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MLS: Top 5 Oceanic players in league history

By Matt Coles

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 20: Tim Cahill of Australia thanks supporters in the crowd after playing his final match for Australia in the International Friendly Match between the Australian Socceroos and Lebanon at ANZ Stadium on November 20, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 20: Tim Cahill of Australia thanks supporters in the crowd after playing his final match for Australia in the International Friendly Match between the Australian Socceroos and Lebanon at ANZ Stadium on November 20, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Defender Ryan Nelsen #7 of D.C. United advances the ball against the Chicago Fire during the game at RFK Stadium on April 24, 2004, in Washington, DC. The Fire won the game 1-0. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Defender Ryan Nelsen #7 of D.C. United advances the ball against the Chicago Fire during the game at RFK Stadium on April 24, 2004, in Washington, DC. The Fire won the game 1-0. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

2. Ryan Nelsen

The second MLS Cup winner to make our list is New Zealand’s, Ryan Nelsen. Nelsen started his professional career with Christchurch United, his hometown club in New Zealand, before moving to the United States, where he played college football for both Greensboro and Stanford.

The Kiwi defender was drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United and went on to play for the side for the next four years. After being a bit-part player in his rookie campaign, he emerged as a starter at the heart of the D.C. defence a year later, before going on to become club captain in 2003. A year later, he was an influential part of the D.C. side that won the MLS Cup for a fourth time, lifting the trophy as captain after they defeated Sporting Kansas City in the final.

For his performances in both 2003 and 2004, Nelsen was named into the MLS Best XI and is the only Oceanic player to have been named into the Best XI on more than one occasion. He finished his time in MLS following the 2004 season with 81 regular-season appearances, scoring a remarkable seven times.

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