Carlos Vela will lead the Los Angeles FC attack in 2020. By @_Analistas (Twitter)
- 2019 MLS MVP winner Carlos Vela is favored to repeat in 2020, with 2018 winner Josef Martinez following closely behind
- MLS newcomer Javier Hernandez is also firmly in the running after joining the Los Angeles Galaxy in the off-season
- See the odds, analysis and best bet for 2020 MLS MVP below
The 25th Major League Soccer season kicks off on Saturday and while there are numerous unknowns – from who will make the playoffs to who will finish as top scorer – the identity of the 2020 MLS MVP is chief amongst them.
Odds to Win 2020 MLS MVP
| Player, Team | Odds at Bovada |
|---|---|
| Carlos Vela, Los Angeles FC | +300 |
| Josef Martinez, Atlanta United | +350 |
| Javier Hernandez, Los Angeles Galaxy | +500 |
| Maximiliano Moralez, New York City FC | +600 |
| Alejandro Pozuelo, Toronto FC | +600 |
| Raul Ruidiaz, Seattle Sounders | +800 |
| Diego Rossi, Los Angeles FC | +1400 |
| Rodolfo Pizarro, Inter Miami | +2000 |
| Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC | +2000 |
| Heber, New York City FC | +2000 |
| Cristian Pavon, Los Angeles Galaxy | +3000 |
| Nani, Orlando City | +3000 |
| Bradley Wright-Phillips, Los Angeles FC | +3300 |
| Gyasi Zardes, Columbus Crew | +3300 |
Odds taken on Feb. 25
Leading the Way
Carlos Vela left little doubt as to who was the most valuable player in MLS in 2019. An MLS-record 34 goals to go along with 15 assists makes quite the statement.
Single-season goals record (34) ✅
Single-season goals+assists record (49) ✅Carlos Vela’s historic season earns him the Landon Donovan MVP award! pic.twitter.com/eSuQwqC9dK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 4, 2019
And the way that Los Angeles FC’s season ended, with a playoff upset at the hands of the Seattle Sounders, leaves the door open for Vela to follow up with another season for the ages. Bob Bradley’s club was statistically the best in MLS history last term, with 72 points from 21 wins, nine draws and just four defeats. And while that will be hard to improve upon, the team will be driven all season to capture the first championship in franchise history.
[#10] Plenty more to come from our 2019 MVP, Carlos Vela. pic.twitter.com/MImPl8ChUo
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 19, 2020
While Vela is clearly the main man, he won’t have to do it all alone, however, which will continue to bode well for his MVP bid. Youngsters such as Diego Rossi and Brian Rodriguez will ensure that he has the ball at his feet as much as possible, allowing one of the most dangerous threats in MLS history to do what he does best.
United By Desire
With 82 goals in 92 MLS appearances, Josef Martinez is quite simply one of the best marksmen in league history. And as his league record 15-match goal streak last season showed, he is nothing if not consistent.
But Atlanta is in something of a transitional stage. Much of the team that won the 2018 MLS Cup is gone, and so it will be on head coach Frank de Boer to unite newcomers such as Matheus Rossetto and Brooks Lennon into the Atlanta team philosophy.
Ah yes, this looks familiar. 🔥
First goal of 2020 for Josef Martinez and @ATLUTD ✔️ pic.twitter.com/hrX0rREOFV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 19, 2020
This brings a factor of uncertainty to Martinez’s 2020 outlook. On one hand, it isn’t yet known how he will link up with his new teammates. But on the other hand, it also opens the door for him to step up his level of play while the newcomers find their feet in unfamiliar surroundings.
It remains to be seen how it will play out.
Famous Pedigree
Having played for the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid, Javier Hernandez knows all about dealing with the pressure that comes from turning out for some of the world’s most famous clubs.
And it will be no different when he takes the pitch for the Los Angeles Galaxy, the most famous club in MLS thanks to the likes of David Beckham, and, more recently, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the man Hernandez is attempting to replace in 2020.
All the touches.
Every moment from @CH14_‘s #LAGalaxy debut 👀 pic.twitter.com/A2eSXPRBd2
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) February 17, 2020
But at 31, Hernandez may no longer be the sparkplug that electrified United off the bench, scoring 59 goals in 157 appearances. He had just three in 15 appearances at his most recent club, Sevilla, and it is only natural that it will take him time to adapt to a new team, new teammates and a new league.
Outside Bet
With a full off-season under his belt, 2020 may well be the year that Toronto’s Alejandro Pozuelo shows exactly why the Reds made him the centerpiece of their team.
Alejandro Pozuelo has been 🔥 for @TorontoFC. Happy birthday! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/A74HX9blic
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 20, 2019
After arriving in March last year, it took the Spaniard little time to find his feet on a new continent, and with fellow attacker Jozy Altidore out injured for most of the playoffs last year, Pozuelo took it upon himself to lead Toronto back to the MLS Cup final. As the focal point of the attack, the former Real Betis man had two goals and three assists in four games as TFC fell just short of a second championship.
But entering his second season in MLS, it may just be that Pozuelo was just getting warmed up.
Best bet: Pozuelo (+600)
For the last 20 years, Paul Attfield has worked in sports media. Starting out in his native Britain with the likes of The Independent, he eventually switched continents, with his work appearing in the likes of the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Yahoo Sports since.
source https://casinonewsblogger.com/carlos-vela-given-3-1-odds-to-repeat-as-major-league-soccer-mvp/
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