MLS Multiplex
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MLS: Top 5 players in league history from the rest of Europe

By Matt Coles

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 10: Stefan Frei #24 of the Seattle Sounders FC raises his arms in triumph at final whistle during a game between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on November 10, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 10: Stefan Frei #24 of the Seattle Sounders FC raises his arms in triumph at final whistle during a game between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on November 10, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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MLS, Stefan Frei
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 10: Stefan Frei #24 of the Seattle Sounders FC raises his arms in triumph at final whistle during a game between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on November 10, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

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

Having gone through the best of the English, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, French and German players to feature in Major League Soccer, what about the rest of the European continent? There have been plenty of superb players from across the continent who succeeded during their time in the American top-flight.

Listen to the latest episode of the MLS Multiplex podcast here! —  Top 25 players in MLS

But who makes it into the MLS Multiplex top five? Find out below.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 24: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy during the MLS Western Conference Semi-final between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on October 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 5-3 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 24: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy during the MLS Western Conference Semi-final between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on October 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 5-3 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Coming in at number five on our list is the only member not have played in the league for at least five years. Zlatan Ibrahimovic needed just two to get onto this list because of the impact he made on the league.

The Swede, who scored 62 goals in 116 games for his country, came to MLS after a lengthy and successful career across several European countries. He won titles with Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, along with spells at Malmo FF and Manchester United before signing for the LA Galaxy prior to the 2018 campaign.

His impact was an immediate one as he scored what would eventually be the 2018 MLS Goal of the Year on his debut. It wasn’t just any game either. It was the first-ever ‘El Trafico’ between the Galaxy and Los Angeles FC, with Zlatan scoring twice en route to a 4-3 come-from-behind win.

He went on to score 22 goals in 27 games in his first season, earning him the Newcomer of the Year award for the 2018 campaign. The goals kept flowing in 2019 as he scored 30 times in just 29 matches, playing every minute of those games.

He finished behind only Carlos Vela (34) in the goalscoring charts, with the Mexican going on to win the MLS MVP award. Ibrahimovic was nominated in both seasons and only missed out on the award thanks to historic individual campaigns from Vela and Josef Martinez.

After just two years, the Swede’s time in MLS was up, but he left his mark. He scored 52 goals in just 56 regular-season matches for the LA Galaxy. He added 17 assists in that time and also scored one and assisted one in two playoff matches for the club. His impact on MLS will forever be remembered.

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