MLS: Top 5 Spanish players in league history

Spain's forward David Villa runs during the World Cup 2018 qualifier football match Spain vs Italy at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Spain's forward David Villa runs during the World Cup 2018 qualifier football match Spain vs Italy at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
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MLS, David Villa
Spain’s forward David Villa runs during the World Cup 2018 qualifier football match Spain vs Italy at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)

There have been some amazing foreign imports in the 25-year history of MLS, but who ranks in the top five Spanish players of all time?

In total, 41 Spanish stars have graced Major League Soccer with their presence, with some doing considerably better than others. From the faces of the franchise to less successful ventures, MLS has seen a whole host of Spanish players take to their shores. But who are the top five Spanish players to ever play in the league?

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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JULY 27: Oriol Rosell #20 of Orlando City SC during a game between Orlando City SC and New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on July 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JULY 27: Oriol Rosell #20 of Orlando City SC during a game between Orlando City SC and New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on July 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

5. Oriol Rosell

First up on our list is Spanish midfielder Oriol Rosell, who is currently in his second spell in the American top flight, and now plays for Orlando City. In 2012, Rosell joined Sporting Kansas City and immediately helped the side lift the U.S. Open Cup that year. Twelve months later, and the Spaniard was celebrating another trophy with the club, this time as they won the MLS Cup.

After featuring just seven times in the early part of the next campaign, the Spaniard moved back to Europe, signing for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. He only played twelve games for the club, with loan spells at Vitoria Guimaraes, Belenenses and Portimonense, before moving back to the United States.

His second stint in MLS began in January 2018 when he signed for Orlando City. He has since gone on to become a key part of their midfield over the last few seasons and has played 42 times for the club since making the move, adding a couple of assists to his regular defensive work.