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MLS: Top 5 Asian players in league history

By Matt Coles

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 13: Steven Beitashour #3 of Los Angeles FC controls the ball during the first half against New York City FC at Banc of California Stadium on May 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The game ended 2-2. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 13: Steven Beitashour #3 of Los Angeles FC controls the ball during the first half against New York City FC at Banc of California Stadium on May 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The game ended 2-2. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 12: Justin Meram #9 of the Columbus Crew SC controls the ball against the Philadelphia Union on March 12, 2016, at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 12: Justin Meram #9 of the Columbus Crew SC controls the ball against the Philadelphia Union on March 12, 2016, at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

3. Justin Meram

Iraq’s Justin Meram comes in at number three on our list of top five Asian players in MLS history.

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The Iraqi midfielder, who has played more than 30 times for his country over the past six years, became the first Iraqi to play in the league after he was drafted by Columbus Crew in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. He made his professional debut in the CONCACAF Champions League just a few weeks later.

Over six years in Ohio, Meram played more than 200 times, including at least 30 regular-season matches in four straight years from 2014 to 2017. The midfielder scored the fastest-ever goal in playoff history during the Crew’s 2015 run, netting just nine seconds into the first leg of their Eastern Conference final against New York Red Bulls.

Following the end of the 2017 campaign, Meram was traded to Orlando City SC for more than $1 million in allocation money but spent just six months with the club before returning to Ohio. He spent another year with the Crew, straddling the back end of 2018 and the start of the 2019 term before signing for Atlanta United, with whom he lifted both the U.S. Open Cup and the Campeones Cup in his eight months with the side.

Meram signed for Real Salt Lake prior to the 2020 campaign and played in both of their opening two fixtures before the season was suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

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