Puso Dithejane beats Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire Player of the Month award

Puso Dithejane has been named Chicago Fire’s Player of the Month, finishing ahead of high-profile team-mate Robert Lewandowski despite the Polish striker’s impressive start to life in Major League Soccer.

Lewandowski’s arrival at Chicago Fire attracted worldwide attention after he joined the club as a free agent from Barcelona in July. The 38-year-old quickly became the focus of media coverage, opposing teams and home supporters, while also showing that his finishing ability remains undiminished.

He has featured in 11 matches since moving to the MLS side, scoring five goals and providing one assist in all competitions. Given his reputation and immediate impact, Lewandowski appeared well placed to claim the award for July and August during his first two months in Chicago.

However, Dithejane’s progress since the MLS resumed after the 2026 FIFA World Cup proved decisive. The 22-year-old former TS Galaxy forward scored four goals and supplied two assists across all tournaments during the period considered for the award.

The South African attacker’s performances were also supported by strong matchday data. One of his most notable displays came in a 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul, when he scored twice and received a rating of 9.1 out of 10.

That result became one of the most significant in Chicago Fire’s recent history. The club reached the knockout rounds as the highest-seeded MLS representative and later advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2019, overcoming the odds against Mexico’s Liga MX champions.

Dithejane had already made an impression earlier in the campaign when he scored his first MLS goal in a 3-2 defeat by Inter Miami. His performance was given a rating of 7.6 out of 10, although he was outshone statistically by Luis Suarez, who scored twice for the winning side and earned an 8.7 rating.

Lewandowski was rated 6.3 out of 10 in that match.

Dithejane also opened the scoring in Chicago Fire’s 2-1 league win over Orlando City. His display received a 7.5 rating, almost level with Lewandowski’s 7.8 after the striker scored the winning goal.

Antoine Griezmann was the highest-rated player in that game, earning an 8.5 score despite being on the losing side.

The award reflects the scale of Dithejane’s rise at Chicago Fire. While Lewandowski remains the club’s biggest global draw and has delivered regularly in front of goal, Dithejane’s combination of goals, assists and standout performances during a decisive run of matches earned him recognition over the established superstar.