MLS: Top 5 South American players in league history

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MLS, Portland Timbers, Atlanta United, Josef Martinez

ATLANTA, GA AUGUST 14: Atlanta’s Josef Martinez (7) holds the ball prior to a penalty kick during the Campeones Cup match between Club America and Atlanta United FC on August 14th, 2019 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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

Barring Argentinians and Brazilians, there have been almost 200 players from the CONMEBOL region who have featured in Major League Soccer at one point or another. Several of those have won MLS Cups, and four have been named the league’s MVP. But which make it into the top five players in league history?

Find out below in our top five South American players in MLS history.

FRISCO, TX – AUGUST 11: David Ferreira #10 of FC Dallas controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy on August 11, 2013 at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

5. David Ferreira

The man takes the number five spot is 2010 MLS MVP, David Ferreira. The Colombian midfielder signed for FC Dallas on loan from Paranaense for the 2009 season and would go on to play for the Texan side for five years, featuring at least 30 times in three of those campaigns.

The 2010 season was his best for the club. He scored eight times and assisted 13 other goals for FCD and was named the MLS MVP for the campaign, becoming only the second Colombian to win it.

The attacking midfielder played in Texas for three more seasons and ended his MLS career with a total of 113 regular-season matches, along with four postseason starts. He scored 26 goals, adding 42 assists, and his legacy remains in Dallas, as his son, Jesus, became the youngest player to ever sign for the club.

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