5 candidates for MLS Most Valuable Player
The 2016 MLS regular season has come to its natural close and with it, the endless dissecting and analysis of each and every stat can finally begin, starting with the question each young soccer fan asks his friends at school:
Who's the best player in the league?
Since the MLS Most Valuable Player award considers only regular-season action, here are five players who could claim the prize:
David Villa
David Villa enjoyed a tremendous 2016 season with New York City FC, working in tandem with Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard in midfield to captain his side to a franchise-first playoff berth.
He scored 23 goals and recorded four assists this season, and under head coach Patrick Vieira, Villa has become an out-and-out centre forward. Perhaps no player enjoyed as well-rounded a season as the Spanish striker.
Sebastian Giovinco
Last year's MVP winner didn't finish atop the scoring charts this season, nor did he come out on top in assists, but when it comes to overall influence, there is no player putting up better numbers than Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco:
| Name | Goals | Assists | Overall PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Giovinco | 17 | 15 | 32 |
| Bradley Wright-Phillips | 24 | 5 | 29 |
| David Villa | 23 | 4 | 27 |
| Giovani Dos Santos | 14 | 12 | 26 |
| Sacha Kljestan | 6 | 19 | 25 |
Add to the fact that the Atomic Ant missed six matches this season with injury, Giovinco once again topping the league in combined points is astounding, and potentially worthy of a repeat MVP nod.
Bradley Wright-Phillips
Once again, New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has claimed the MLS Golden Boot, scoring 24 goals in 2016 and helping his side top the Eastern Conference. And, once again, Wright-Phillips benefited from the creativity of a maestro in support.
For, like Thierry Henry before him, Sacha Kljestan played a huge part in giving Wright-Phillips the Golden Boot prize, and while the Englishman does clean-up duty better than any other striker in the league, is it enough to be league MVP?
Giovani Dos Santos
The LA Galaxy had a relatively quiet season compared to years past but that did not stop Mexico star Giovani Dos Santos from dominating in the Western Conference. While FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids are very much the sum of their parts, the Galaxy relied on "Gio" for production, and produce he did.
His 14 goals and 12 assists were overshadowed but not forgotten entirely, as few players proved as versatile on both attacking fronts as he; in this, his debut season, Dos Santos put in a solid showing, setting up for a strong 2017.
Ignacio Piatti
This time last year, the Montreal Impact would be propping up Didier Drogba for MLS MVP, but this season Drogba has been pipped by Ignacio Piatti, who stepped up throughout the year to deliver his side a playoff berth.
Piatti's quiet reliability and consistent performances helped his team survive "L'affaire Drogba," and the Argentine's 17 goals and six assists compares him favorably with any other attacking player in the league.
Honorable mentions: Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas), Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)