Dwayne De Rosario has put himself squarely in the race for MLS MVP with his second hat trick for D.C. United this season and his third MLS player of the week award in the last eight weeks. At 33 years old, he leads MLS in scoring (13 goals) and is fourth in assists (11). De Rosario finished second in the MVP race in 2005. Here’s who he’s competing with to finish first in 2011:
David Beckham, Los Angeles » The Galaxy (17-3-10) are essentially one win away from clinching the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record of the year, and it’s largely because the 36-year-old is having his best MLS season with two goals and an MLS-leading 14 assists.
Brek Shea, FC Dallas » No MVP candidate — or any other player for that matter — has played more positions (defender, midfielder and forward) than the tall 21-year-old, who has 10 goals, three assists and is also having a breakout year with the U.S. national team.
Brad Davis, Houston » Like Beckham, Davis also has 14 assists, and his team is also at the top of its respective conference. Unlike Beckham, Davis never gets the attention he deserves.
Mauro Rosales, Seattle » The Sounders may have gotten the best deal in MLS history, criminally underpaying the Argentinian a head-scratching league-minimum $42,000. The 30-year-old has a head-turning five goals and 12 assists, but he’s likely out until the playoffs with a “small tear” in his right MCL suffered on a tackle by D.C. United defender Daniel Woolard two weeks ago.
– Craig Stouffer
