Seattle Sports Writer

The Colorado Rapids won the 15th MLS Cup to close the 2010 season. With a reflective eye toward the league's history, I am assembling a list of the league's 100 greatest players. To help with the ranking, I have some ground rules:

Players are ranked solely on MLS regular season and playoff accomplishments. That means the career accomplishments of players like David Beckham, Luis Hernandez, and Lothar Matthaus were not considered, nor are U.S. Open Cup accomplishments.

Emphasis is placed on individual and team success, awards and recognition, longevity, statistically great seasons, career stats, and impact on the game.

Statistics play a significant role in the rankings, but are not weighed as heavily for defenders and midfielders as for forwards and goalkeepers.

Take a look, comment with your thoughts, and let the debate begin.

FIRST TIER. Players not often mentioned with historical significance in MLS but who enjoyed long careers without individual awards, collected numerous team distinctions, or forged short but successful runs.

100. Lubos Kubik. The Fire revolved around Kubik for three seasons. He directed the back line and contributed an outrageous 15 goals and 22 assists as a defender. Won Best XI honors in 1998 and 1999, Defender of the Year in 1999, and MLS Cup in 1998.

99. Manny Lagos. Midfielder mostly recognized for his role in San Jose’s championship seasons of 2001 and 2003. Without knee problems, may have been more of an attacking force in MLS.

98. Paul Bravo. Bravo outscored Eric Wynalda for the San Jose Clash in the league’s inaugural season, then tacked on 39 goals and 22 assists in five years for the Colorado Rapids.

97. Eddie Johnson. On this list for two seasons: 15 goals with Kansas City in 2007 and a league-leading 12 strikes with Dallas in 2004. Johnson has the tools, but he has yet to become a consistent striker.

96. Peter Vagenas. The understated Vagenas embodies professionalism, stabilizing the Galaxy midfield for nine seasons and doing the same for Seattle in 2009. A two-time MLS Cup winner with Los Angeles.

95. Danny Califf. A rock during the Galaxy’s MLS Cup years of 2001 and 2002. Califf’s ruggedness and physical presence made him a feared center back and brought him inclusion on the Best XI list for 2005 while with the Earthquakes.

94. John Spencer. The diminutive Scot had two seasons with 14 goals, two Best XI selections, and one top-three finish in MVP voting.

93. Joe Franchino. A little dirtiness, lefty dead ball abilities, and plenty of hard-nosed tackles helped Franchino become captain of the Revolution. The squatty left back barked orders and marshaled New England to three MLS Cup Finals.

92. Chris Albright. An attacking fullback who started out as a forward in MLS, Albright offered creativity and bite to the Galaxy’s lineup. Won the 2002 MLS Cup with Los Angeles and earned Best XI honors in 2005.

91. Wolde Harris. Electric sub and spot starter, Harris had the skills and temperament to change a game instantly. Finished with 51 goals and 31 assists in only 12,000 career minutes.

90. Brad Davis. Just finished with five goals and 12 assists for the second straight season. Brilliant left-footed deadball service and decisive ball-striking abilities. Won two titles with Houston.

89. Jay Heaps. A starter for four MLS Cup teams but never a winner, the athletic Heaps holds an iron grip on a starting job in New England. Heaps has logged an astounding 27,363 minutes, with 10 seasons of 2,000 or more.

88. Ramiro Corrales. An MLS original and a key bit player for San Jose’s Cup winners in 2001 and 2003, Corrales possesses a deadly left foot and the adaptability to link defense to attack.

87. Simon Elliott. Holding midfielder was the glue for talented Galaxy teams in the earlier part of the decade. Five seasons of 10 or more assists with just under 20,000 career minutes.

86. Nick Garcia. Simple, purebred defender has started all but three of the nearly 300 games in which he’s appeared, logging over 25,000 minutes. Won 2000 MLS Cup as a rookie backliner with Kansas City, the stingiest team in league history.

85. Andy Williams. Enigmatic but talented playmaker won his first title with Real Salt Lake this season. With 82 career assists, the vision is always there even if the inspiration wanes at times.

84. Mike Petke. Mainstay for a number of clubs, including Cup winners from D.C. in 2004. A three-time all-star, Petke’s size, longevity, and savvy stand out.

83. Eddie Robinson. Robinson perennially struggles to stay on the field, but he’s decisive as a center back when available. Provided an anchor for four MLS Cup-winning teams, and earned Best XI honors in 2007.

82. Carey Talley. Quiet utility man offers stability and work ethic. An MLS Cup winner in 1999 with D.C., he’s one of the more uncelebrated but steady forces in the league.

81. Jonathan Bornstein. Chivas USA converted Bornstein to an attacking left back and reaped the benefits as he became Rookie of the Year (2006) and an MLS Best XI selection (2007). Teammate Jesse Marsch compared him to DaMarcus Beasley – shifty wingers who could play in defense, midfield, or attack because of their great soccer instincts.

80. Jon Busch. The tenacious little guy with a couple of great seasons. Busch backstopped Columbus to an 18-game undefeated streak in 2004 and won Goalkeeper of the Year for Chicago in 2008.

79. Greg Vanney. Left to play in France during his prime, but still made two Best XI teams. Pushed Galaxy to two MLS Cups from the back and finished with 22 goals and 23 assists before retiring in 2008.

78. Sasha Victorine. Consistent if unspectacular midfielder has scored 32 goals with 41 assists. Won a Cup with Los Angeles in 2002 and has logged almost 2,000 postseason minutes.

77. Ezra Hendrickson. Lanky wing back was a staple of Galaxy’s defense for seven seasons, including three MLS Cup teams. Played over 20,000 minutes with 23 goals and 30 assists pushing forward from the back line.

76. Diego Serna. 15 goals and 15 assists for the powerhouse 2001 Fusion, inclusion on the Best XI that year, and three other seasons with double-digit goal scoring. Deadly but for only a short time.

75. Robert Warzycha. Retired as the career assists leader for the Crew, delivered a devastating dead ball, and brought class and experience to the Columbus midfield in the team’s first few seasons.

74. Matt Reis. Had to wait for his chance, and capitalized on it with five years of 100 or more saves and never a Goals Against Average of greater than 1.50 in any season. Offers stability and leadership for New England.

73. Carlos Llamosa. Hindered by injury often, Llamosa commanded the defense whenever he was on the field. Won three championships with D.C. and was a Best XI selection in 2001.

72. Richard Mulrooney. Left back, holding midfielder, winger – Mulrooney’s staying power comes from his versatility. Three-time MLS Cup winner with 75 career assists.

71. Dema Kovalenko. Bounced around the league for five teams, but he’s been effective everywhere: 223 starts in 246 career games, 38 goals and 40 assists.

70. C.J. Brown. Often unrecognized, Brown started 290 of the 296 games he’s been available to the Fire. No nonsense style doesn’t make friends but has allowed him to stick around for 13 seasons with Chicago.

69. Nick Rimando. Undersized keeper one of the league’s great reactionary shot stoppers. Cemented his place with MLS Cup MVP in 2009 after winning the title with D.C. in 2004.

68. Brian Mullan. Three-time MLS Cup winner has offered bite and classy service after reinventing himself as a winger with the 2003 champion Earthquakes.

67. DaMarcus Beasley. A fixture for the National Team, Beasley played only four seasons in MLS, tallying 14 goals, 20 assists, and one Best XI selection.

SECOND TIER. Players who have been among the league's upper echelon for multiple seasons in their career, including sustained team success and individual recognition. Most lack the longevity or impact on the game of the third tier players.

66. Hristo Stoichkov. Stoichkov earns an honorary spot for the fear he struck during a four-year stay. The former Barcelona superstar never scored in double digits during a season, but he could still drop bombs anywhere inside midfield, dance on the ball, and conduct an offense. Defenders cowered when the legend came forward.

65. Scott Garlick. Steady – that’s the best way to describe Garlick. He played for D.C., Tampa Bay, Colorado, and Real Salt Lake, always posting good but not upper-crest numbers. He won 107 games (third all-time), played 21,000 minutes, and saved 1,000 shots. Garlick always seemed to have hard luck, too. In 2003, he controversially lost his starting job to Joe Cannon for the playoffs. In 2005, Jeff Cassar nudged him out of a starting role. Ultimately, he parlayed his steadiness into a decade-long run, including an MLS Cup title with D.C. in 1997.

64. Edson Buddle. Finally began to realize his immense potential this season, garnering MVP buzz for the first time. His physique makes him dangerous all the time. Buddle is up to almost 100 goals in his career, and he has formed the league's most consistently dynamic partnership with Landon Donovan.

63. Thomas Dooley. A pioneering, all-purpose player who paved the way for a stronger U.S. presence in European leagues, Dooley capped off his career with Columbus and the MetroStars. As a defender, he twice won Best XI nods in 1997 and 1998, but he also played defensive midfielder and forward in his career. Dooley captained the U.S. in their disastrous 1998 World Cup run, but he should be remembered for his steady presence in the first years of the league.

62. Juan Pablo Angel. It took only three seasons of devastating finishing to vault Angel to the top of the Red Bulls franchise in all-time scoring. If Angel can get his head, either foot, his knee, chin, ear, neck, thigh, or any body part to the ball in the box, a goal will result. Clinical in a way few in MLS ever have been.

61. Ronald Cerritos. Until Brian Ching passed him in 2009, Cerritos claimed the top spot on the franchise scoring list for Houston-San Jose with 61 goals. For all his greatness, Ching has never had a season with as many points as Cerritos had in 1997 (12 goals, 10 assists), 1998 (13, 12), or 1999 (15, 9). Cerritos struggled in stints with D.C. and Dallas, but those three early seasons (including the Best XI year of 1997) cement his place in club and league history.

60. Amado Guevara. As pace dictator for the MetroStars, Guevara captured the regular season MVP award in 2004, notching 10 goals and 10 assists. He followed with 11 goals and 11 assists in 2005 and eight goals and four assists in 2006. Red cards have resulted from a nasty streak, and Guevara tends to pout unless he has ample playing time and the ball at his feet. But the most-capped player for the Honduran National Team produced some undeniable magic in his first few MLS seasons.

59. Tim Howard. Though he left MLS in 2003, Howard added to his accolades in the league by winning the 2009 All-Star MVP for Everton, vaulting his team to preseason victory with a string of impressive saves. Howard grew into a star with the MetroStars, playing his first game as a 19-year-old before working into the starting role by 2001. That season Howard won Goalkeeper of the Year with 146 saves and a 1.33 GAA. He stayed for one and a half more stellar campaigns before crashing Manchester United’s starting XI and later joining Everton. At the deepest position for the U.S. National Team, he has a chance to be the best in the country’s history.

58. Joe-Max Moore. The fourth-leading scorer for the United States totaled 41 goals and 35 assists in six seasons for the Revolution. Only four players have had a season with at least 15 assists and a season with 15 goals. Moore is on that list with Jason Kreis, Diego Serna, and Eduardo Hurtado.

57. Josh Wolff. Wolff’s crowning moment came not in MLS but at the 2002 World Cup, where his perfect cutback fed Brian McBride for the opening goal against Mexico in the round of 16. He’s been pretty good in MLS, too. Wolff scored a then-rookie record eight goals in his MLS Cup winning first season with the Fire in 1998. He’s had four seasons of double-digit goal scoring and stands at 75 goals and 41 assists. If injuries hadn’t kept him from playing so often, he could be among the league’s most revered forwards.

56. Ryan Nelsen. Everyone knew D.C. United had the talent to win MLS Cup in 2004, but the team’s fate revolved around a healthy Ryan Nelsen. He wore the captain’s armband, repelled all comers, and anchored D.C. to the title. The New Zealander parlayed a short and sublime MLS career into a vital role as captain of Blackburn Rovers. Such was his effectiveness that in 2004, he won Best XI honors for the second consecutive year despite playing only 17 games. He had confidence and strength in the tackle, poise on the ball, and direction for the back. A pillar in United and league history.

55. Kerry Zavagnin. Unflappable anchor for the Wizards earned Best XI honors in 2004, an MLS Cup in 2000, and 21 caps with the United States. Made simple plays routinely and marked the opposing team’s best midfielder for consistently good Kansas City teams the past decade. Perhaps the most underappreciated player of his generation.

54. Stern John. Two seasons of electricity led Stern John to the English Premiership, but he remains one of the most lethal from MLS. Fast, strong, and powerful, he poached as effectively as he fired lasers from distance. He took defenders off the dribble and finished in the air. He scored 26 goals in 1998 and followed with 18 in 1999. John found the net about every 100 minutes in MLS. Comparatively, all-time leading scorer Jaime Moreno scores every 189 minutes, Landon Donovan every 185 minutes, Taylor Twellman every 148 minutes.

53. Peter Vermes. Vermes was the best defender on the league’s best-ever defensive team, the 2000 Kansas City Wizards. Agile enough to play forward early in his career, he and Tony Meola were the key cogs that helped the Wizards lift the trophy despite being outshot 22-6 by Chicago in the 2000 title tilt. Vermes also captained the MetroStars in 1996 and played for the Rapids before joining the Wizards to make defensive history.

52. Eduardo Hurtado. The powerful 1996 Galaxy relied on Hurtado as their primary goal scorer. The Ecuadorian had 21 goals and seven assists that season and earned Best XI honors. In his 16-year career, he played for 20 clubs and finished as the second-leading international scorer for his country. Hurtado also had 10 goals and 14 assists for the 1998 MetroStars, but suffered as a member of their anemic seven-win team the next season, totaling only seven goals and three assists.

51. Diego Gutierrez. The stage: MLS Cup ’98. The opponent: Two-time defending champion D.C. United. The situation: 1-0 Chicago with the first half concluding. Fire playmaker Peter Nowak sets up Diego Gutierrez, and the midfielder scores the first goal of his professional career on the league’s biggest stage. Final score: Fire 2, United 0. Gutierrez continued as a backliner and midfielder, providing consistency and leadership for Chicago and Kansas City in 12 sterling seasons of service, notching the fifth-most minutes played in MLS. He scored 12 goals with 44 assists and went to the 2000 and 2004 MLS Cups with the Fire and the Wizards.

50. Pablo Mastroeni. If it’s dirty work, Mastroeni will do it. Interestingly, his one Best XI nod in 2001 came as a defender, but Mastroeni does most of his work as a holding midfielder. Never statistically outstanding, the hard-tackling, man-marking, and simple-passing Mastroeni is up to almost 25,000 career minutes. Surrounded with a wealth of attacking talent, he and Carlos Llamosa provided defensive girth for one of the league’s finest teams – the 2001 Miami Fusion. Mastroeni lifted his first MLS Cup as captain of the Rapids in November.

49. John Harkes. Harkes raised the first MLS Cup as captain of D.C. Then he did it again in 1997. He returned to the championship round in 1998, but lost. Those first three years of MLS, Harkes captained and anchored United to the most dominant team run in league history. An up-and-down final four years for New England and Columbus do not change his legacy. The grit of Harkes, his fluid passing, and the occasional scoring strike (check out this Goal of the Season from his time in England) made him one of the league’s first stars. He helped usher an improving era of U.S. soccer for the National Team and MLS.

48. Clint Dempsey. Audacious and hungry, Dempsey offered New England, MLS, and the U.S. National Team an attacking flare they had lacked. He dominated his short tenure in MLS, sweeping to Rookie of the Year honors in 2004, being honored as a Best XI selection with 10 goals and nine assists in 2005, and banging in eight goals with four assists in 2006. He went to the MLS Cup in 2005 and 2006, narrowly missing out in his rookie year of 2004. Dempsey continued his torridness with Fulham in the English Premier League, having scored 19 goals in 97 appearances.

47. Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Many still ponder how Blanco is so effective on the soccer field. He’s squatty, prodding, without a skill that particularly stands out. Yet he makes everything go, finds holes and exploits them. The Mexican is always dangerous, whether passing or finishing a play. He scored 16 goals with 26 assists in three seasons conducting the Fire, and he put immeasurable angst in the boots of defenses he faced. Still a force with El Tri, he may have one more chance to shine in the 2010 World Cup.

46. Frankie Hejduk. The surfer boy with loads of energy turned 35 this year, but you wouldn’t guess it by the engine he still possesses owning the sidelines as a wingback. In the 2008 MLS Cup, Hejduk captained the Crew and headed home their final goal in the 3-1 triumph. In his time with Columbus, the Crew have also won three Supporters Shields. He runs, he fiercely defends, he stokes the fire for teammates, he downs beer with fans, he surfs competitively, and he entertains. An unforgettable talent.

45. Joe Cannon. He should have won the MVP in 2004, when Cannon made 150 saves with a 1.07 Goals Against Average. Instead, he took home his second Goalkeeper of the Year award in three seasons. Cannon backstopped the 2001 Quakes to a championship and has over 25,000 minutes, over 1,100 saves, and a career 1.33 GAA. He belongs in conversation with Hartman, Thornton, Howard, Onstad, and Meola as the best goalkeeper the league has ever seen.

44. Wade Barrett. The captain of Houston’s repeat champions, the rock at left back, the quiet stabilizer, the winner of three MLS Cups, the unheralded cog without flash but full of substance. Barrett does the unquantifiable on the field – man marking, positioning himself to repel all attacks, dispatching the Dynamo defense verbally, making the simple pass to the feet of a playmaker. Sterling defender with a superb postseason resume and one MLS Best XI selection in 2002.

43. Guillermo Barros Schelotto. For only playing four years, Barros Schelotto’s dominance makes it seem he’s been around longer. He drove the Crew to an MLS Cup and two straight Supporter’s Shields, won the regular season and MLS Cup MVP in 2008, averaged eight goals and 11 assists in his first three years, and won two MLS Best XI commendations. Only a couple players have had better three-year stretches than the Argentinean maestro. His dead-ball service, passing acumen, and vision of the field stand out among the best the league has ever seen. He could be a top-10 player if his tenure were longer.

42. Alexi Lalas. Panayotis Alexander Lalas had great hair. The man also had great game. Lalas peaked in 2002 when he won Best XI honors and the MLS Cup with the Los Angeles Galaxy. His physical gifts – including world class size and strength – often trumped any shortcomings. A winner of 96 caps with the United States, Lalas was the first American in the modern era to play in Italy’s Serie A.

41. Richie Williams. The D.C. United midfield for their 1990s championships consisted of stars – Etcheverry, Harkes, Ben Olsen. Then there was Richie Williams. As the forgotten little guy (standing only 5’5), D.C. charged Williams with marking the opposing playmaker. Like most defensive midfielders, he did it without much celebration, individual recognition, or flash. The only historical category to which Williams is tied: fouls committed. He rates fourth all-time but in about 100 less games than the three players ahead of him. Williams didn't play a genteel game, but he held down the middle well enough to help D.C. to three MLS Cups, starting every playoff game for the Black and Red from 1996-1999.

40. Brian Ching. After graduating from Gonzaga, Ching toiled in the lower leagues honing his talents. The big Hawaiian won a place with the Galaxy in 2001, went back to the Seattle Sounders (then an A-League team) the next year, and finally found his opportunity to blossom with San Jose in 2003. What took so long? Ching has been electric since, scoring 72 goals with 27 assists, winning two MLS Cups, and getting plenty of National Team exposure. He tied for the league lead in goals with 12 in 2004, won selection to the Best XI that year, and reached the apex (so far) for his career in 2007, when he tied the MLS Cup in the 114^th minute, then netted the winning penalty in the shootout.

39. Chris Klein. Despite knee problems, Klein continues climbing longevity lists in MLS. He’s played 26,249 minutes (fifth most in league history) in 333 games (third most). A rugged midfielder with a creative spark, he’s got 49 goals and 69 assists. Klein set up the winning goal for the Wizards in the 2000 MLS Cup and returned to the championship game with the Galaxy in 2009.

38. Chris Henderson. Henderson quickly emerged as one of the league’s foremost wingers, starring for Colorado initially and in a second stint there. He played for the MLS Cup champion Wizards in 2000 and the Supporters Shield-winning Miami Fusion in 2001. In his return to the Rapids, Henderson teamed with Mark Chung for a great dual-wing combination. His finest statistical season came in 2002, when he had 11 goals and seven assists. When he retired in 2006, Henderson had 51 goals and 80 assists, a league record 317 games played (since broken), and 26,242 minutes, ranking him fourth all-time.

37. Carlos Bocanegra. Bocanegra played four years in MLS and never won an MLS Cup. But no defender had such a decorated and dominant stretch. He took Rookie of the Year honors and went to the championship game in 2000, became the first two-time Defender of the Year in 2002-2003, and earned Best XI honors both those years. Like Ryan Nelsen, Bocanegra’s class, size, timing, and tenacity made him a prime target for a move to Europe. Like Nelsen, the U.S. captain thrived upon moving to the English Premiership. Perhaps he’ll return someday to MLS and add to his brief but glowing resume.

THIRD TIER. These players separate themselves because they combined personal accolades with team success, historical impact and in many cases, longevity.

36. Raul Diaz Arce. Good strikers need an edge of coolness, a dash of daring, and a hunger for the ball. In the first three seasons of MLS, Raul Diaz Arce typified these qualities. Only Roy Lassiter scored more goals in that stretch than Diaz Arce. He had 23, 15, and 18 to kick off MLS on his way to 82 in a six-year career. Diaz Arce seemed to score wherever he went (he played for six MLS clubs), but he never earned the respect of some other great offensive players. Perhaps it was his tempestuous relationship with Marco Etcheverry. He had a striker’s pedigree, from the clinical finishing to the need for touches and the spotlight.

35. Chad Marshall. It’s easy to overlook Marshall when compiling an historical list. He’s only 26 years old. But the last few seasons, he’s been as good as anyone. In 2004, he learned under Defender of the Year Robin Fraser as the Crew ran off an 18-game unbeaten streak and won the Supporters Shield. He was excellent in 2005 and 2006, but missed much of 2007 with a career-threatening concussion. Then he and the Crew swept all the honors in 2008, winning MLS Cup (with Marshall heading the game-winner), Defender of the Year, and the Supporters Shield. Marshall repeated as Defender of the Year this season, and the Crew again won the Supporters Shield. His head became an offensive weapon with back-to-back four goal seasons, and he controls games with his size (6’3) and strength. He’s one player who will likely rise on this list by the time he’s finished.

34. Clint Mathis. With Maradona-like control, Mathis sliced through Dallas in 2001, starting inside his own half before beating a slew of defenders and slamming a low shot inside the near post. Then this season for RSL he planted a first-time, Zidane-esque volley in the upper corner using his left foot to receive a cross. And don’t forget his five-goal game in 2000 for the MetroStars. Mathis has provided MLS with some of its best highlights, but the rest of the time, he disappears. That great volley was one of only two goals he scored in 2009. Only in his Best XI season of 2000 – when he had 16 goals and 14 assists – has Mathis registered double-digit goal scoring. A brief, testy time with Hannover 96 in Germany yielded limited success. In his first stay with Real Salt Lake in 2005, Mathis maddeningly typified his talent. He scored only three goals, but all three won MLS Goal of the Week honors. Mathis became an MLS Cup winner with RSL in 2009, but he is still largely regarded as an enigma, mixing brilliance with arrogance, head games with soccer brains.

33. Marcelo Balboa. He appeared in three World Cups with the U.S., earned MLS All-Time Best XI honors in 2005, became the first to 100 international caps for his country, tallied 24 goals and 23 assists in MLS as a defender, and retired as one the most decorated players from the United States. But Marcelo Balboa isn’t known for those things. That stuff’s boring. Get to the bicycle kicks already. Two of them specifically. The first came against Columbia in the 1994 World Cup, whistling fractionally wide in what would have been a forever-replayed highlight globally had it been successful. Then on April 22, 2000, Balboa rose to MLS immortality. Jorge Dely Valdes drifted a hopeful, looping cross to the top of the 18-yard box, Balboa contorted his body and legs to meet the ball a few feet off the ground, pounding it with the power of a scissor motion precisely inside the far post. One touch of the ball. One play. His gift to us with love. The announcers freaked. “That’s got to be the goal of the year. We’ll call it now!” “And even the fans in Columbus have got to tip their hats to Balboa.” Everyone who witnessed the moment knew it was special. Despite tremendous accolades, that’s how we will always remember Marcelo Balboa.

32. Tyrone Marshall. I’ll admit it – as a defender myself, I’m a little partial to blue chip backliners. I am elevating Marshall higher than most people would. He doesn’t have glittering statistics – though most defenders don’t. But when he is healthy and on his game, Marshall’s physical prowess, tenacity, leadership, and instincts have made him one of the best. Marshall won a pair of MLS Cups with the Galaxy, his team shutting out Taylor Twellman and New England through 90 minutes and overtime to hoist the trophy in both instances. Those are nervy times, and Marshall peaked in those moments despite playing with two different defenses. He continued to excel with Toronto in 2008 and Seattle in 2009, being named the Sounders Defensive Player of the Year despite the presence of Defender of Year finalist Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Goalkeeper of the Year finalist Kasey Keller. That speaks highly of the influence his peers believe Marshall has over a defense. Despite slowing a bit in 2010, at his peak, only a couple players marshaled better than Marshall.

31. Jimmy Conrad. Few soccer players in the U.S. have fan sites devoted exclusively to their every move, but Jimmy Conrad does. Its headline: “Welcome to JimmyConrad.com! Your whole life will now change for the better.” The guy’s got a soccer pedigree, but he dabbles in other interests like writing for soccernet.com and hosting a weekly radio show. He also bowled five strikes once (thanks, JimmyConrad.com!). On the pitch, Conrad captains the always-stingy Wizards. In 2005, 2006, and 2008, he earned Best XI honors, capturing Defender of the Year in 2005. He won the 2001 MLS Cup with San Jose, laid the foundation for Kansas City’s run to the title game in 2004, and has scored 19 goals as a sizable set piece weapon. His 6’2 frame offers power in either box, but the greatest attribute Conrad brings is commitment to the cause. You can’t teach desire. Coaches can coax it at times, but mostly, players have to find the fire themselves. In January, Conrad got tossed from a U.S. friendly with Honduras after two yellow cards in only 17 minutes. To amplify the situation, he had been awarded the captaincy for the match. Desire won out in the battle between cautiousness and competition. In that case, the move haunted Conrad, but for the most part in MLS, it’s been his defining (and success-driving) characteristic.

30. Jason Kreis. From the soccer hotbed of Omaha, Neb. rose Jason Kreis. The astute, deceptive Kreis achieved a number of firsts in MLS: first goal for the Dallas franchise; first goal for Real Salt Lake; first to 100 goals scored in MLS; first on the all-time scoring list for three years; first American to be named league MVP; first to post a 15-goal, 15-assist season. The superlatives continued in his seamless transition to coaching: first coach to lead RSL to the playoffs; first to coach a MLS team at his young age (34 years old); first to win the MLS Cup for his franchise. Kreis bridged his game effectively from the first years of MLS into the new decade despite lacking a defining skill or characteristic. He was fast but not noticeably more explosive than others; accurate but not overwhelmingly so; elusive but not in a dominating way; visionary but not in a way that transcended his peers. He was ordinary in stature, heady on the field, always an emotional leader, and a fierce competitor. But like the team he coaxed and coached to a championship this season, sneakiness helped Kreis achieve success. He built a career on others underestimating him, thinking he didn’t have the speed of Donovan, the playmaking of Etcheverry, the creativity of Dempsey, or the cannon of Stoichkov. He would suck opponents into the lie, and then bang! 18 goals, 15 assists. Bang! MVP. Bang! 108 goals and 74 assists over 12 years. Bang! One of the best careers in MLS history.

29. Jesse Marsch. One player emerged an MLS Cup Champion each of the league’s first three seasons. That man was Jesse Marsch, and he remains one of the league’s greatest midfield stalwarts and winners. His college coach at Princeton, a man by the name of Bob Bradley, convinced D.C. United to draft the unheralded midfielder in 1996. Along with Steve Ralston and Jaime Moreno, Marsch was one of the last three remaining MLS originals until his retirement after the 2009 season. He accumulated 321 games played, including a club record 200 for the Fire. In addition to three MLS Cup victories, Marsch played in second-place sides during the 2000 and 2003 seasons. He earned his only all-star bid in 2001 for the Fire. Never compromising in the tackle, always positionally sound, and technically simple, Marsch aged well. This came into evidence by his two call-ups to the U.S. National Team – one came in his personal-best 2001 season with the other not arriving until 2007 when he was age 33. Upon retirement, March became an assistant coach for Bradley and the National Team.

28. Jeff Cunningham. It's easy to forget Jeff Cunningham's greatness. He seems to disappear for a season or two, then reemerge with double-digit goals. A brilliant dribbler and finisher, the streaky Cunningham is magic with the ball and a little space in the attacking third. A vagabond in MLS, Cunningham wore the colors of Columbus, Colorado, Real Salt Lake, and Toronto before arriving at FC Dallas in 2008. He scored at each stop, earning the Golden Boot in 2006 and 2009 with MLS Best XI honors in both those years plus 2002. As Jaime Moreno slows down and sits on 134 goals, Cunningham may end his career atop the all-time MLS scoring charts if he continues to increase his tally of 136. But are Cunningham’s goals meaningful? He had no significant team achievements until FC Dallas reached the 2010 MLS Cup. Columbus came within a game of the 1999 MLS Cup before D.C. throttled them 4-0 in the decider. Since then? A Supporter’s Shield with the Crew in 2004, a season in which Cunningham primarily came off the bench, and not much else. A bunch of non-playoff seasons later, Cunningham must prove his worth by the success of his teams, and time is running low on his 33-year-old legs. He has more to prove in MLS than any other active top player on this list.

27. Roy Lassiter. He had a few great seasons but the first MLS campaign was Roy Lassiter’s (and MLS’s) best for pure goal scoring. The beneficiary of MVP Carlos Valderrama’s midfield magic, Lassiter struck for 27 goals and four assists. With a great positional sense, classic striker instincts, and brilliant playmakers like Valderrama, Jaime Moreno, and Marco Etcheverry around him, Lassiter was the ultimate predator in the early days of the league. He added 10 goals for Tampa Bay in 1997, 18 for the Mutiny and D.C. in 1998, and 18 with 11 assists for the MLS Cup champs from D.C. in 1999. Thanks to salary cap troubles, his own inconsistency, and team instability, Lassiter bounced around and put only 15 further goals in the net from 2000-2002. By that time he topped the league scoring charts with 88 goals, a total that stood until Jason Kreis passed it in 2004. Only six stand above him in goals, and all played more seasons than Lassiter. Cunningham may have more goals, but Lassiter played in two MLS Cups (1998 and 1999), winning one.

26. Ben Olsen. As a player on the rise in 2000, Ben Olsen looked like his career would be moving to Nottingham Forest in England. Then ankle injuries started mounting. He would stay with MLS and D.C. United for the rest of his soccer-playing days, struggling with injury but rehabbing admirably. In some of his last appearances for D.C. United as a player, Ben Olsen’s fans made signs memorializing his “Heart of a Lion” for the club. At that point, his ankles had grown so painful that Olsen said he couldn’t even carry his child up the stairs. The cagey midfielder linked distinct eras in the club’s history, winning Rookie of the Year in 1998, the MLS Cup MVP in 1999, a second title with the team in 2004, Supporter’s Shields in 2006 and 2007, and Best XI honors in 2007. As a young player, Olsen boasted speed and vision on the right wing for D.C. and for the U.S. National Team. Bum ankles forced his reinvention as a hard-working holding midfielder. His willingness to adapt earned praise from fans and a spot on the 2006 U.S. World Cup squad. Olsen’s 221 appearances for the Black & Red are second in team history, as are his totals in minutes (17,098) and game-winning goals (13). His 29 goals and 49 assists are an admirable total, but an endless motor and hard-fought longevity are his hallmarks.

25. Pat Onstad. He left the game in 1995 to become a teacher before a dire need in the nearby indoor league brought him back. After a long season in front of sparse crowds for the A-League Rochester Rhinos in 2002, Onstad contemplated retirement. Then fellow Canadian Frank Yallop brought Onstad to San Jose. In his first start, he let in a terrible goal that had him on blooper reels across the country. It couldn’t get worse, but it certainly got better quickly. Pat Onstad would lead his team to the 2003 MLS Cup, stop a penalty from Ante Razov in the final, and capture MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Since 2003, he has become the league’s oldest-ever player, posted the best Goals Against Average in league history (1.05), won two more MLS Cups with Houston, another Goalkeeper of the Year award and Best XI selection, a Supporter’s Shield, MLS Save of the Year in 2009, and multiple All-Star selections. His best moments came in the biggest games – the save on Razov in 2003 and two stops in a penalty shootout to win the Cup against New England in 2006. With nothing left to prove, Onstad and Houston finally endured a down year in 2010. Before injury knocked him out, the great positioning was still there, the vocal leadership remained strong, the reactions cat-like. Will he ever retire? When that time arrives, he will be remembered as one of the league’s best despite a longer road than most to get there.

24. Christian Gomez. Ranking Gomez this high might surprise some. Consider the following: In his first three full MLS seasons, Gomez earned Best XI honors every year, two Supporter’s Shields, and one MVP award. D.C. also boasted the league’s most potent attack all three years. Gomez was the catalyst. Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno emerged as MVP candidates with Gomez feeding them the ball. For that three-year stretch, Gomez scored 35 goals with 29 assists, averaging out to 11 or 12 goals and nine or 10 assists a year. Look at the players surrounding Christian Gomez on this list: The only players who can match that three-year stretch are ahead of him. Too bad he couldn’t sustain his success. When Gomez left United for the 2008 season, D.C. took a precipitous fall in goals scored and team points. With Gomez, D.C. averaged 55 points and about 55 goals per season. Without him in 2008, D.C. dipped to 37 points and 43 goals. He never experienced success after going to the Rapids, and returned to D.C. in 2009 a different player. Perhaps it was the perfect situation for his set of skills those three years, but whatever the reason, Christian Gomez and his cheeky, sneaky game led the proud United franchise to the top of the league. Ever since the old Gomez left, they haven’t been the same. That’s the definition of a difference maker.

23. Mark Chung. MLS boasts only a few truly great wingers. Among the best was Mark Chung. The ultra-quick lefty provided a goal-scoring and creative force on the outside for the Wizards, MetroStars, Rapids, and Earthquakes, tallying 61 goals and 76 assists in 10 seasons. At 5’7, Chung danced around defenders with electric pace and control. He thrice earned Best XI honors – one of 17 players to do so – and twice took home the MLS Fair Play Award. When he teamed with Chris Henderson in Colorado, the interchangeability and dynamism the duo created provided the primary punch for the Rapids and formed perhaps the league’s finest-ever wing paring. Chung struck some of the most powerful, thumping goals around, and he always had a deceptive second gear he could enter instantly. Among wingers, he must be regarded as near the very top of a not-so-tall MLS collection.

22. Zach Thornton. Few in MLS can physically intimidate like 6’3, 230 lb. Zach Thornton. The Chivas USA goalkeeper demands respect in the box and combines his enviable bulk with excellent positioning, strong distribution, and surprising agility. Thornton ascended to MLS stardom in 1998 with the Chicago Fire. He won the starting job over Jorge Campos for the expansion club, then backstopped the team to the MLS Cup while winning Goalkeeper of the Year and being named to the MLS Best XI. He returned to the championship game in 2000 and 2003 (winning the Supporter’s Shield that year), went to five All-Star games with the Fire, and earned Chicago Defender of the Year honors in 2001 and 2002. His longevity is also impressive: Thornton ranks third among goalkeepers in career appearances, starts, and minutes and second in wins and shutouts. But what elevated Thornton on this list was his work in 2009. After bouncing around to Colorado, New York, and Chivas, Thornton was an afterthought going into the season. He proceeded to earn his first All-Star nod in six years. His 2009 Goals Against Average was the second best in league history at 0.87, and Thornton captured Goalkeeper of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Best XI, and team MVP awards. He commanded a second look at his historical significance in MLS the same way he commands the box whenever he takes the pitch.

21. Mauricio Cienfuegos. The little El Salvadorian lacked the distinctive dreadlocks of teammate Cobi Jones or the goal-scoring record of Eduardo Hurtado and Carlos Ruiz, but he was just as integral to the sustained success of the Los Angeles Galaxy from 1996-2003. At 5’6, Cienfuegos defined “diminutive.” He worked wonders with the ball at his feet, using his squatty strength to shield and his explosive quickness to ghost away from defenders. With 80 career assists to his name, Cienfuegos ranks ninth in MLS, and his 28 game-winning helpers place him fifth all-time. The Galaxy ran their attack through Cienfuegos the first eight MLS seasons, and the yield was impressive: Supporter’s Shields in 1998 and 2002; MLS Cup runners up in 1996, 1999, and 2001; entrance to the playoffs every season; and victory in the 2002 MLS Cup. When that championship team returned to Los Angeles, it was Cienfuegos who carried the trophy through LAX. He and Jones linked the unfulfilled promise of the first Galaxy teams to the long awaited title in 2002, a fitting role for the playmaker who had for so long linked defense to attack for Los Angeles.

20. Kevin Hartman. If this were a longevity contest, Hartman would win. He’s likely on his way to becoming the league’s top man in games played, starts, and minutes, trailing Steve Ralston by about season’s worth of each statistic. This year, Hartman is 10-1-8 with a league-best 0.62 GAA. He was part of a special run by FC Dallas of 15 games unbeaten, but his season was nearly over after Thierry Henry’s inadvertent goal celebration caught Hartman and caused damage to the keeper’s MCL. The goal by the Red Bulls ended another magnificent streak: 415 shutout minutes by Hartman. It isn’t the first such streak by the journeyman netminder. Hartman is almost an MLS original, beginning his career in 1997 with the Galaxy. He leads the league in all-time goalkeeping wins, losses, saves, and shutouts. He has faced more shots (1712) than anyone, and of those goalkeepers who have faced at least 1,000 shots, Hartman owns the best Goals Against Average (1.21). He won two MLS Cups with the Galaxy in 2002 and 2005. He earned Best XI and Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 1999. Again, if the contest were based purely on longevity, Hartman is the greatest in MLS. Once a backbone of the Los Angeles defense, Hartman brought his steady gloves and influential leadership to Kansas City and Dallas. Although highlight saves dot his resume, Hartman’s greatest strength is his steadiness. By now, very few situations exist that Hartman hasn’t experienced. FC Dallas held its breath to see if their veteran keeper would return for the playoffs. Now he has a chance at his third ring.

19. Ante Razov. Young players are often told to force the opposition to their off-foot just as they are asked to force an offensive player to their off-hand in basketball. This fundamental defensive philosophy seems simple enough. Yet MLS defenders bit and bit and bit at Razov’s fakes during his career, setting the elegant forward up to strike the ball with his favored left peg. He was a rare player who had one really exceptional skill and built an entire arsenal of moves, feints, and maneuvers to get in position to use that one exceptional skill: Searing, accurate left footed shots. Pick any highlight video of Razov on youtube, and count how many of his goals come on his left foot. Would you have guessed that Razov is the third-leading goal scorer in MLS history? Razov played forward one way – sitting on the last defender (He was called for offside 310 times, second to Cunningham but in 76 less games) ready to take a shot (with his left foot, of course) at all times (He is the leader in career shots and shots on goal). In addition to his shooting records, Razov’s name is sprinkled throughout the record books: seven seasons of 10 or more goals, second-most game winning goals, 2003 Best XI, 66 assists, 1998 MLS Cup Champion, 2000 and 2003 MLS Cup runner up. The electric partnerships Razov built with Hristo Stoichkov, Josh Wolff, and Damani Ralph made Chicago one of the league’s juggernauts in the early 2000s. While coaches would surely hound their defenders to force Razov right (how hard can it be?), he inevitably found an opportunity or two to bury the ball with his left each game, and most of the time, he took it with class. If you could take the best body parts of MLS players to build a super-athlete, you couldn’t do better than Razov’s left foot.

18. Carlos Ruiz. The L.A. Galaxy lost three of the first six MLS Cups and seemed to lack championship instinct in the early years of MLS. Then Carlos Ruiz arrived. El Pescadito began his MLS career with a startling MVP season in 2002, scoring 24 goals and creating buzz for the league while edging Taylor Twellman for the Golden Boot. In the playoffs, Ruiz scored eight goals and added two assists to set league records for a single postseason in goals and points. More importantly, he won the Galaxy’s first title by coolly slotting past Revs goalkeeper Adin Brown in overtime for the trophy-hoisting golden goal. Ruiz gave L.A. the scoring bite and fearlessness they had lacked. For that unstoppable season alone, Ruiz may have won inclusion on this list. It would be his crowning achievement in MLS, but not his last. In 2003, Ruiz christened the Home Depot Center with a late strike to beat the Rapids on national television. He again battled Twellman for the Golden Boot, this time tying the Revolution marksman with 15 goals. Ruiz scored 11 more in 2004 with the Galaxy. Then he slowly and puzzlingly disappeared into anonymity. Traded to Dallas to make room for Landon Donovan, Ruiz continued to score – 31 goals in three seasons – but missed the spotlight and organization of the Galaxy. He bounced around to Los Angeles and Toronto in 2008 before going to Europe. In all, Ruiz scored 82 goals in 155 MLS games, poaching, prodding, slotting, heading, kneeing, and poking home in a predatory fashion his opponents still feared even in his lighter final years in the league.

17. Brian McBride. In his time with Everton and Fulham in the English Premier League, McBride became the most successful American field player to go from MLS to Europe. Fulham even renamed its sports bar McBride’s in his honor. He did great things in MLS, too. In the Inaugural MLS Draft, the Crew selected McBride first overall. During parts of eight seasons in Columbus, McBride scored 62 goals with 45 assists. His diving headers and dynamic volleys were the stuff of Sportscenter Top-10s. His good looks, charming personality, and endless motor made him an ideal early spokesman for MLS and U.S. Soccer. Though never a Best XI selection in a single season, McBride was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI during the league’s tenth anniversary in 2005. The selection committee chose from a pool of 78 players who had been named to a single-season MLS Best XI team or who had been named to at least three All-Star teams. The All-Star team exception was surely made to include Marcelo Balboa and McBride, both of whom were spotlight players who had scored MLS Goals of the Year. Everywhere he played, Brian McBride elicited respect and admiration from fans, and Columbus was the site of his greatest early achievements. He returned to the league with the Fire in 2008 after his success in England and has been marginally successful with Chicago, though at 38 and in his final season, the toll of his all-out on-field persona has robbed McBride of his great physical gifts. Nonetheless, the U.S. legend will call it a career shortly amid speculation that he is the greatest forward to ever come from this country and this league.

16. Shalrie Joseph. A graceful, powerful two-way player with four Best XIs to his name, Joseph still doesn’t receive much pub for being a great midfielder in MLS. His physical tool set gives him a remarkable advantage. He has the power of Tyrone Marshall and the agility of Dwayne De Rosario, the leginess of Ezra Hendrickson and the motor of Chris Armas. There isn’t a play on the soccer field Joseph cannot make. In 2009, Joseph was named a finalist for MVP. He enjoyed his best season statistically, piling up eight goals and eight assists to complement the bite he provided the Revolution midfield with his balanced tackling and ability to trigger the attack. Despite modest career goal and assist numbers, ever since he broke into the starting lineup in 2003, Joseph has been the workhorse for New England. From 2005-2007, the Revolution became the Buffalo Bills of MLS, reaching the final and losing each time in heartbreaking fashion – twice in overtime and once on penalties. Championship-caliber seasons have been the norm throughout this decade for New England, and Joseph’s steadiness drove the team success. It’s no surprise that the Revs struggled in 2010 without him the first part of the year. Now team captain, he must reaffirm his place as a central figure in MLS following a rare down year for himself and his team.

15. Peter Nowak. Majestically, Nowak swooped into MLS and elevated the expansion Chicago Fire to the 1998 MLS Cup. Just two years prior, Nowak had been named best playmaker in the German Bundesliga. He took that pedigree to the Chicago midfield. Everyone respected Nowak. The way he created for his teammates, controlled the pace of the game, covered endless ground, and offered his body immortalized him in MLS lore. Nowak spent only five seasons MLS, but his imagination and work ethic lifted the league to a new level. He earned Best XI honors three times (and was named to the All-Time Best XI), contributed 26 goals and 48 assists, and gave a dominant MLS Cup MVP performance in the 1998 championship game to dethrone the two-time defending champs D.C. United. The Chicago captain became the first member of the honorary Ring of Fire in 2003. He translated his fiery field general status into a successful coaching career, leading D.C. to the title in 2004, helping guide the U.S. National Team as an assistant to Bob Bradley, and guiding the Philadelphia Union in their inaugural season. Fans felt a special connection to Nowak because he seemed to represent the “everyman.” Only 5’6 and with limited speed, Nowak maximized his limited physical potential, utilized his immense game understanding, and provided legendary verbal leadership. Other players on this list have him beat for longevity but not for impact.

14. Chris Armas. Take a guess at what line of work Chris Armas is in since retirement. Chicago Fire front office? Head coach for a youth soccer club? Nope. High school gym teacher at his alma mater. How fitting. The most workmanlike player in the top 20, he felt a deep, abiding loyalty to his club and teammates. He took this to the point of feeling guilty when he signed a new contract in the offseason and found he had a torn labrum and discomfort in his hip at the start of training camp. As a gym teacher, Armas continues his incredible legacy of loyalty. After Nowak retired, Armas was the Fire, taking over the captaincy. Like Nowak, he was short (5’7) and a great vocal leader, but Armas lasted longer. He earned a record-tying five Best XI nominations, equaled only by Dwayne De Rosario and Jaime Moreno. He was ever-present in the best moments of Chicago Fire history – the 1998 MLS Cup, the 2000 and 2003 MLS Cup Finals, the U.S. Open Cup wins in 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006. He scored the golden goal in overtime of the 2003 Eastern Conference Final to send Chicago into the Final and even scored in the 1996 MLS Cup Final while with the Galaxy. The work rate of the stout Armas made him the anchor for the Fire and in many cases, the U.S. National Team. Few were more revered and celebrated as a leader, and no one on this list more definitively became the face of their club. The genuine, industrious whirlwind ball winner goes down as one of the best.

13. Eddie Pope. A torrential downpour on a swampy, inhospitable Foxboro pitch. Overtime of the first championship game in MLS. The league’s top two regular season teams. A bevy of stars: Etcheverry, Jones, Agoos, Williams, Harkes, Moreno, Frasier, Vanney, Armas, Cienfuegos, Razov, Hurtado – all players on this list. And Eddie Pope rises highest, leaping to head the game-winning goal for D.C. United. He continued to rise in subsequent seasons, that goal marking the start of his ascent. Pope won two more MLS Cups with D.C., won four MLS Best XI selections, and became the face of U.S. Soccer. Quiet and steady with springy and explosive legs, Pope emerged as a classy leader for D.C., then the MetroStars, and concludingly for Real Salt Lake. No one was more respected. The languid Pope labored through multiple injuries to play key defensive roles in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups. When he announced his retirement in 2007, Pope said, “It's just time...You get up in the morning and you're in pain. Before practice, you are in pain. And after practice you are still in pain.” The ascent had taken its toll, but through a combination of National Team and MLS accolades, Eddie Pope had risen to become America’s best ever defender.

12. Tony Meola. The only goalkeeper to win an MVP award, Meola is tops at his position in MLS history. Keepers must be particularly outstanding to be considered for individual awards, and in 2000, no one was more dominant. Meola had a record 16 regular-season shutouts to his name for Kansas City and a 0.92 GAA. In the championship game, Meola stonewalled a loaded Chicago Fire team by making 10 saves – many of the remarkable variety – to back up the league’s stingiest-ever defense. Kansas City scored the game’s lone goal in the eleventh minute and made it stand against Stoitchkov, Razov, Nowak, Armas, Beasley, and a roster that included 13 players from this list. Meola grabbed the MVP, Goalkeeper of the Year, Supporter’s Shield, MLS Cup, MLS Cup MVP, and (for good measure) Comeback Player of the Year. Historic. In 2005, MLS named Meola its best-ever goalkeeper by placing him on the All-Time Best XI. He has the third-most saves ever in MLS but ranks first in saves per game when compared to the other players in the top ten. Of players who faced at least 1,000 shots on goal, Meola’s save percentage of 73.5 is the best. More than numbers, the command and intimidation of Meola elevate him slightly above his peers. Opposing forwards took a different mindset when facing him. Defenders had more confidence in front of him. That’s respect. That’s greatness. There’s no one better between the pipes.

11. Robin Fraser. Search for Robin Fraser on youtube, and the only thing to be found is a video of him endorsing Lasik Surgery. No montage of his timeless tackling ability or mentoring skills, his knack for organization or positional sense. His name is not found anywhere on the list of All-Time Leaders from mlssoccer.com. Fans appreciated Fraser but were not compelled to celebrate him like Eddie Pope or Marcelo Balboa. He played 27 games with the U.S. National Team, but never enough to endear himself as an international regular. So why is he here? Fraser twice won Defender of the Year and garnered five Best XI spots, which is tied for the most all-time and included four of the first five MLS seasons. Fraser anchored two Supporter’s Shield-winning teams, captaining one. He mentored two of the better MLS defenders in the past few years – Chad Marshall and Nat Borchers. Quietly, Fraser dominated games despite lacking the great physical abilities of Pope or Marshall. His keen reading of the game made him an asset even in his last season at age 38. No one shepherded and commanded a defense as effectively. Few players had a better sense of their strengths and utilized them so effectively. That’s why Fraser now makes an excellent coach at Real Salt Lake. Fanfare never accompanied Robin Fraser. Effectiveness always did.

10. Jeff Agoos. San Jose soared to the 2001 championship in miraculous fashion after finishing last in the league the year before. They were transformed thanks primarily to two players – Landon Donovan in attack and the effervescent Agoos in defense. Agoos was a finalist for MVP – the only defender to ever finish in the top three. He already had won Defender of the Year and earned the last of his three Best XI nods. He was also a member of the All-Time Best XI. The individual accolades increased the resume of Agoos after he had won three MLS Cups with D.C. United. He captained the Quakes to the title in 2001 and again in 2003, becoming the first and still only player with five MLS Cups. What made Agoos special? He did a little bit of everything – solid tackling, good organization, fine distribution, the occasional dead ball, verbal and active leadership, dedication in training, terrific man-marking, high energy levels, a little bit of nastiness, and unfazed strength and commitment in the challenge. Above all, Agoos spearheaded winning teams his entire career, and he ended up with a trophy haul no other player can claim. He was the league’s greatest winner.

9. Taylor Twellman. Coaches often harp on players for not being hungry enough in front of the goal. Chances must be buried. This hunger for goals defined Twellman. He threw his body wherever necessary to make ball and net meet. It was this great strength of Twellman’s game that unquestionably shortened his career. Now at age 30, Twellman’s soccer days are over. Concussive symptoms forced the great striker to retire. But what a goal scorer. With 101 goals, Twellman sits sixth on the all-time list. Amazingly, he played between 58 and 170 fewer games than the five players ahead of him. In goals per game, Twellman is third with 0.58. Only Stern John (a ridiculous 0.80) and Mamadou Diallo (0.64) scored at a higher rate, but they played a third as many minutes as Twellman in MLS. With the goals came acclamation – a Best XI nod in 2002; Best XI, Golden Boot, All-Star MVP, and regular season MVP in 2005; five seasons of double-digit goals, including the league’s best-ever scoring race during the 2002 campaign when he had 23 goals and Carlos Ruiz had 24. And of course, like any of the top players, Twellman had tremendous team success. The Revolution reached the MLS Cup four times with him, and he scored two goals in those four games. History, however, does not treat the Revs well. New England’s losses were heartbreaking, each in their own way: Golden goals for the Galaxy by Ruiz and Pando Ramirez in 2002 and 2005, shootout heartbreak against Houston in 2005 (with Twellman converting his kick after scoring in overtime), and another loss to the Dynamo in 2006 after the Revs took a lead through Twellman in the 20^th minute. Should not having a ring count against a player who did so much in championship matches? Twellman’s career began its abrupt end when Galaxy keeper Steve Cronin attempted to punch the ball and caught Twellman’s head in 2008. The result of the play? A goal for Twellman, of course. He reeled off to celebrate with Shalrie Joseph, only to find he had been knocked woozy – and that his time on the field was to be over too soon.

8. Cobi Jones. From 1996 to 2007, Cobi Jones took the field during the league’s seminal moments. He suffered disaster at points, losing four MLS Cup Finals with the Galaxy, failing to capture the 1998 MLS Cup despite a Supporter’s Shield and record-setting offense, falling to a golden goal by Dwayne DeRosario in 2001, and crashing out of the playoffs after blowing a 4-0 advantage against San Jose in the epic 2003 California Clasico home-and-home. That’s soccer – unpredictable and often cruel in its reality. But Jones had his share of greatness, too. In 2002, he broke through to bring the Cup to Los Angeles. He did it again with an underdog, ragtag group in 2005 as the trophy-raising captain. For that 1998 juggernaut, Jones posted 19 goals and 13 assists, catapulting the team to score 85 goals and earning his lone Best XI nod. The Galaxy faced an even more talented Chicago team in the semifinals and lost in overtime. In 12 seasons with Los Angeles, Jones reached six MLS Cup finals, won two Supporter’s Shields and five regular season Western Conference titles, and scored 70 goals with 91 assists (tied with Landon Donovan for sixth all-time). During that time, Cobi Jones also became the all-time leader in appearances for the U.S. National Team with 164 caps. He modeled consistency, was the best of teammates, covered ground like few could, played for winners, and had a spectacular spark when needed. It helped to have a distinctive mop of braided hair that distinguished him on any field. For longevity and presence at the key moments of MLS, Jones earns his place here.

7. Carlos Valderrama. What is it with crazy-haired soccer players? They can’t be missed on the pitch. Cobi Jones. Alexi Lalas. Jeff Agoos. And Carlos Valderrama. The man with the mop of curly golden locks and the boots of a magician. He was the crowning star in Columbia’s golden age of soccer. He came to MLS at the end of a great career and with minimal running managed to pick apart the opposition with the deftest passing ever seen in the league. For all the rage surrounding Valderrama – the hype of Columbian football in the 1990s, the wacky hair and droopy mustache, the unequaled playmaking skill, even his fun-loving nickname “El Pibe” (the kid) – he had one of the great footballing brains and a pair of the most visionary eyes in history. Who else could impact a game so deeply without leaving the midfield circle? Laugh if you like, but Valderrama did not play in great shape beyond the 1980s. It’s akin to Michel Platini being a chain smoker for the great French and Juventus sides of his time. Valderrama seemed to get rounder each season. Yet he produced. He sits second all-time behind Steve Ralston in assists. Ralston had 135. Valderrama had 114. Yet consider this: Ralston took over twice as many games to reach his mark, playing 378 in total. Valderrama did it in 175. That means Ralston averaged 0.35 assists per game. Valderrama averaged 0.65. Of the players in the top ten of all-time assists, Valderrama’s 0.65 is by far the best. Etcheverry is next at 0.53, then Preki at 0.46. Landon Donovan is at 0.38. Cobi Jones is at 0.29. The man won the league’s first MVP award in 1996 despite being flanked by a teammate (Roy Lassiter) who set a record for single-season goal scoring. He never reached an MLS Cup Final, yet impacted the game and drew fans as few ever have. Imagine if he had been fit and had a broader skill set. Can you see Valderrama the goalscorer and midfielder enforcer? Nah. His limitedness was part of why we loved him. Maybe he wasn’t a complete midfielder, but he may not have graced MLS if he had been.

6. Preki. The only man to win the MVP and scoring championship twice, Preki loved defying the laws of age and odds. Most of his damage came with the Kansas City Wizards, whom he helped to the MLS title in 2000, though his one season elsewhere – with the Miami Fusion in 2001 – produced some wonderful free-flowing football. Preki is near the top in MLS in points with 270 on 79 goals and 112 assists. As a midfielder, he survived until age 42 in MLS, played on the U.S. National Team at age 38, and scored the winning goal in the last minute of his final game in 2005. He had staying power. In the 2003 All-Star game, Preki had the spotlight because of a turn-back-the-clock season that would eventually earn him an unprecedented MVP at age 40. The announcers marveled at the pace of his passes and accuracy with the ball. He never dazzled with speed or glitz, but he understood how to break down defenses with the ball at his feet. In his final few seasons, defenders had to be left shaking their heads wondering how the old man got the best of them again. Even now at age 47, it isn’t inconceivable that Preki could strap on the boots and be serviceable. His head coaching stints with Chivas and Toronto ended unspectacularly, but at least the clubs knew they could turn to their coach if ever they needed an extra player in a pinch. Among all the greats in MLS, Predrag Radosavljević was perhaps the sneakiest good.

5. Dwayne De Rosario. Originally De Rosario sat below the top ten here. Then I looked at his resume and had to move him up. No one has been consistently better in the last five years save one or two players on this list. His accomplishments include four MLS Cups, two MLS Cup MVP awards (with two game-winning goals), a record-tying five Best XI seasons, two game-winning goals in MLS All-Star games against English opposition, 78 career goals, 52 career assists, the captaincy of two different clubs, and two MLS Goals of the Season (extra points for the spectacular). Who can top that? De Ro tried out for a spot in Europe a couple times, but he found a home in MLS despite playing in four cities. When facing Chelsea and West Ham in All-Star games, De Rosario always seemed to be the player most likely to break through against opposition that was a cut above. He can conjure magic in the biggest stage, summoning the creative spark that American players are often said to lack. For evidence, see his Golden Goal in the 2001 MLS Cup Final or screaming Goal of the Year free kick in 2005. Who else managed to elevate their game like De Rosario in MLS Cup? His genius creeps into about half of the league’s great moments from the past decade. And for that, De Rosario deserves to be in the top five.

4. Steve Ralston. There are a couple of methods to use when evaluating players for a list like this. One is to base each pick on their career, that is to say what they accomplished compared to every other player in MLS. The other is to compare the trickier and less defined quantity of greatness, consulting both the statistics and the intangible “it factor.” I’ve landed somewhere in the middle for most of the list. But this pick leans heavily on the career of Steve Ralston, and it will probably be the most controversial one here. How can I put a guy fourth on this list when he didn’t win an MLS Cup or ever have a double-digit scoring season? Longevity, that’s how. Ralston was one of the last MLS originals to survive. He won the first Rookie of the Year Award in 1996 and played until 2009 (with one appearance in 2010). Whereas others on this list were sprinters or middle distance runners (great for a few seasons), Ralston set the pace in the marathon, compiling league records in assists (135), appearances (378), starts (372), and minutes (33,143). He played in four MLS Cups. He lost in four MLS Cups. He was an ironman, a leader, a wicked crosser of the ball, an occasional scorer, an unbelievably clean player, and an automatic choice even when surrounded by amazing talent like Valderrama, Lassiter, Twellman, and Joseph. The guy simply knew the game, and knew it well enough to go from diligent winger to center mid to fullback to withdrawn forward to winger again. He made three Best XI squads and could have been named at a different position for each one. Underappreciated? I say yes. When building an all-time MLS midfield, it wouldn’t do to have four or five ego-centric personalities fighting for playmaking duties. A great midfield needs a Steve Ralston to quietly run the flank, track back, make simple plays, flash a few dangerous crosses into the box, and not make a peep if he doesn’t get the ball as much as he’d like. Flashiness does not always equate to greatness. Ralston was not flashy, but his long, successful, steady career was one of the greatest ever. I’ll take him in my midfield anytime.

3. Marco Etcheverry. Bicycle kicks, midfield chips, searing blasts, dodgy runs leaving defenders sprawling – all can be beautiful for their individual panache. Marco Etcheverry could certainly do these things, especially in his younger days. But soccer purists appreciate just as much a tap-in goal that comes from a fluid passing movement. Or the killer pass that absolutely catches the defense out. Such signs indicate beautiful soccer. Marco Etcheverry mastered both. The Bolivian midfielder drove D.C. United to MLS Cup titles in 1996, 1997, and 1999 and Supporter’s Shields in 1997 and 1999. He won the MVP in MLS Cup 1996 and the regular season in 1997, earned four Best XI nods from 1996-1999, and was named to the All-Time Best XI. Within the team and individual honors arose some of the league’s most celebrated moments on Etcheverry’s dangerous left foot: the corner for Eddie Pope to head a golden goal in the inaugural MLS Cup, the half-field bomb that became the 1999 MLS Goal of the Year (individual panache is good sometimes too!), the many elegant one-twos with the player one spot ahead of him on this list. Etcheverry needed to see lots of the ball, and he had a fiery disposition that made the nickname “El Diablo” stick well (Coming to mind: His red card for a takedown of Lothar Mattheus in the 1994 World Cup and a horrid late chop through the back of the legs of Mauricio Cienfuegos in 2000). Despite his temperament, most often Etcheverry is remembered for technical giftedness, slick passing, and stylish football. Even in his final seasons, Etcheverry controlled the pace of the game. His vision never waned even if his quickness diminished.

2. Jaime Moreno. If players on this list had to submit a resume outlining their credentials, no one could beat Jaime Moreno for longevity, dynamic skills, individual and team accomplishments. His statistics speak resoundingly. All-time leading MLS scorer (for now) with 133 goals. Only player in MLS history (for now) with 100-plus goals 100-plus assists. Four MLS Cups. One MLS Cup MVP. Five Best XIs. All-time Best XI. Almost twice as many penalty kick goals as anyone else. Most fouls suffered. Most regular season games in history with one club. Jaime Moreno injected skill into many stacked D.C. United squads. As an asterisk, his resume may note that he lost a few prime years lost to injury and weight problems. The Bolivian joined MLS midway through the first season and went on to play in the first 15 seasons of the league (along with Steve Ralston, the only players to do so). Moreno’s craft helped him score clinically with either foot anywhere inside 30 yards. His deft touches often set up running mates for easy put-away goals. He could run at defenders with pace. He was a threat out of the air. He could dictate the pace of the game and the flow of the attack. Put simply, Moreno’s resume would outline how complete he was as a forward. United reaped the benefits. In fact, D.C. has never won a trophy without Moreno in top form. He was the only United player around for all four of their championships. Moreno’s resume has everything a player needs to claim the top spot on this list, BUT (you knew it was coming) he just wasn’t quite as threatening, wasn’t quite as dynamic, wasn’t quite as good as the one player above him.

1. Landon Donovan. Who else could it be? Landon Donovan dominates U.S. headlines a decade after making an initial splash as a teenager with the USMNT. No one is more dangerous in MLS than Donovan, nor has any player delivered more in bigger moments. In his initial stint with San Jose, Donovan engineered a last-place-to-MLS-Cup turnaround with a splendid regular season, flashy All-Star MVP appearance, and five goals and two assists in the playoffs, including the equalizer in the championship game against the Galaxy. In 2003, the Quakes took the Cup again by dispatching an ultra-talented Chicago Fire squad behind a rampant Donovan, who tallied two goals in the final to make it four goals and two assists in four playoff games. He won the trophy again in 2005 with Los Angeles, again scoring four goals in four playoff games. Despite great individual statistics from 2006-2008 (Donovan averaged 13 goals and 10 assists per season in that stretch), his team struggled and missed the playoffs. Then in 2009, the Galaxy went back to MLS Cup behind Donovan’s MVP season but fell on penalties to a surprisingly effective, defensive-minded Real Salt Lake team. It was one of the first times Donovan had ever failed on the big stage in the league. Yet failure for him has been rare. Interestingly, Donovan’s teams have only claimed one Supporter’s Shield, perhaps because Donovan so often misses parts of the regular season with National Team duty. But when the playoffs arrive, no one is better. At age 29, Donovan is already the league’s all-time leading scorer in the playoffs (17 goals, 8 assists), and at 111 goals and 92 assists, he’s sure to be at the top of the regular-season goal-scoring and assists charts in the coming seasons barring a move to Europe. He’s got a regular-season and MLS Cup MVP, four Best XI nods, a place in the all-time Best XI, and a Golden Boot. He’s proven consistently to be the class of the league, and he doesn’t look to be unseated from this spot very easily since most of the greatest talents in MLS look for a move to Europe after a season or two. When it comes to MLS, there is no one you’d want to have in your side more than Landon Donovan.

ALL-TIME TEAMS. Just for kicks, using the rankings as a guide, here are my All-Time Best XI and "Second-Best XI."

Best XI

Goalkeeper: Tony Meola. Most commanding, best shot-stopper in his prime.
Defender: Jeff Agoos. Never physically dominant, Agoos was nonetheless almost always positionally and tactically aware.
Defender: Robin Fraser. The anchor, the organizer, the forgotten hero, the sweeper who cleans up all mistakes.
Defender: Eddie Pope. Classy defender who could match up with any striker in the world during his peak.
Defensive Midfielder: Chris Armas. The protection for our three-man back line comes from the workhorse who buzzes around to break up opposing possession.
Winger: Steve Ralston. Versatility, experience, and expert service from the iron-man of MLS. Also, he's the low-drama choice for captain of the side.
Attacking Midfielder: Dwayne DeRosario. DeRo offers dynamic running in the middle of the park.
Attacking Midfielder: Marco Etcheverry. El Diablo will need to have plenty of the ball at his feet, so we'll give him spot kick duties.
Winger: Cobi Jones. Preki probably wouldn't be happy in winger role, so we'll have Jones here instead. Not a bad replacement.
Striker: Landon Donovan. The best. Donovan will be running at people and can withdraw to midfield at times, allowing Etcheverry or DeRosario to move up top.
Striker: Jaime Moreno. Moreno's sure to offer some classy finishes and delicate passes up top.

Second-Best XI:

Goalkeeper: Kevin Hartman. One of the underappreciated greats, he is a steady force between the posts.
Defender: Jimmy Conrad. Out of the air, Conrad will dominate in both boxes.
Defender: Marcelo Balboa. We'll be sure to get Balboa going forward for some bicycle kick goals at some point.
Defender: Carlos Bocanegra. I know I put him below the two Marshalls, Tyrone and Chad, but Bocanegra's versatility and experience are invaluable here. If we're talking real-life peak years, I want Bocanegra in my side.
Defensive Midfielder: Shalrie Joseph. The physically dominant Joseph will be a ball-winner and distributor behind the play makers.
Winger: Ben Olsen. This was the hardest choice and forced me to omit Carlos Valderrama and Jesse Marsch, but our midfield must have some selfless engines who don't need the ball.
Center Midfielder: Peter Nowak. He'll be the heart and soul with the captain's armband.
Winger: Mark Chung. Chung was another toughie, but as an out-and-out winger, he brings something different to the table. I want that in my side.
Attacking Midfielder: Preki. I'm a little nervous about Preki getting enough of the ball, but with two forwards who get themselves into great spots, it should work.
Forwards: Taylor Twellman and Brian McBride. I love this pairing up top. Why did the U.S. never try it? (A number of reasons obviously, injury and timing foremost among them.) Twellman's work rate, movement, and finishing ability with McBride's holdup play, aerial supremacy, and craft. Brilliant.

There you have it. All for fun. It took far too long to actually finish this list, but for any hardcore MLS fans reading, I hope you appreciate the thoughts. Love it? Hate it? How would you change it? Tell me what you think by commenting below.

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