Not Vela or Chicharito: why Almeyda is right at saying that Lodeiro is the best player of the MLS

San Jose Earthquakes played against Seattle Sounder FC on Sunday night a game that finished tied with no goals. With that result, the visitors are still the leaders of the Wester Conference, as they achieved 31 point after 17 games played. San Jose Earthquakes remain in the seventh position, just three points away from getting out from the playoffs zone.

But, after the draw, head coach Matías Almeyda considered that the tie was useful for his team as Seatlle Sunders is the best team in the MLS and that they faced the best player in the MLS as well, Uruguayan Nicolás Lodeiro. Even thought the offensive midfielder is not the best paid player on the league, there are some reasons to think Almeyda is right.

Lodeiro arrived to the U.S. on July 2016, after Boca Juniors sold him for $6 million. Since his arrival he played 136 games, scored 40 goals and gave 45 assists. Lodeiro is a top solidary player: he contributes very much to the team on offensive and as well helps maintaining the pressure to the rivals during all game.

This season, the Uruguayan has been a key player for his team, scoring five goals and giving the same amount of assists. After all, he is the third player who gave more assists this season. His experience (he is 31 years old and played in clubs as Ajax, Nacional, Botafogo or Corinthians) plus his quality make him the very top player of the MLS.