Heady stats net MLS MVP for TFC'S Pozuelo

The Maestro took centre stage on Monday.

Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo has been named the 2020 Landon Donovan MLS most valuable player.

“I am honoured to be named MLS MVP,” said Pozuelo. “I want to thank my teammates and our coaching staff as this individual award shows we had a very good season. I am happy to be able to celebrate this award with my wife, my kids and all my friends here in Spain.”

Pozuelo, 29, becomes the second player in TFC history to be named the league's MVP, following Sebastian Giovinco who won the award in 2015. This season, Pozuelo scored nine goals and added 10 assists, leading the league in combined goals and assists. He also led MLS in chances created (70) and game-winning goals (five) while becoming the first player in TFC history to start in every regular season match in a season. Toronto FC posted a record of 9-1-4 when Pozuelo scored and/or had an assist this season.

“Congratulations to Alejandro on being awarded the highest of honours in MLS,” said TFC president Bill Manning. “Since joining our club in 2019, Alejandro's contributions on the field and in the locker-room have been incredible.

This year he emerged as one of our leaders and was the chief catalyst as our team finished with the second-highest points per game in the league. This is a well-deserved MVP award for Alejandro.”

Pozuelo was named the MLS player of the month for September, as he scored four goals and added two assists across six matches. In addition, Pozuelo was named to the MLS team of the week five times. Last month, Pozuelo was named to his second consecutive MLS Best XI (2019, 2020), becoming the third player in club history to be named to the Best XI on multiple occasions.

Signed as a Designated Player on March 4, 2019, Pozuelo has made 61 appearances for Toronto FC, scoring 23 goals and 25 assists, in all competitions. In addition, Pozuelo converted 11 of 12 penalty kicks over the course of the past two seasons.