Portland's Diego Valeri won the 2017 MLS Most Valuable Player award, the league announced on Monday. Valeri scored 21 goals and had 11 assists in a season that saw the Timbers finish top of the Western Conference in the regular season. Valeri set the new record for goals by a midfielder. Valeri took 50.71% of the total vote, beating NYCFC's David Villa's 16.4% in second-place.
All-Time MLS Most Valuable Players
2017: Diego Valeri – Portland Timbers
2016: David Villa – New York City FC
2015: Sebastian Giovinco – Toronto FC
2014: Robbie Keane – LA Galaxy
2013: Mike Magee – Chicago Fire
2012: Chris Wondolowski – San Jose Earthquakes
2011: Dwayne De Rosario – DC United
2010: David Ferreira – FC Dallas
2009: Landon Donovan – LA Galaxy
2008: Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Columbus Crew
2007: Luciano Emilio – DC United
2006: Christian Gómez – DC United
2005: Taylor Twellman – New England Revolution
2004: Amado Guevara – MetroStars
2003: Preki – Kansas City Wizards
2002: Carlos Ruiz – LA Galaxy
2001: Alex Pineda Chacón – Miami Fusion
2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards
1999: Jason Kreis – Dallas Burn
1998: Marco Etcheverry – DC United
1997: Preki – Kansas City Wizards
1996: Carlos Valderrama – Tampa Bay Mutiny
He rose above the rest.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 4, 2017
Congratulations to @TimbersFC midfielder @DiegoDv8, the 2017 Landon Donovan #MLSMVP! pic.twitter.com/avAiEBXMLa
