Villa, Valeri, Giovinco highlight MLS MVP finalists
Major League Soccer released its annual award nominees Tuesday, with the standout MVP honor shortlisting five of the league's biggest stars.
Defending winner David Villa, Portland Timbers midfield engine Diego Valeri, Atlanta United newcomer Miguel Almiron, Chicago Fire league-leading scorer Nemanja Nikolic, and Toronto FC free-kick savant Sebastian Giovinco have been nominated after stellar 2017 campaigns.
Related: Atlanta United, Toronto FC dominate nominees for year-end MLS awards
New York City FC striker Villa, who bested crosstown rivals Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan for the award last year, is joined by 2015 winner Giovinco. Valeri and MLS debutants Almiron and Nikolic are maiden nominees, with the Landon Donovan Award expanding to five names for the first time.
Nikolic and Almiron are also nominated for the Newcomer of the Year distinction alongside Altanta United striker Josef Martinez.