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Since it's inaugural match back in April 6, 1996 the Major League Soccer (MLS for short) has grown exponentially becoming one of the world's most attractive leagues. The Major League Soccer consists of 24 teams, 21 in the U.S and 3 in Canada, divided into two conferences, East and West. The best 7 from each conference progress to what is called the playoffs. Unlike traditional European Leagues, the team on top of the table at the end of the season does not win the league. After the playoff rounds are played out, the winner's from both set's of conferences play in one final match, the MLS Cup.
Sounds complicated? It really isn't. The difference from traditional European League football makes for a fairly attractive league. And unlike many leagues across the globe, the MLS does not have a promotion/relegation system in place. Therefore, the bottom-placed team does not fear being relegated. If this is to change in the future remains to be seen. Unlike many European Leagues, in which many fans and pundits alike know who is going to contend for the title even before the first ball is kicked, any of the 24 teams in the league has an equal chance for the title!
In the past 6 seasons, a total of 6 different teams have won the league!! Sporting Kansas City, Los Angeles Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC and Atlanta United in that order. Aside from the competitive football in display, the league also has several high profile name's to boost. The idea that the Major League Soccer is a retirement league is a hoax, to say the least. The Miguel Almiron transfer to Newcastle United this past winter transfer market reported $21 million, this show's the league no longer relies on old, past-their-prime, big-name players. So who are the best player's to play in Major League Soccer?
#6 Wayne Rooney
What A Legend. 5 Premier League titles, a Champions League medal, a Europa League medal among countless individual awards. Did I mention he's Manchester United and England's top goalscorer? The manner in which he was treated in both his transfers, from Manchester United to Everton and Everton to DC United, was just awful. A legend with his prestige and stature deserved more respect than what pundits and former players showed Wayne Rooney. At 33, however, Wayne Rooney remains a big threat with his eye for a pass and a vicious threat at goal.
The impact he had in his inaugural season with DC United was tremendous! In his inaugural season, Rooney contributed 12 goals and 6 assists in 20 matches. In the process, transforming DC United from league laughing stock towards a team that finished in the playoffs. The impact aside from the playing field is what makes Wayne Rooney one of the most complete players the league has to offer! With the entire DC United roster benefiting from his presence in the locker room.
This season Wayne Rooney's form has not diminished. Contributing 4 goals and 2 assists in 4 games. Wayne Rooney still has an eye for goal, and although he's not the same player from 6 years ago, he remains an asset and threat any team around the globe would be happy to have. Everton's loss is DC United's gain.
#5 Pity Martinez
For a reported fee of around $14 million, Gonzalo "Pity" Martinez easily became Major League's Soccer most expensive signing. And in the process, one of Major League Soccer's most prolific signings. Although without a goal or assist to his name, Pity Martinez carries a technical ability far superior to that of the league. The Argentian Footballer of the year and South American Footballer of the year awards in 2018 are testimony towards both Pity's talent and potential.
Martinez came into the national spotlight this previous Copa Libertadores campaign, in which he carried River Plate towards the Copa Libertadores title, against heated rivals Boca Juniors. In it, he scored three goals and demonstrated his dazzling ability and demonstrated as to why Europe's top clubs were on high alert for his signature.
Atlanta United, however, was the most ambitious of the bunch and managed, against all odds, to capture his signature. Although he's failed to grab a goal or assist, Pity talent is there to see, only a matter of time before he bursts into the scene.
#4 Nicolas Lodeiro
He is the heart and soul of everything which comes off the Seattle Sounders' attack. Nicolas Lodeiro, although not a household name, contains the talent and skillset to disarm and denuclearize any Major League Soccer defence. Last season saw Nicolas Lodeiro contribute 8 goals and 12 assists from 27 games. In it, he contributed 97 key passes with an 82% accurate passing rate.
This season he has contributed 2 goals and 2 assists from 5 games, and chip in a further 12 key passes. Seattle Sounders attack flows purely throughout Lodeiro with Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidaz respectively suffering drastically without Lodeiro supplying them the service needed to score.
He is an Uruguayan International, with his last national appearance coming in a 22-minute cameo against Mexico. Although there are far more household names gracing the Major League Soccer, Lodeiro impact and value for Seattle Sounder's make him one of the best players in the MLS.
#3 Josef Martinez
31 goals and 5 assists were record-breaking numbers by Josef Martinez. A season in which Josef Martinez and Atlanta United captured the 2018 MLS CUP. It was a season in which, the entire world noticed who Josef Martinez was. The argument can be made Josef Martinez was made looked good due to the system that was in play by Gerardo "Tata" Martinez. A system which favoured the counter-attack, and saw Miguel Almiron constantly feed him tremendous quality chances.
This season has seen Josef Martinez slow down a bit, having scored only 1 goal from 4 appearances. This, however, can be said about the entire Atlanta United squad. With incoming manager Frank De Boer having failed to inspire and implement his own style of play with Atlanta.
Josef Martinez remains one of Major League Soccer best players. When you score 31 goals in a regular season, you deserve to be recognized as one of the best players.
#2 Carlos Vela
The former Arsenal and Real Sociedad winger shows the destruction a player in his prime can unleash when playing their trade Stateside. In his first season with Los Angeles Football Club, the Mexican international scored 14 goals and assisted on 11 more occasions. His performances caught Barcelona's eye, with Carlos Vela reportedly a target during the January transfer window. Carlos Vela choose to stay with LAFC, however, and his performances have been eye dropping.
In his first 6 games of the season, Carlos Vela has scored 7 goals and assisted on a further 4 occasions. Vela has single handily carried the LAFC oattack by contributing 2.8 dribbles and 3.5 key passes per game. If Carlos Vela continues such performances, LAFC is near certain for the MLS Cup, with no defence having found the formula towards stopping Carlos Vela yet.
The difference between this Carlos Vela and the one from Real Sociedad is the confidence and leadership Vela possesses with the ball in his feet. It really is a joy to watch Carlos Vela dribble his way past opponents with ease.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Two Words. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Period. There are little words that can perfectly and adequately describe the Swedish legend. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has done it all and won it all individually. Wherever he's gone, Ibrahimovic has silenced the critiques. When they said he was too old to actually match up in the Premier League, he responded by scoring 17 goals and assisting on a further 5 occasions with Manchester United.
Unfortunately, a horrific knee injury put an end to his Manchester United career and he took his services towards Los Angeles Galaxy. In his inaugural season in Los Angeles Zlatan scored 22 goals and 6 assists. This season he has not slowed down, with 4 goals and 1 assist in 5 games.
With Zlatan in fine form, you wouldn't bet against him to break every single record in the MLS. At 37-years of age, Zlatan remains one of the MLS most lethal and clinical finishers. Fine like wine, ages and only manages to get better.
