Atlanta United’s Leandro Gonzalez Pirez finished fourth in the voting for MLS Defender of the Year.

Sporting KC's Ike Opara was named the winner on Thursday.

Gonzalez Pirez, a native of Argentina, started 32 games and scored one goal with three assists. He finished with 66 tackles and a tackle success rate of 83.5 percent. He led the league in interceptions (98).

He was part of a group that posted 13 shutouts this season.

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On April 8, 1974, in Atlanta, Hank Aaron smashed baseball’s home run record. Our special coverage celebrating the 50th anniversary of this magical moment has begun online and in our print editions. There’s still more to come as Monday’s historic anniversary arrives.

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Travelers wait in Concourse F, the international terminal, at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

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