We’re all guilty of scoffing at the quality in Major League Soccer.
America’s top soccer football division features highly paid, former greats of the game, usually attackers, up against defending that can be akin to something from a Sunday league game.
Players can go from resembling Hans Moleman in the elite European leagues, to looking like Lionel Messi in MLS.
However, it’s still a very physically demanding league, involving long treks across a continent to play games, and not all world class players have excelled.
Frank Lampard has been regarded as a flop since joining New York City FC, Steven Gerrard initially struggled to adjust and David Beckham’s stint with LA Galaxy is remembered for raising the profile of the league, rather than anything he did on the pitch.
However, Robbie Keane has been a revelation since moving to America in 2011.
The Dubliner has been one of the league’s best ever designated players – a star player signed outside of the club’s wage budget – and his movement, intelligence and finishing has proved too much for MLS defenders.
Keane has won three MLS Cups during his time stateside, but the striker’s individual statistics lay bare just how prolific he’s been since joining LA Galaxy from Tottenham Hotspur.
- 116 appearances.
- 80 goals.
- 44 assists.
- 23 game-winning goals.
- 16 game-winning assists.
- 19 multi-goal games.
https://twitter.com/cwglidden/status/756943784881946624
The game-winning goals and assists is particularly impressive.