MLS: Top 5 attacking midfielders in the league right now
By Matt Coles
1. Nicolas Lodeiro
Taking the top spot on our list is a man who has been a member of two MLS Cup-winning sides in Seattle, along with also having tasted international glory for his country, Uruguayan attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro.
Prior to moving to Major League Soccer, the midfielder played for Nacional, before winning the Eredivisie twice with Ajax. He won the domestic double during his time with Boca Juniors, with spells at Botafogo and Corinthians in between. Lodeiro was also a part of the Uruguay national side that won the Copa America in 2011.
MLS Career & Honours:
- Seattle Sounders (2016-)
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- MLS Newcomer of the Year – 2016
- CONCACAF Champions League Best XI – 2018
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- MLS Cup – 2016, 2019
- Copa America – 2011
Lodeiro made the move to MLS in July 2016, signing for the Sounders after completing the 2015-16 campaign with Argentine giants Boca Juniors. He made his debut just three days later and has gone on to become a fan favourite in the Pacific Northwest.
Despite only playing 13 regular-season matches for the Sounders in the 2016 campaign, Lodeiro was named MLS Newcomer of the Year, as he transformed the franchise. When he arrived at CenturyLink Field, Seattle were dead last in the Western Conference. When the season was over, the Sounders were MLS Cup champions. He scored four goals and recorded eight assists in those 13 regular-season matches, before then scoring four times on the club’s run to the championship, including a vital spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out in the MLS Cup final.
12 months later, and off the back of another stunning season for the Sounders, the franchise was in the MLS Cup final once again. The Uruguayan had scored seven goals and recorded 12 assists in 33 regular-season matches, before setting up a further two goals in the post-season, but the Rave Green lost out to Toronto in the final.
Next. MLS: Top 5 central midfielders in the league right now. dark
He set career-high numbers in 2018, with eight goals and 16 assists, putting up this numbers in just 27 regular-season matches, before a slight drop-off in the 2019 regular season, with a second term of seven goals and 12 assists, like in 2017. However, Lodeiro was bang on form during the post-season, scoring twice and setting up five other goals in just four post-season appearances, as the Sounders won the MLS Cup for the second time in four years. The Uruguayan missed the start of the 2020 term through injury but will be fit and ready to go when the season resumes in July.