Ten Dark Horses from the MLS

In the past four issues of the Dark Horse saga we have looked at arguable the four biggest leagues in the world. This week I'm focusing on players from an up-and-coming league that I believe in a matter of years has grown greatly.

The MLS has produced some great young talent such as Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, and Eddie Johnson and is starting to produce some great players that are being transferred to some of Europe's biggest clubs.

In this article I will try to find the players that could one day be playing for some of Europe's biggest clubs or even be part of the MLS up rising.

Just before we start the list I have to give a big hand in thanks to Thomas Leemon, the co-writer of this article. The writing is all mine but I was helped greatly with the player selection process and it was great to have one of the MLS's biggest fans helping me out.

So remember if you like the article please leave some kind words for Thomas Leemon as the article would of been harder without him.

NAME : Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Position : CAM

Country : Mexico

Age : 35

Current Club : Chicago Fire

You could hear the excitement in Chicago when it was announced that Blanco was coming to town. He hasn't dissapointed yet. With Brian McBride and Justin Mapp as teammates, Chicago looks very dangerous.

Name : Justin Mapp

Position : RM

Country : USA

Age : 24

Current Club : Chicago Fire

The young winger is on the verge of a major breakout. His speed and skill is respectable. He still has a little bit of time yet to develop. Look for this guy to be turning some heads within the next few years.

Name : Jonathen Bornstein

Position : LB

Country : USA

Age : 24

Current Club : Chivas USA

Bornstein has been around so long that some people forget how old he is. He's 24 people, and he's just getting started. Bornstein has a lot of potential and is one of the stars of MLS. Luckily, he hasn't made the jump to Europe. MLS could use people like him.

Name : Christian Gomez

Position : CAM

Country : Argentina

Age : 34

Current Club : DC United

Okay, I know what you're thinking. Why is this guy on the list? He's old and is a benchwarmer. While he was at DCU he was one of the great players on the team. He could score goals and more. He can still do that, unfortunately, he hasn't been given the chance to do so.

Name :  Carlos Ruiz

Position : ST

Country : Guatemala

Age : 29

Current Club : FC Dallas

Guatemala's all-time goal scoring leader is doing quite well in MLS. Recently traded to Toronto after stays in Dallas and LA, Ruiz is looking to stay put in Toronto. Toronto brought him in to help with their lack of goals. He'll be looking to do just that and add to his already impressive goal total.

Name : Kenny Cooper

Position : RW

Country : USA

Age : 24

Current Club : FC Dallas

Cooper comes from a family of soccer players. His father, Kenny Cooper, Sr., was a goalkeeper for Blackburn in the 1970s and then moved to the NASL to play for Dallas. While Cooper Jr., isn't a goalkeeper, the guy has some serious skills. After a brief, unhappy stint with Manchester United, he moved to Dallas and is one of the future stars of America.

Name : Jeff Cuningham

Position : LS

Country : USA

Age : 32

Current Club : FC Dallas

While getting up in age, Cunningham still has skills to put any team that he's on ahead. A proven goalscorer, Cunningham made the move to Dallas is quickly forming a link with the other FCD star, Kenny Cooper.

Name : Joe Cannon

Position : GK

Country : USA

Age : 33

Current Club : San Jose

Joe Cannon is one of the best goalkeepers in MLS. The only goalkeeper to have won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, he's a beast in the net. he recently got traded from LA to San Jose. A little tidbit bout him, he has a twin brother named Jon Cannon who played proffesional baseball for ten years.

Name : Fabian Espindola

Position : ST

Country : Argentina

Age : 23

Current Club : Real Salt Lake

After a very brief sting with Argentine giants, Boca Juniors (he only played 6 games), he made his way to RSL. He's a great player and a bit of a clown. After scoring a goal against LA on Sept. 6, that was later ruled offsides, he did his trademark backflip and injured his ankle. He'll be out for at least 8 weeks.

Name : Chris Rolfe

Position : ST

Country : USA

Age : 25

Current Club : Chicago Fire

After posting some of the best stats ever seen at UD (University of Dayton), Rolfe made it to the Chicago Fire where he still amazes. In 2005, he was the team's leading goalscorer. He can only get better as he's still young and on a team that has McBride, Blanco, and Mapp together.

Well there we go the list is complete.

If you have Enjoyed the article, have a player you wish to tell me about or even disagree with a player  Ive chosen then please leave a comment as it always means  allot to me to her the opinions of others.

As always hope you enjoyed the article.