Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco, Montreal’s Ignacio Piatti named to MLS Best XI

Toronto FC star striker Sebastian Giovinco got a consolation prize Monday when he was named to Major League Soccer’s 2016 Best XI.

Giovinco, the 2015 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, was not one of the MVP finalists this season, likely due to missing some games through injury. The three finalists — Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan of the New York Red Bulls and David Villa of New York City FC — joined the Italian on the Best XI.

Montreal Impact danger-man Ignacio Piatti was also honoured on the end-of-season all-star squad that recognizes the league’s top players at each position as determined by media, MLS players and MLS club staff.

Giovinco led the league in combined goals (17) and assists (15) for a second straight year. He has also scored four goals and added four assists in five playoff games to help Toronto become the first Canadian team to make the MLS Cup final.

Piatti ranked third in the league with a career-best 17 goals this season, eight more than his previous best in 2015. The Argentine playmaker also had four goals and two assists in five post-season matches.

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Toronto fans may be wondering where fullback Justin Morrow and centre back Drew Moor are on the league’s best lineup.

Philadelphia’s Andre Blake was named in goal behind a backline of MLS Defender of the Year Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), six-foot-seven Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids) and Jelle Van Damme (L.A. Galaxy).

Piatti is joined in the midfield by Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas), Giovani dos Santos (L.A. Galaxy) and Kljestan.

The star-studded forward line features Giovinco, Villa and Wright-Phillips.

Giovinco, Hedges, Kljestan and Wright-Phillips all make repeat appearances.

Kljestan had 20 assists this season, the second most in league history and the most since the second assist rule was changed in 2002. He also contributed six goals.

Wright-Phillips collected his second Golden Boot, with 24 goals this season, becoming the first player in MLS history to record two seasons with 20-plus goals scored. His 68 goals since 2014 is a league record for the most goals over any three-year span.

Villa scored 23 goals while leading NYCFC to its first ever post-season appearance. His 41 goals since 2015 are tied for the best in MLS over that span.

The Seattle Sounders, Toronto’s opposition in Saturday’s MLS Cup final at BMO Field, did not figure in the Best XI.  

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press