CM – Diego Valeri – Portland Timbers
Another man to remain at the Portland Timbers to this day is Diego Valeri, as the 2017 MLS MVP continues to tear defences apart in Portland. Due to a couple of injuries, the Argentinian only played 22 regular-season games in their 2015 season but was influential through the post-season, and his goal in the final remains the quickest ever in MLS Cup final history as he scored after just 27 seconds against the Crew.
Valeri started his professional career with Lanús in 2003, and was there for ten years. In that time, he was part of the side that won the 2007 Apertura in the Argentine Primera Division, before spending time away on loan.
One of those loan deals saw him spend time at Porto, where he won the Taça de Portugal in 2010. He also spent time at Almería before moving to the Portland Timbers in 2013, where he won MLS Newcomer of the Year. During his time at Lanúss, Valeri made his international debut, and he has three caps for Argentina.
The 2015 season saw Valeri score three goals and assist 12 more as Portland won the MLS Cup, with his performance in the final being influential to their victory. His 2017 season was even better on an individual note, as he took home the MLS MVP Award after scoring 21 goals and assisting 11 more during the regular season.
In that year, he became part of the 50/50 club (50 goals, 50 assists), broke the record for most consecutive MLS games with a goal (9), and became only the second player to notch 20+ goals and 10+ assists, following Sebastian Giovinco in 2015.
Valeri remains a constant threat from the heart of Portland’s midfield, and he helped the Timbers to the final of the MLS Cup in 2018, thanks to 14 goals and 14 assists over the course of the campaign. He already has 10 assists before the end of July in 2019.