MLS: Top 5 African players in league history
By Matt Coles
3. Obafemi Martins
Despite only playing in MLS for three seasons, Obafemi Martins takes the number three spot in our rankings.
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After leaving his native Nigeria for European shores at the age of 15, Martins played in Italy, England and Russia before making the move to MLS in 2013. He joined the Seattle Sounders and had a great impact on the league, including breaking the club-single season goal-scoring record as he found the net 17 times in his debut campaign in MLS.
His performances in 2014 saw him nominated as a finalist for the MLS MVP award, only missing out to the LA Galaxy’s Robbie Keane. He was also picked as part of the MLS Best XI thanks to his goalscoring exploits.
The Nigerian then scored a further 15 goals in 2015, his third season with the club, whilst adding a further six assists to his tally. He would leave the club at the end of the campaign after scoring 40 goals and assisting on 23 others in just 72 regular-season appearances. A short but explosive period.