Atlanta United: Where they stand at the All-Star break

ATLANTA, GA MAY 9: Atlanta fans fly a flag during the match between Atlanta United and Kansas City on May 9, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Sporting Kansas City defeated Atlanta United FC 2 0. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – JULY 15: Josef Martinez #7 of Atlanta United prior to their game against the Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Most Valuable Player

This should go without saying, but Josef Martinez is easily Atlanta’s MVP. Martinez’s teammate and best friend Miguel Almiron burst out of the gates as an MVP favorite, but as time passes it is clear Martinez is the league and team frontrunner.

Martinez leads the league in goals scored with 23 goals, nine better than Zlatan Ibrahimovic second place. Martinez’s 23 goals are even more impressive when you realize he’s scored 23 goals in 23 games this season. He is just five goals away from breaking the single-season scoring record for MLS and he still has 11 games to get those last five goals. He also broke the league record for career hat-tricks, with three this year alone.

Just to add to things, Martinez also grabbed MVP honors of the MLS All-Star Game. He scored the only MLS goal of the match and did a fantastic job of putting pressure on Juventus’ back line.

Make no mistake, Martinez is a man on a goal-scoring mission. So far, he is hitting his objectives, and MLS fans should enjoy it while it lasts. It won’t be long before Martinez is bought by a team outside of MLS.

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