MLS is Back: Top 3 curveball MVP candidates

1. Alan Pulido

Only Maxi Urruti has scored more goals than Sporting Kansas City’s newest addition, Alan Pulido. The Mexican arrived in the offseason as the club’s record signing. Not just that, his price tag was more than every other fee Sporting KC have ever paid for a player combined.

He also provided a lovely assist in his first two matches of his MLS career and ranks fourth in the league for goals and assists per 90 minutes. He works relentlessly, presses high, is creative enough in his distribution, and is clinical in front of goal. He is also extremely intelligent, as his comments earlier this year displayed:

"“Here’s the play is a little more vertical. You play more in attack. There are a lot of counter-attacks and a lot of back and forths. That’s why there are so many goals <…> Teams are very attack-minded and teams try to win every game and they’re always looking for goals. In Mexico they’re more tactical and some teams come out to defend the 0-0 and try to not get scored on. It’s different from a tactical level. These are the differences I’ve noticed in the little time I’ve been here.”"

Pulido has adapted to MLS brilliantly. And now, with games aplenty looming, he could well compete for MLS is Back’s golden boot and MVP award.