Following Week 14 of Major League Soccer play, the MLS editorial staff released their current MVP Power Rankings — which sees Raúl Ruidíaz ranked at No. 2 and João Paulo entering the Most Valuable Player conversation at No. 5. Each staffer picked five players from first to fifth. First place got 10 points, second got five, third got three, fourth got two and fifth got one.
From MLSsoccer.com: “At the very least, this is a solid barometer of which players are performing at a high level this season. We’re nearly halfway into the year and these kinds of assessments are beginning to mean a little more.”
With Raúl’s 11 goals on the season, making him the leader of the Golden Boot race, it comes as no surprise that the Peruvian striker is near the top of the MVP race. Raúl is coming off of a remarkable week of play — winning the AT&T Goal of the Week with a whopping 80.5% of the vote and MLS Player of the Week honors after a game-winning performance against Austin FC with a record-setting five teenagers in the Sounders starting lineup. On the season, Raúl’s 11 goals make up for 44 percent of Seattle’s goals scored.
João Paulo makes his first official entry into the MLS MVP ranking conversation in 2021. Following a Sounders debut season that earned the midfielder the seventh-most votes for 2020 MLS Newcomer of the Year, João Paulo has now made 15 starts in over 1,300 minutes of play this season. The Brazilian kicked off his sophomore season in Week 1 of the 2021 MLS season by winning the AT&T Goal of the Week with a stunning volley from outside the box against Minnesota United. Since then, the 30-year-old has displayed his prowess on both sides of the ball — ranking eighth in the league for assists, seventh in passes completed and is in the top 15 for tackles.
The Landon Donovan MVP Award, determined by a poll of players, club technical staff, and the media to be the most valuable to his club will be decided at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
