In what was maybe the biggest MLS regular season game of all-time, only one of the top two MVP candidates was able to participate.
Due to some nagging injuries, Robbie Keane was unable to make a final statement in the MVP race. On the other side Obafemi Martins was able to lead his team to victory and secure the Seattle Sounders' first ever Supporters' Shield. This allowed the Nigerian striker to finish with a 15-point lead over the Irishman in the MVP Ladder.
Here's how the rankings are determined: 10 of MLSsoccer.com's editors were polled for their top five MVP candidates, as of this week. Their votes were aggregated, resulting in the list below.
Five points were given to a player who received a first-place vote, four to a second-place vote, three to a third-place vote, two for a fourth-place vote, and one point was given if a player received a fifth-place vote.
<strong>Rank (Pts.)</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Analysis</strong> |
<strong>1 (49)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 2</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/obafemi-martins" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px; background-color: rgb(221, 221, 221);" target="_blank"><strong style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Martins_Obafemi.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></strong></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Sounders.png" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px; width: 70px; height: 99px; "> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/obafemi-martins" target="_blank"><strong>Obafemi Martins</strong></a></h2><br><strong><em>31 GP, 17 G (5th), 13 A (5th)</em></strong><p>His 84th minute assist to <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/marco-pappa" target="_blank">Marco Pappa</a> was all that the Sounders needed to win the Supporters' Shield. With that trophy, Martins separated himself from the pack to end the regular season.</p> |
<strong>2 (34)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 1</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/robbie-keane" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Robbie-Keane.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/1230_200x200.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/robbie-keane" target="_blank"><strong>Robbie Keane</strong></a></h2><br><strong><em>29 GP, 19 G (3rd), 14 A (T-2nd)</em></strong><p>Did not play in the regular season finale, which could hurt him when the votes start coming in officially. But should one game matter that much in a season-long award?</p> |
<strong>3 (30)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 3</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/lee-nguyen" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px;" target="_blank"><strong style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Nguyen_Lee_14.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></strong></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/928_200x200_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/lee-nguyen" target="_blank"><strong>Lee Nguyen</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>32 GP, 18 G (4th), 67 chances created (9th)</i></b><p>The rock of the No. 2 seed in the East, Nguyen finished the regular season strong. The 28-year-old scored five goals in his final four games but it wasn't enough to beat out in Martins or Keane in this ranking.</p> |
<strong>4 (14)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: NR</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/bradley-wright-phillips" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/wright_phillips_bradley.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/399_200x200_0.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/bradley-wright-phillips" target="_blank"><strong>Bradley Wright-Phillips</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>32 GP, 27 G (1st), 57 SOG (1st)</i></b><p>Tied Chris Wondolowski and Roy Lassiter for most goals in a season on Sunday night with 27. His two goals ensured the Red Bulls wouldn't have to go on the road for the Knockout Round game but it doesn't look like it will be enough to get him the MVP award.</p> |
<strong>5 (9)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 4</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/landon-donovan" target="_blank"><strong style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Landon-Donovan.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></strong></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/1230_200x200.png" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/landon-donovan" target="_blank"><strong>Landon Donovan</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>31 GP, 19 A (1st), 10 G, 109 CCs (1st)</i></b><p>LD finished off his regular season MLS career on a bit of a cold streak, not recording a goal or assist in his final three games. This likely puts an end to any hopes of a third MVP trophy for the legend.</p> |
Others receiving votes: Bobby Boswell (8), Pedro Morales (2), Steve Birnbaum (1), Clint Dempsey (1), Fabian Espindola (1)
