Major League Soccer (MLS) is often referred to as the league where veteran footballers go to earn their last paycheck while nearing the twilight of their professional careers.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean MLS doesn’t have young and talented players who could walk their way into Europe’s top teams and lay claim to a starting shirt, case in point was Miguel Almiron’s transfer from Atlanta United to Newcastle United.
That said, the question now is who are the most valuable players in the ‘Major League Soccer’?
Here Are 10 Of MLS Most Valuable Players
- Diego Rossi – (Los Angeles FC, €18.0m)
Over the years the footballing world has seen top Uruguayan players went on to climb the ladder of success with big teams and the players that comes to mind are Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez, and Edison Cavani.
As for Diego Rossi, the 23-year-old Los Angeles star is gradually carving out a name for himself in the United States with the mindset of getting to play in one of Europe’s top teams in the future.
Since he joined Los Angeles FC in 2018 from Penarol for $4m, he’s often been overshadowed by the brilliant display of former Arsenal forward, Carlos Vela. However, that doesn’t mean those who could smell quality and talent don’t see how brilliant the Uruguayan has been when he takes to the pitch with his commendable performances.
In Rossi’s first season with Los Angeles FC, he did hit the ground running with an amazing 12 goals, seven assists, for a youngster who is just coming to a different culture and environment, and he surpassed that feat with 16 goals and seven assists the following season.
With that in mind, the small, shifty, brilliant dribbler and goal-scorer has grown into a more experienced and mature professional.
- Josef Martinez – (Atlanta United, €12.5m)
Been rated as one of the greatest strikers in the history of Major League Soccer says a lot about how brilliant the Venezuelan has been for his club in terms of on-field performances. As such, leading the ‘Five Stripes’ to the title in 2018 with a record 31 goals. and 27 in 2019 which gives credence to his ‘Greatest Tag’ in MLS.
Martinez’s value in the market doesn’t echos his quality and talent as a player, however, the 28-year-old dominance in front of goal simply shows he’s one brilliant player that could annihilate any breed of goalkeepers and defenders with his intelligence and trickery.
When talking about a potent striker the Venezuelan has the right demeanor that stands him out in the league and it’s no surprise he’s been Atlanta’s finest player who brings his leadership and goalscoring quality to the fore when it matters most.
- Ezequiel Barco – (Atlanta United, €10.0m)
A huge accolade has to go to Independiente’s academy for nurturing one of the finest Argentines plying his trade in Major League Soccer. Barco’s trajectory began from his native country where he springs out of the club’s talent factory at the age of 18 to play in the Copa Sudamericana final against Flamengo in 2017.
When the ‘Five Stripes’ signed the diminutive and deceptively nimble Argentine, it was quite evident that the club is ready to break new ground with the transfer deal. Normally, a talented player like Barco would have been snapped up by a bigger and financially buoyant team but they showed they could compete with the big boys in the transfer market.
Though he hasn’t tasted what European football looks like either in the biggest of stages like the UEFA Champions, UEFA Europa League, Premier League, LaLiga, or Serie A where the finest players ball.
However, Barco is painstakingly building a name for himself in the United States by continuously putting his name on the list of most sought-after players.
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- Emanuel Reynoso – (Minnesota United, €10.0m)
Reynoso’s rise began from Talleres de Cordoba, a team he dragged from the second division to first division in 2016, to donning the iconic shirt of Boca Juniors before joining the ‘Loons’. Bebelo as they call him is a fantastic attacking midfielder who has often shown he’s got the quality demanded of a top playmaker with his display for Minnesota United.
When Mark Watson boarded a plane headed for Buenos Aires to sealed the deal for the 25-year-old, it doesn’t look done and dusted that they would get their man because of the keen interest from other top teams. However, they were able to complete the deal of the versatile player who has the right demeanor to play as an attacking or deep-line midfielder with exceptional passes.
Reynoso’s valuation is currently worth €10.0m, and at 25 he still has age on his side, and a lot in his arsenal to offer Minnesota United and perhaps teams that would probably price him away from the major league soccer if he continues to display brilliant performances that got him the nickname ‘King of Assists’.
- Lucas Zelarayan – (Columbus Crew, €10.0m)
Zelarayan is another fascinating Argentine midfielder who also makes the list of most valuable players in MLS. The 29-year-old arrived in MLS from Liga MX side Tigres UNAL as the Crews record signing for $7m, which the club’s president described as a statement of intent.
When the coach of the team Caleb Porter said “he’s coached good players but never managed a player like the Argentine he described him as an unbelievable player”
He won the MLS Cup for the Crew against Seattle Sounders in his debut season which gives credence to how good the number 10 is on the pitch when it comes to churning out good performances.
Zelarayan is a fascinating midfielder who oozes class and possesses the quality of a proper modern-day playmaker with the eyes for sublime passes and the trickery to carve out goal opportunities for his team.
- Alejandro Pozuelo – (Toronto FC, €10.0m)
When the Spaniard signed for the Reds, the thought of filling the big shoes left by former Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco must have crossed his mind. However, the 29-year-old has done impressively well winning the ‘Landon Donovan MLS MVP award’ to win the heart of the fans.
Talk of a Spanish player who is holding his own in the MLS having joined the Reds from the Belgian side Genk. He’s a proficient and intelligent attacking midfielder that makes the Toronto FC fans sit on the edge of their chair in anticipation of what the maestro would bring to the table.
Pozuelo has been hugely influential for the Reds since arriving in the league no doubt about that, but some fans opine that it would be pretty difficult for him to achieve what club legend Giovinco achieved in terms of his goals, assists, leadership, and all-round contributions for the team. However, the Spaniard is a fan favorite at Toronto in his own right too.
- Brenner Souza de Silva – (FC Cincinnati, €9.0m)
Been named in the MLS team of the week presented by Audi for Week 13 when he scored two goals and an assist says a lot about the Brazilian youngster. Brenner may not be playing for some of Europe’s top teams presently but the former Sao Paulo forward is building a name for himself in America.
The 21-year-old is somewhat an unknown quantity for most fans of European football who haven’t seen him play at the biggest of stages, but he’s got the potential to become a fantastic player that top clubs would like to have in their team and most especially with his valuation relatively decent.
While Brenner is building a name for himself in the MLS, it’s would be interesting to see him move to some of the top leagues in Europe one day.
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- Alan Pulido – (Sporting Kansas City, €9.0m)
Sporting Kansas City dug their hands into their coffers to signed the Mexican from Liga MX side Chivas de Guadalajara for a club-record transfer reported to be $9.5m in 2019. Since joining the Wizards Pulido he has been one of the club’s finest players churning out remarkable performances.
At 30, it’s might be difficult for Pulido to attract some of Europe’s top side, but the Mexican forward has tasted European football before when he played for Greek outfit Levadiakos and Olympiacos winning the Greek Super League title amongst playing in the UEFA Champions following his successful stint at Tigres UNAL.
Regardless of his age, some decent club may find his know-how and experience useful, and with his value pretty much decent a quite a number of team could afford it considering what he would bring to the table.
- Telles Magno – (New York City, €8.0m)
One of the footballing markets where teams both in Europe and other continents often go to scout for talent is South America. That said, the Pigeons were also buoyant enough to flex muscle with top teams in the South American market to get one of the best talents from Vasco de Gama.
Looking at the age of all the most valuable players in the MLS, the Brazilian forward is the youngest amongst them which suggests his valuation could still rise above the current value should he continue to be consistent with his game and shone out mind-blowing display for the Pigeons.
How good is the 19-year-old Magno? The former Vasco forward is a versatile player who could play on either the left side or the right side of the attack with a Neymar-like trickery and a nimble feet similar to that of O’Fenomeno.
- Daryl Dike – (Orlando City – €8.0m)
Barnsley returnee Dike is no doubt one of the finest legs in MLS. The American forward of Nigeria origin is known for his fascinating quality and quick feet on the ball when on the pitch of play.
At just 21, the pacy forward has enough in his arsenal to grow into a superstar that would go on to light up the footballing world with his talent should he continue to upgrade his game on and off the pitch.
Dike’s know-how and quality as a professional shouldn’t be a surprise because the forward is from a footballing family that is quite knowledgeable about the game of soccer. With that in mind, those who haven’t seen the youngster play should watch more of his game in the MLS to have a glimpse of his quality.
