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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 15: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC during Los Angeles FC’s MLS match against Real Salt Lake at the Banc of California Stadium on August 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-0 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

Carlos Vela

Leading an expansion side to any sort of success is remarkable and LAFC’s 3rd place finish in the Western Conference can be accredited to their first ever designated player, Carlos Vela.

Although the Mexican international’s goal tally is not as high as others on this list, his well-rounded style of play has worked magically for the Western Conference side.

LAFC’s explosive offense is undoubtedly led by Vela, but has some crucial pieces around him as well. Vela has the luxury of calling Diego Rossi his teammate, someone who also finished the season with remarkable statistics. These two linked up on a pair of occasions in LAFC’s impactful 5-1 win at Real Salt Lake in March.

Although there was space in front of him for himself, Vela opted to wait and send Rossi through on goal. Vela’s perfectly placed ball was met by an important touch from Rossi that allowed him to get an uncontested shot that ended up in the back of the net.

Rossi would go on to return the favor in the game’s 86th minute. Already winning the game convincingly, Vela continued to fight for a fifth goal. The 29-year-old turned his normal running speed into an all-out sprint when he spotted a gap in RSL’s defense, receiving a perfectly timed pass from Rossi and scoring his first goal for LAFC.

Vela seemed to score at the right time for the Western Conference side throughout 2018. Goals from Vela helped LAFC earn draws against difficult sides like New York City FC or crosstown rivals Los Angeles Galaxy on two occasions.

Besides being a constant threat to whoever LAFC went up against, Vela had several standout performances during the season. In a pair of 4-2 victories over Toronto FC and the Houston Dynamo, Vela had MVP performances, helping his side declare their ability despite being league freshmen.

Just outside the 18-yard box, Vela waited patiently for Lee Nguyen to get the ball before making a well-timed run. The Mexican split the Dynamo defense with ease and was taken down when trying to round keeper Tyler Deric. His penalty beat Deric, equalizing the match just before halftime.

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Los Angeles would go on to score three times in the game’s second half, Vela having a hand in each. With the ball on the left side of the pitch, Vela made a convenient run along the edge of the box, redirecting a pass from Rossi into the mix. Fellow forward Adama Diomande was able to get past his marker and fire the ball home.

Vela sent yet another pin-point cross into the box when LAFC were awarded a corner in the 58th minute. The weight put on the ball forced it through to the feet of Walker Zimmerman, who volleyed it for the team’s third goal.

Although Vela attempted to help Rossi find the scoresheet, it would lead to his second goal on the night. Due to Rossi’s first touch on a pass from Vela being too far in front of him, Dynamo keeper Tyler Deric was able to knock the ball away. Unluckily for the visitors, the ball only got as far as Carlos Vela, who chipped the ball over everyone and into the empty net.

Carlos Vela’s scoring rate and ability to produce with those around him were crucial to LAFC’s record-setting debut season.

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