MLS MVP Winners

SI Staff | Nov 21, 2011

MLS MVP Winners /

MLS MVP Winners

Dwayne De Rosario (2011)

De Rosario was traded twice during the season, but his fourth months of play for D.C. United, which didn't make the playoffs, was stellar enough to win his first MVP. The Canadian began the year with Toronto FC, was dealt to the Red Bulls on April 1 and then ultimately to D.C. on June 27. Combined, he scored 16 goals (tied for first in MLS) with 12 assists (fourth). Other finalists: Brad Davis, Brek Shea

David Ferreira (2010)

The playmaking Colombian was instrumental in FC Dallas' breakthrough season, scoring eight goals with 13 assists, the latter second only to Landon Donovan. Dallas became the last of the remaining original MLS teams to make its first MLS Cup. Ferreira scored its lone goal in the championship match, a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids. Other finalists: Edson Buddle, Chris Wondolowski

Landon Donovan (2009)

At last, the U.S. Men's National Team's all-time leading scorer won his first MLS MVP eight years after his league debut. Donovan had 12 goals and six assists in the regular season, despite missing a month to play in the Confederations Cup, and helped the Galaxy reach the MLS Cup, where they lost to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks. Other finalists: Jeff Cunningham, Shalrie Joseph

Guillermo Barros Schelotto (2008)

Schelotto, who won the award at age 35, scored seven goals and had 19 assists as the Crew enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2008. They won both the Supporters' Shield (league's best record) and the MLS Cup. Three days after receiving the MVP trophy, Schelotto assisted on all three goals as the Crew beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 to win the MLS Cup. Other finalists: Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Landon Donovan

Luciano Emilio (2007)

Emilio, a Brazilian, won the MLS MVP in his first season in the league. He won the Golden Boot with 20 goals, leading D.C. United to the Supporters' Shield. Emilio suffered an ankle injury in the final regular-season game and was limited as the United were upset in the first round of the playoffs. Other finalists: Juan Pablo Angel, Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Christian Gomez (2006)

It took Gomez two full seasons to win the MVP award. The skillful Argentine paced D.C. with 14 goals and 11 assists, both second-best in MLS, as the club motored to the best regular-season record (15-7-10). Like Emilio, Gomez was not 100 percent in D.C.'s playoff loss. He suffered from a groin injury in a conference finals defeat to the New England Revolution. Other finalists: Jeff Cunningham, Dwayne De Rosario

Taylor Twellman (2005)

Also the All-Star Game MVP, Twellman netted an MLS-best 17 goals as the Revs marched to the MLS Cup final. They were beaten by the Galaxy for the title. Twellman scored 101 goals in 174 career matches, the highest ratio of any player in MLS history with at least 100 appearances. Other finalists: Dwayne De Rosario, Jaime Moreno

Amado Guevara (2004)

El Lobo's importance to the MetroStars was quite evident in 2004. In the six games Guevara missed, they earned just four points. When in the lineup, the Honduran was masterful, scoring 10 goals (tied for the MLS lead) and assisting on 10 more. The MetroStars made the playoffs but lost to eventual champion D.C. United in the first round. Other finalists: Joe Cannon, Jaime Moreno

Preki (2003)

Preki is the only player to win two MVP awards, the other coming in MLS' second season in 1997. At 40, he was also the oldest MVP. Preki scored 12 goals with 17 assists, just as in 1997. K.C. lost in the Western Conference finals to San Jose, which went on to win the MLS Cup. Other finalists: Ante Razov, John Spencer

Carlos Ruiz (2002)

Ruiz took the Golden Boot with 24 goals in 2002, his first MLS season. The diminutive Guatemalan also scored eight goals in six playoff games, an MLS record. In the MLS Cup, Ruiz scored a golden goal in 113th minute for a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. Other finalists: Mark Chung, Taylor Twellman

Alex Pineda Chacon (2001)

Chacon gave Miami its final thrills in the 2001 season, scoring 19 goals with nine assists for the Supporters' Shield winners. It would be the Fusion's final MLS season -- they lost in the conference semis. He scored eight minutes into his MLS debut that year and wound up leading MLS in goals, points and game-winning goals. Chacon, a Honduran legend, never duplicated the campaign and was out of MLS by the end of 2003. Other finalists: Jeff Agoos, Diego Serna

Tony Meola (2000)

Meola, the starting U.S. keeper at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, was the first goalie to win MVP. He was coming off a torn ACL that ruined his first Wizards season in 1999. Meola set an MLS record with 16 shutouts, including 681 straight scoreless minutes and also won Comeback Player of the Year. Meola ended the season with one more shutout to win the MLS Cup. Other finalists: Mamadou Diallo, Clint Mathis

Jason Kreis (1999)

Kreis was the first American-born MVP winner. He moved up full time from the midfield for the 1999 season, and it paid off big time. His 18 goals were an MLS high, though the Dallas Burn fell in the conference finals. Other finalists: Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno

Marco Etcheverry (1998)

Etcheverry, a member of the MLS All-Time Best XI, was the leader of the early MLS dynasty as D.C. won three of the first four MLS Cups. In the only year he won MVP, D.C. was actually MLS runner-up to the Chicago Fire. Etcheverry scored 10 goals and added an MLS record 19 assists (matching his record). Other finalists: Cobi Jones, Peter Nowak

Preki (1997)

Preki won his first MVP at age 34 with 12 goals and 17 assists as Kansas City shared the best record of 21-11. Preki won the league points title, but K.C. lost in the first round of the playoffs. Other finalists: Marco Etcheverry, Carlos Valderrama

Carlos Valderrama (1996)

The Mutiny had the league's best record in its inaugural year but fell to MLS Cup winner D.C. United in the East finals. Valderrama beat out teammate Roy Lassiter, who had a league-leading 27 goals to his four, for MVP despite missing nine games. He still finished second in MLS with 17 assists. Other finalists: Roy Lassiter, Preki

Published Nov 21, 2011

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