MLS Player Rankings: Golden Boot Winner BWP Ends Regular Season on Top
In a league in which parity and competition reign supreme, one player has been able to dominate the headlines since the middle of the summer.Ā
Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls won his second Golden Boot in three years behind one of the best scoring runs in league history.Ā
The scorer of 24 goals is once again the top man in our Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings. The Englishman faced stiff competition from David Villa, Jozy Altidore, Ignacio Piatti and teammate Sacha Kljestan for the top spot, but none of them could keep up with him every week.Ā
Our player rankings take into account the last four performances from a specific player, with the most recent one holding more value.
Continue reading to see who landed where beneath Wright-Phillips in the final Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings of the regular season.
On the Way Out
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Six players fell out of the rankings due to a lack of quality performances over the last few weeks of the regular season.
Players Dropped out of Rankings
Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy; previous ranking: 13)
Khiry Shelton (New York City FC; 14)
Lamar Neagle (D.C. United; 15)
Mauro Manotas (Houston Dynamo; 16)
Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; 17)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 20)
20. David Accam, FW, Chicago Fire
2 of 21
Previous Ranking:Ā 11
The Chicago Fire were unable to play spoiler for the second consecutive week, as they fell 3-2 to Toronto FC in their final match of 2016.
David Accam, who produced a goal and an assist against New England a week ago, only mustered one shot on goal at BMO Field on Sunday.Ā
The speedy Ghanaian ended the season with nine goals and five assists.Ā
19. Ronald Matarrita, LB, New York City FC
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Previous Ranking:Ā Unranked
Ronald Matarrita won't win Defender of the Year honors, but he deserves a few votes for his overall performance in a shaky New York City FC back line.Ā
The 22-year-old Costa Rica international ended the regular season second in tackles per game, withĀ 3.8. Only Vancouver's Matias Laba was more active in that department.Ā
In NYCFC's 4-1 win over the Columbus Crew on Sunday, Matarrita totaledĀ seven tackles and five interceptions.Ā
The second-year side will need strong defensive showings out of Matarrita and his teammates if they want to make a deep run into the postseason.
18. Steve Birnbaum, CB, D.C. United
4 of 21
Previous Ranking:Ā 19
Steve Birnbaum was one of 10 D.C. United starters rested on Decision Day by manager Ben Olsen.Ā
The United States international will return to the pitch on Thursday, when the Black and Red host Montreal in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round.Ā
Before falling to Orlando City on Sunday, United let in three goals during a four-game winning streak.
Birnbaum will be tasked with silencing MVP favorite Ignacio Piatti at RFK Stadium on Thursday.Ā
17. Alex Muyl, RM, New York Red Bulls
5 of 21
Previous Ranking:Ā Unranked
Alex Muyl doesn't get the love he deserves on a weekly basis due to the high-profile names in the Red Bulls attack, but he's been as important to the club's success as Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
The 21-year-old has been a valuable asset on the right wing of Jesse Marsch's pressing system since taking over as a starter for Lloyd Sam in June.Ā
Muyl notched his second tally of the year in the 2-0 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. He also picked up an assist in the penultimate weekend of the regular season against Columbus.Ā
16. Bobby Boswell, CB, D.C. United
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Previous Ranking:Ā 12Ā
Just like the rest of his fellow starters, Bobby Boswell didn't see the pitch in D.C.'s 4-2 loss to Orlando City.Ā
The four goals were the most let in by the D.C. defense since July 23 against Toronto, which was one of the club's four losses in the final four months of the regular season.
Despite losing on Decision Day, D.C. enter the postseason with plenty of momentum, and there's a possibility the Black and Red could renew hostilities with the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals if Toronto beats Philadelphia.Ā
15. Osvaldo Alonso, CM, Seattle Sounders
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Previous Ranking:Ā 10
Osvaldo Alonso put in a decent day by his standards in Seattle's 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake.Ā
The 30-year-old, who consistently completes near or above 90 percent of his passes, completed 86.7 percent of his 45 passes while making 67 touches.Ā
Despite an average day in the middle of the park on a personal level, Alonso and his teammates contained RSL to one shot on target.Ā
The win locked the Sounders into fourth place in the Western Conference. They will host Sporting Kansas City on Thursday in the Western Conference Knockout Round.
14. Kaka, AM, Orlando City
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Previous Ranking:Ā Unranked
Orlando City were one of a few teams beneath the red line that impressed on Decision Day.
Kaka was one of two Orlando players to score once and hand out an assist in the 4-2 win over D.C. United.Ā
Despite ending the year on a high note, 2016 will go down as a disappointment for the Lions, who brought in Jason Kreis to replace fired boss Adrian Heath.Ā
In order to thrive in their third year of existence, the Lions have to start 2017 at a nice pace and keep the fans in their new stadium pleased.Ā
13. Jelle Van Damme, CB, LA Galaxy
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Previous Ranking:Ā Unranked
It would be an absolute shock if Jelle Van Damme finished outside the top three in the voting for Defender of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.Ā
The powerful Belgian center-back has been one of the best additions to the league, and he should continue to prove that as the Los Angeles Galaxy get deeper into the postseason.Ā
The 33-year-old produced six interceptions, five clearances and a pair of blocked shots in the scoreless draw against FC Dallas on Decision Day.Ā
If the Galaxy take care of business against RSL on Wednesday, they will take on the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference Semifinals.
12. Kevin Molino, AM, Orlando City
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Previous Ranking:Ā Unranked
Kevin Molino went into the offseason with a smile on his face, as he contributed a goal and an assist in Orlando's 4-2 win over D.C.
The performance was welcome in the eyes of many Orlando supporters after the Trinidad and Tobago international struggled during the second half of the season.Ā
Molino is one of many pieces already in place that could help the Lions achieve success in 2017, but don't be surprised if JasonĀ Kreis goes out into the transfer market to add one or two more attacking options.Ā
11. Giles Barnes, FW, Vancouver Whitecaps
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Previous Ranking:Ā Unranked
The breakout performance the Vancouver Whitecaps were waiting to get out of Giles Barnes came a few weeks too late.Ā
Barnes bagged aĀ brace as Vancouver knocked rivals Portland out of the postseason with a 4-1 thumping at BC Place.Ā
The goals were the first two of Barnes' stay in Vancouver. He was acquired from Houston on July 30.Ā
Barnes has the potential to be a double-digit scorer in 2017 but needs more support from the young weapons around him to be a complete threat.
10. Juan Agudelo, FW, New England Revolution
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Previous Ranking:Ā 18
Juan Agudelo did his best to boost his United States men's national team stock in his final MLS contest of 2016.
Agudelo, who was named to the squad for the October friendly against New Zealand, banged in his seventh strike of the season in New England's win over Montreal.Ā
If the regular season lasted one more week, the Revolution probably would have been able to sneak past the struggling Philadelphia Union and earn the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.Ā
9. Patrick Mullins, FW, D.C. United
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Previous Ranking:Ā 9
Patrick Mullins earned a well-deserved Sunday off as D.C. prepared for the postseason.Ā
The midseason acquisition from NYCFC scored eight goals and handed out two assists in 14 regular-season matches for the Black and Red.Ā
The 24-year-old played 93 minutes against knockout-round opponent Montreal during the regular season.Ā
8. Adam Jahn, FW, Columbus Crew
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Previous Ranking:Ā 8
Adam Jahn was left out of the Columbus starting XI for the 4-1 loss to NYCFC.
The former San Jose man scored three times in the previous two matches for Gregg Berhalter's side.Ā
Jahn should be a solid backup option to 16-goal scorer Ola Kamara in 2017. His performances at the back end of this season should earn him a bigger role off the bench at the start of next year, when the Crew will look to bounce back from a rough 2016.Ā
7. Ignacio Piatti, CM, Montreal Impact
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Previous Ranking:Ā 7
It's hard to argue against Ignacio Piatti winning Most Valuable Player honors.Ā
While many will vote for Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Villa, Piatti is a deserving candidate because the Impact would not be where they are without the Argentine.Ā
The 31-year-old, who recorded three goals and an assist in the final four matches of the regular season, had 17 goals and six assists in 32 games.Ā
If the Impact advance beyond the Eastern Conference Knockout Round, it will be because of Piatti's performance against D.C.
6. Nicolas Lodeiro, CAM, Seattle Sounders
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Previous Ranking:Ā 6
There's a voting contingent that could make a case that Nicolas Lodeiro deserves the MVP award.Ā
The Uruguayan midfielder won't win due to his small number of matches played, but he has made a massive impact on the Sounders attack with Clint Dempsey out for the season.Ā
Lodeiro enters the postseason with four goals and eight assists in 13 matches. He has yet to face knockout-round foe Sporting Kansas City in his short MLS career.Ā
5. Dom Dwyer, FW, Sporting Kansas City
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Previous Ranking:Ā 5
Dom Dwyer was unable to strike the back of the net in his final match of the regular season against San Jose at Children's Mercy Park.
The scorer of 16 goals over 33 matches enters the postseason with four goals in his last six matches.Ā
Ifāand this a big ifāSporting KC are able to leave Seattle with a spot in the Western Conference Semifinals, Dwyer must be able to exploit gaps in the Sounders defense from the opening whistle.
4. Jozy Altidore, FW, Toronto FC
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Previous Ranking:Ā 3
Jozy Altidore let Sebastian Giovinco create the magic in the Toronto FC attack on Decision Day.
The U.S. international, who picked up two goals and an assist in October, should find plenty of weaknesses in the Philadelphia defense with Giovinco alongside him on Wednesday.Ā
If the Reds find a way to lose to the Union in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round, it will be one of the biggest shocks in recent MLS playoff history.Ā
3. Sacha Kljestan, CM, New York Red Bulls
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Previous Ranking:Ā 4
The 2016 MLS assists leader came close to picking up his 20th handout of the regular season on Sunday, but Kljestan's ball toward Alex Muyl took a deflection before the rookie scored.Ā
Despite not adding to the score sheet on Decision Day, Kljestan put together one of the best seasons by a midfielder in recent memory.
The U.S. international recorded 19 assists and found the back of the net on six occasions, but all those numbers will mean nothing if the Red Bulls don't win the MLS Cup on December 10.
2. David Villa, FW, New York City FC
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Previous Ranking:Ā 2
David Villa would've run away with the Golden Boot title in any other year.Ā
However, the Spaniard came up one goal short of Bradley Wright-Phillips in the race to be the league's top scorer.Ā
Villa picked up his 23rd goal of the season on Sunday against Columbus and notched his fourth assist.
The 34-year-old enters the playoffs as one of the hottest players in the league. Villa has six goals and two assists in his last four matches.Ā
1. Bradley Wright-Phillips, FW, New York Red Bulls
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Previous Ranking:Ā 1
A chip over Andre Blake and the ensuing hustle to tap in a loose ball clinched the Golden Boot for Bradley Wright-Phillips.Ā
The New York Red Bulls forward won his second scoring title in three years, thanks to a ridiculous second-half surge in which he scored 12Ā of his 24 tallies after July.Ā
Wright-Phillips ended the regular season with at least one goal in nine of his last 10 contests, and he recorded a brace in three of those games.Ā
It'll be hard for anyone to stop Wright-Phillips in the playoffs, but possible Eastern Conference Semifinals opponent Montreal did hold him scoreless on September 24.Ā
Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com and WhoScored.com.
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