Valeri recognized as one of the 25 most decorated and impactful players in league history
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri has been named to Major League Soccer’s The 25 Greatest presented by AT&T, a platform that honors the 25 brightest stars in league history.
A special panel of nearly 200 MLS experts from across North America was brought together to select the 25 players who achieved the most on the field, drove the narrative off the field, and helped lay the foundation and set the course for MLS’s next 25 years.
In eight seasons since joining the club in 2013, Valeri, 34, is the Timbers’ regular-season leader in goals scored (84), assists (88) and points (256), and ranks second in team history in games played (233) and starts (220) during their MLS era. Notably, Valeri ranks 14th all-time in league history in regular-season goals scored (84) and 10th all-time in assists (88). Valeri is one of four players in MLS history that rank in the top 15 all-time in both goals and assists during regular-season play.
The Valentín Alsina, Argentina, native has tallied 96 goals and 100 assists in 273 appearances (251 starts) for the Timbers across all competitions. Valeri’s honors with the Timbers include the Landon Donovan MLS MVP (2017), the MLS Newcomer of the Year (2013) and three MLS Best XI recognitions (2013, 2014, 2017).
Along with the Timbers Players’ Player of the Year (2014, 2017) and Supporters’ Player of the Year (2014, 2016, 2017), Valeri has also earned the team’s Golden Boot in five different campaigns (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020). Notably, Valeri is the first player in Timbers history to earn MLS Cup MVP honors after scoring in Portland’s 2-1 win against Columbus Crew SC in the 2015 MLS Cup, helping the club secure its first MLS Cup trophy.
A four-time MLS All-Star honoree (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), Valeri delivered the game-winning assist in the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star game against FC Bayern Munich at Providence Park, propelling the MLS All-Stars to a 2-1 victory. Valeri helped Portland claim the MLS is Back Tournament title with a 2-1 win over Orlando City SC on Aug. 11, 2020. Valeri has helped the Timbers qualify for the Concacaf Champions League on three different occasions (2014/15, 2016/17, 2021).
Logging 1,628 minutes in 22 regular-season appearances (18 starts) in 2020, Valeri was tied for the team-lead in goals (8) and notched seven assists. He became the third player in MLS history to record 80 goals and 80 assists in their career during the regular season. Valeri has recorded seven or more assists in each of his first eight seasons with the Timbers, joining Brad Davis, Preki and Marco Etcheverry as the only players in MLS history to record seven or more assists in eight consecutive seasons.
During his MVP campaign in 2017, Valeri’s season was highlighted by a team-record 21 goals and 11 assists, while he also recorded a goal in nine consecutive matches – an MLS record at the time.
Major League Soccer nominated 137 of the most decorated and impactful players in league history. The nomination committee looked for players who accomplished one or more of the following as an MLS player:
- Received multiple league-wide individual honors such as: Best XI, Most Valuable Player, Golden Boot, Defender/Goalkeeper of the Year, All-Star selections
- Won major team trophies such as: MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, international club competitions
- Made extraordinary off-field contributions or impact
- Ranked among the all-time leaders in key statistical areas
The 25 Greatest presented by AT&T is as follows. Given that their achievements vary by type, position, era and circumstance, The 25 Greatest will not be ranked. They are all equally worthy of this prestigious honor.
- Jeff Agoos
- Kyle Beckerman
- David Beckham
- Carlos Bocanegra
- Dwayne De Rosario
- Clint Dempsey
- Landon Donovan
- Marco Etcheverry
- Robin Fraser
- Sebastian Giovinco
- Kevin Hartman
- Cobi Jones
- Robbie Keane
- Chad Marshall
- Josef Martinez
- Tony Meola
- Jaime Moreno
- Eddie Pope
- Preki
- Steve Ralston
- Nick Rimando
- Carlos Valderrama
- Diego Valeri
- Chris Wondolowski
- Bradley Wright-Phillips
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