Jaime Moreno. Marco Etcheverry. Carlos Valderamma. Major League Soccer was built, in large part, on the backs of South American imports.
As Copa America Centenario, the biggest tournament on US soil since the 1994 World Cup, starts to hit its stride it only seems right to honor their contribution in the time-honored tradition of historical Best XIs. In that spirit, I went about building a team of MLS stars from the past and present that represents the best and brightest South America has contributed to the league over the past two decades.
To do so, I tapped into MLSsoccer.com’s network of experts – special shout out to Diego Pinzon and Kristel Valencia at FutbolMLS.com and a certain Twitter follower I knew would rip me to shreds if I screwed this up – and went about whittling down a list of hundreds of players to the 11 I believe are most deserving. The end result was a squad with five Colombians, three Argentines, two Bolivians and one Brazilian.
Some positions, such as attacking midfield, were Mariana Trench deep. Others – outside back and goalkeeper, for instance – offered fewer options. All in all, it’s a team with eye-popping talent jammed into a somewhat impractical 3-5-2 formation. Go ahead, try to limit yourself a single No. 10.
Inevitably, you’ll disagree with some of my choices. Fortunately, the comment section exists for that very reason.
GK: Dario Sala – FC Dallas (2005-10)
Faced with a choice between a pair of FC Dallas netminders in Sala and Peruvian Raul Fernandez, I was swayed by the Argentine’s longevity. He hit the century mark in appearances and boasts a winning record in net (39-33-27) during five seasons in north Texas.
DEF: Carlos Llamosa – D.C. United (1997-2000), Miami Fusion (2001), New England Revolution (2002-03), Chivas USA (2006-07)
Modern MLS fans may not be familiar with Llamosa, but he’s one of the most talented (and inspiring) defenders from the early days of the league. Born in Colombia, he immigrated to the United States in 1991, where he postponed his professional career until 1995. He signed with D.C. United in 1997, winning two MLS Cups with the club. He also became a naturalized US citizen and represented his adopted country at the 2002 World Cup.
DEF: Jamison Olave – Real Salt Lake (2008-12, 2015-present), New York Red Bulls (2013-14)
One of two current MLS players in the team, the Colombian played a central role in Real Salt Lake’s transformation from hapless expansion side into an MLS and CONCACAF power. A powerful central defender, Olave helped RSL to an MLS Cup triumph in 2009, was named the 2010 MLS Defender of the Year, nearly won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2011, and then played a key role for the 2013 Supporters’ Shield-winning New York Red Bulls. The two-time MLS Best XI defender (2010, 2011) returned to RSL ahead of the 2015 season.
DEF: Wilman Conde – Chicago Fire (2007-10), New York Red Bulls (2012)
Brought to Chicago by fellow Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, Conde anchored Fire sides that regularly made it to the Eastern Conference finals but never got over the hump. Still, he enjoyed plenty of personal success, winning the 2009 MLS Defender of the Year award and developing a reputation as a complete central defender who was as adept with the ball at his feet as he was in the challenge or on set pieces.
MID: Juninho – LA Galaxy (2010-15)
The lone Brazilian in the team, Juninho arrived in LA from hometown club Sao Paulo just as the pressure to win MLS Cup was at an all-time high. The defensive midfielder lifted three MLS Cups during his time with Galaxy (2011, 2012, 2014) and won a pair of Supporters’ Shields as well. He wasn’t all bark and bite, however, filling up highlight reels with his penchant for long-range golazos.
MID: Carlos Valderrama – Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996-97), Miami Fusion (1998-99), Tampa Bay Mutiny (1999-2001), Colorado Rapids (2001-02)
The man, the myth, the legend. Who doesn’t love Pibe? MLS defenders from 1996 to 2002, that’s who. The Colombian made curls cool, and assists look easy. The 26 he passed out in 2000, during his second stint with the Mutiny, remain an MLS single-season record, one that may never be matched. Perhaps even more incredible, he had 16 during his final professional season in 2002, a year in which he turned 40 years old.
MID: Marco Etcheverry – D.C. United (1996-2003)
Along with Jaime Moreno, El Diablo made up half of a terrifyingly good Bolivian duo that helped D.C. United become the league’s first dynasty. He did it all during his eight seasons in the nation’s capital, scoring 34 goals, adding 101 assists and lifting three MLS Cups, two Supporters’ Shields, a US Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup and Copa Interamericana.
- WATCH:Best of Marco Etcheverry
MID: Javier Morales – Real Salt Lake (2007-present)
Likely to be the most debated inclusion on this list – seriously, the attacking pool is mind-boggling – Morales gets the nod for a combination of longevity, legacy and domestic and international success. David Ferreira has an MVP award, but no MLS Cup. Christian Gomez has, well, just about everything, but Morales' decade-long MLS career (46 goals and 78 assists in 221 appearances) and overall impact on his club swayed me. Somehow, JaviMo still doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
MID: Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Columbus Crew (2007-10)
Guille’s fire burned bright for four incredible seasons in Columbus. The Boca Juniors legend won the MVP award and followed that up with an MVP performance in MLS Cup, leading Columbus past the New York Red Bulls, 3-1. He may not have the longevity of some of the players on this list, but Crew SC fans will tell you that GBS left an indelible mark on their club, symbolized by the Nordecke's habit of bowing to the Argentine in unison.
FWD: Jaime Moreno – D.C. United (1996-2002), MetroStars (2003), D.C. United (2004-2010)
Outside Landon Donovan and Jeff Cunningham, Moreno is the most productive goalscorer MLS has ever seen with 133 goals in 340 regular-season games. Alongside Etcheverry, Gomez and others, the Bolivian striker gave D.C. United a history of success that only the Galaxy can match in MLS. The 1997 MVP won four MLS Cups with the club, four Supporters’ Shields, two US Open Cups, the CONCACAF Cup and Copa Interamericana and was included in five MLS Best XIs.
FWD: Juan Pablo Angel – New York Red Bulls (2007-10), LA Galaxy (2011), Chivas USA (2011-12)
One of the first Designated Players to set the league on fire, the Colombian scored goals in bunches from the minute he stepped on the field with the Red Bulls. In four years, he never scored fewer than 12 and was a Best XI selection in 2007, when he scored 19 goals and came up one short of Luciano Emilio in the Golden Boot race. JPA did it with class, too, and would’ve added an MLS Cup to his resume if not for Schelotto and the Crew in 2008.
- WATCH:Best of Juan Pablo Angel
