MLS Best XI: Giovinco, Villa, Dos Santos highlight attack-heavy team
Major League Soccer revealed its best XI of the 2016 season on Monday, with a handful of the division's most electrifying attacking players getting the nod in a lineup that is, predictably, lopsided.
Here they are. The 2016 MLS #BestXI! pic.twitter.com/4TMhZwZkRa
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 5, 2016
Sebastian Giovinco, somehow omitted from the three-man shortlist for league MVP, is the lone player on the team who will be taking part in the MLS Cup final. Toronto FC will host Seattle later this week.
While the logistics of such a lineup are questionable, it's difficult to argue that some of the high-powered attacking studs shouldn't be included after their respective seasons.
Bradley Wright-Phillips won the Golden Boot; David Villa scored 23 goals, finishing one shy of the Red Bulls star; Ignacio Piatti should have been in the MVP discussion; Giovani Dos Santos carried the LA Galaxy as marquee teammates around him succumbed to injury.
There were almost too many highlights to choose from.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 5, 2016
Here’s the #BestXI in action. https://t.co/6Wmdyx5Sv3
On defense, the three men who were nominated for the league's Defender of the Year honour got the nod - Matt Hedges ultimately claimed the crown - while the team is backstopped by Philadelphia stalwart Andre Blake.