/March
The Israeli forward, with six goals in five appearances, becomes the third Union player in history to win the award.
MLS announced today that Tai Baribo has been named MLS Player of the Month for February/March after the forward scored six goals in five appearances for the Philadelphia Union to start the season.
Baribo opened the season with a brace against Orlando City on MLS opening weekend, followed by a hat trick against FC Cincinnati the next week. Through six weeks of MLS play, he leads the league with six goals and remains the only player to score a hat trick this season.
Baribo is the third Union player to earn Player of the Month honors and the first since Jack McInerney won back-to-back awards in April and May 2013. Sébastien Le Toux was the club’s first recipient, claiming the honor in September 2011.
On June 19, 2024, Baribo became a regular in the Union lineup last season, and since that moment, he has tallied 15 goals and two assists in 21 MLS appearances. Across all competitions since that date, he has notched 22 goals in 27 games.
Union head coach Bradley Carnell praised Baribo, saying, “Yeah, I think it's fantastic. He's got the call-up for his national team as well. He didn't get the minutes he wanted there, but he's shown it through the five games—that he's on a good run. He works tirelessly for the team. He commits everything on both sides of the ball, and it's good to see him get the service. So, for me, it's a whole team effort that rewards players, and Tai's been on the end of a bunch of those moments, especially from wide areas. It's been fun to see him convert them because he's pretty clinical in the box.”
Video Credit: Apple TV/MLS Season Pass/Philadelphia Union
I'll drink to that!