Who are the early frontrunners for Landon Donovan MLS MVP in 2021?
J. Sam Jones of MLSsoccer.com dropped the season's newest edition of the MLS MVP power rankings on Wednesday. Among the players on the list? Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi.
A revelation this year, Salloi ranks third in the league in both goals (seven) and combined goals and assists (10). He also leads MLS with four game-winning goals, including a brilliant strike that decided Sporting's 2-1 victory over LAFC on Saturday at Children's Mercy Park.
Jones tabbed Salloi as one of five players in best contention for the MVP accolade alongside Nani of Orlando City SC, Raul Ruidiaz of Seattle Sounders FC, Chicharito of the LA Galaxy and Carles Gil of the New England Revolution.
Jones' excerpt on Salloi is below and you can read his full article here.
"It’s really hard to describe the breakthrough moment Salloi is having. Like, real 'middle of a movie montage' kind of stuff right now. I promise this is the last time we’ll mention it (it’s not) but Salloi had one goal and one assist in 2019 and 2020 combined. He has seven goals and three assists this season. And those are just the surface numbers. The underlying numbers are even more encouraging. Salloi is third in non-penalty expected goals and assists. Basically, he’s not only receiving the ball in quality positions, he’s being effective once he receives it.
"He’s been a significant catalyst for the league’s best attacking team and he’s been that completely unexpectedly. The good news is, his expected numbers indicate that it’s not just a flash in the pan. It will take a little more to crack the top three but it’s also probably not a good idea to count out Salloi right now. Especially when he’s producing match-winning moments like his goal against LAFC over the weekend."
