Orlando City fans nearly propel Nani to tourney MVP
Orlando City captain Nani didn’t reel in an MLS is Back Player of the Tournament award following the Lions’ surprising run to the final, but fans overwhelming endorsed him.
Portland’s Sebastián Blanco won the media vote, finishing with 49.1% of votes among four players nominated for tournament MVP. The forward helped lead the Timbers to the tournament trophy, recording three goals and five assists en route to winning Player of the Tournament honors.
But Orlando City fans — and fans throughout the league — nearly tipped the scales for Nani. The Lions captain earned 33.9% of the media vote and 49.1% of the fan vote, narrowing the margin so that Blanco only won by three percentage points.
Nani’s presence throughout the tournament was consistently dazzling. He finished the with three goals and four assists, providing a creative spark when the Lions needed it.
His two-goal performance in the tournament semifinal against Minnesota United was particularly show-stopping as he netted back-to-back vintage goals to build an early lead.
Perhaps most important, Nani showed a renewed fire and competitive edge on the pitch for the Lions. His leadership on and off the field was lauded throughout the tournament, and this enthusiasm from the veteran captain could be a driving force for Orlando City as the team returns to regular-season play.
“At this moment, I’m so happy to be on this team with this coach, with this staff because we showed that we took these two months to improve,” Nani said after the final match.
“I hope our fans, all of the people who trust us from the first day, they are proud of us.”