MLS: Top 5 South American players in league history

By Matt Coles | Apr 26, 2020

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) /

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WASHINGTON – AUGUST 3: Midfielder Marco Etcheverry #11 of the MLS All Stars runs on the field against the US National Team on August 3, 2002 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The MLS All Stars defeated the US National Team 3-2. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. Marco Etcheverry

Taking the top spot on our list pod the best South Americans (barring Argentinians and Brazilians) to have featured in Major League Soccer is the 1998 MLS MVP, Marco Etcheverry. Etcheverry signed for D.C. United ahead of the inaugural MLS season in 1996, joining countryman Moreno.

The club won the MLS Cup three times in the league’s first four seasons with the Bolivian midfielder playing a key part of that success. The sides also won the 1996 U.S. Open Cup and the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Etcheverry was named MLS MVP for his efforts in that same campaign.

He scored 10 and assisted 19 in 29 appearances in the 1998 season and was a deserved winner of the award. He was also named to the MLS Best XI that season, a feat he achieved in each of his first four seasons in the league, from 1996 to 1999. The Bolivian was also a key part of the All-Star game during that time as well and was nominated to the game six years running.

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Etcheverry was also named to the MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005, alongside Moreno and Valderrama, after retiring from the sport following the conclusion of the 2003 term. He finished his time in MLS with 34 goals and 101 assists from 191 regular-season matches, along with being named MVP and winning three MLS Cups.

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