We're now into the Conference Finals of the MLS season and it got me wondering, who are the best Major League Soccer players in league history. It's a league that's fast becoming one of the most powerful in the world? The MLS isn't the Premier League yet but it's fast becoming one of the best soccer leagues across the globe. Let's take a look at the best MLS players of all time.
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10. David Beckham
David Beckham joined the LA Galaxy in 2007 and he changed the league forever. His arrival helped transform Major League Soccer, and it led to the newly introduced Designated Player rule.
Also known as the "Beckham rule", the Designated Player rule allowed teams to compete in the worldwide soccer market for star players, as teams were now allowed to have three players salaries sitting outside a teams salary cap.
Beckham appeared in 98 Major League Soccer games and scored 18 goals. He was one of the best of all time at delivering set pieces, he won two MLS Cups, and was named best MLS player twice.
📅On this day in 2007, David Beckham announced he was joining LA Galaxy. Free kick maestro 💫
[🎥: @MLS] pic.twitter.com/hYnbrX9eF9 — COPA90 (@Copa90) January 11, 2019
9. Jeff Agoos
One of the best defenders in Major League Soccer history, the hard tackling Jeff Agoos won a record five MLS Cups. He won three with DC United and two with San Jose. Agoos had a great soccer IQ and was able to read the game intelligently. He won the MLS Defender of the Year Award in 2001 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.⚫️ Jeff Agoos 🔴 pic.twitter.com/nrH1ViRrQc
— D.C. United () December 9, 2020
8. Carlos Valderrama
Attacking midfielder Carlos Valderrama has one of the greatest hairdos ever, and is one of the best MLS players of all time. He had a total of 114 assists in 177 matches. Valderrama’s 26 assists in the 2000 season is the most assists in a single season. It’s a record considered to be one of the most unbeatable in the MLS.20 days to the MLS season.
Last year, Sacha Kljestan joined Carlos Valderrama as the only players with 20 assists in an @MLS season. pic.twitter.com/vxIRhMquVV — Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) February 11, 2017
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
In 2018 Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his debut as a substitute in the first ever El Trafico derby, one of the biggest MLS rivalries. Ibrahimovic scored twice, a 45-yard goal of the season, and a stoppage time header, helping the Galaxy come from three goals down to beat LAFC 4-3.Despite joining Major League Soccer well into his late 30's, Ibrahimovic still goes down as one of the best MLS players of all time, finishing with an impressive 53 goals in 58 games before joining AC Milan.
Two years ago today, @Ibra_official put on an UNREAL two-goal performance in his MLS debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/y9tzT6jgGC
— ESPN () March 31, 2020
6. David Villa
David Villa became one of the best MLS players of all time after becoming New York City FC’s first ever signing in 2014.Villa was only 32 years old at the time and was still very well capable of competing in Europe. He finished his Major League Soccer career with 77 goals from 117 appearances, and he won the 2016 MVP award along the way.
With TFC reportedly signing Insigne, where does this rank for all-time ambitious signings by MLS clubs?
Give me your top 5, I’ll start.. 1. David Beckham (LAG) 2. Insigne (TFC) 3. Giovinco (TFC) 4. David Villa (NYCFC) 5. Pity Martinez (ATL)* *Wasn’t great, but was SAPOTY — MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) December 28, 2021
5. Diego Valeri
Diego Valeri is not only one of the best MLS players ever, he’s arguably the most technically gifted player in league history and was able to score and create goals.Valeri is a Portland Timbers legend, scoring 100 goals for the club in all competitions and became only the third player in history to score at least 80 goals and 80 assists.
He won the MLS Cup in 2015 and was awarded MVP in 2017.
306 games 100 goals 104 assists 2017 MLS MVP 2015 MLS Cup Champion 2020 MLS Is Back Champion
After nine seasons with the Portland Timbers, captain and club legend Diego Valeri announces he’s leaving to his boyhood team Club Atlético Lanús 💚 pic.twitter.com/SbttNj0PRc — B/R Football () January 20, 2022
4. Robbie Keane
Former Tottenham superstar Robbie Keane is one of the best MLS players of all time, and the most successful international import brought in under the Designated Player rule.The Irish striker joined the LA Galaxy in 2011 and scored 83 goals in just 125 Major League Soccer games in the league. Keane won the 2014 MVP award and he won three MLS Cups.
3x MLS Cup Champion 🏆 2014 MVP 🏅
One of the best to ever do it... Robbie Keane. #tbt pic.twitter.com/rqgkndgNI2 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 30, 2020
3. Sebastian Giovinco
Former Juventus player Sebastian Giovinco completely turned around Toronto FC. Despite only measuring in at 5-foot-4 (1.63m), Giovinco was quick, technically gifted, an excellent dribbler, and one of the best free kick takers the league has ever seen.Giovinco won the 2015 MVP and Golden Boot awards. He guided Toronto to their first ever MLS Cup in 2017, and finished his Major League soccer career with 68 goals from 114 league games.
Sebastian Giovinco: Free kick king. 👑 pic.twitter.com/ihOpSdLeKH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 31, 2019
2. Chris Wondolowski
Chris Wondolowski is the greatest scorer in Major League Soccer history with 171 goals in 413 MLS appearances, with most of his career spent at San Jose Earthquakes.Although not as glamorous a name as others on the list, Wondolowski was a consistent goal poacher. He ended his career after earning two MLS Cups, two MLS Golden Boots and was the 2012 MVP.
17 seasons 417 matches 171 goals MLS all-time leading scorer
Chris Wondolowski announces his retirement 👏 (via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/sCdYfwJAEV — B/R Football (
1. Landon Donovan
The undisputed greatest MLS player of all time is Landon Donovan. The thirteen-time MLS All Star finished his career with 147 goals and 136 assists, from 340 Major League Soccer games.A midfield maestro, Donovan remained extremely productive throughout his entire career and continued to develop his game as he got older. He holds the record for most individual MLS Cups (6) - two with San Jose Earthquakes and four with LA Galaxy.
Donovan made such an impact, Major League Soccer renamed the annual MVP award to the “Landon Donovan MVP Award”, proof that he’s the greatest MLS player of all time.
⭐️ 13x MLS All-Star 🏆 6x MLS Cup champion 🥇 2009 MLS MVP ⚽ 2nd in career goals 🅰️ 1st in career assists
Landon Donovan did it all. 🐐 (via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/hqyP8PFhDJ — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 4, 2021
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Founded in 2020, I turned my lifelong passion for sport into WolfgangSport.com. As an Australian, I've always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America so I started writing about topics on the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. Beyond these topics my vision with WolfgangSport.com is continuing to innovate by expanding exposure into developing technologies such as Web3 platforms as I explore elevating user experiences for readers.