If you assembled the 2019 Major League Soccer All-Star team right now, most of the players in that squad would be in the top half of the Pro Soccer USA MLS Player Rankings.
Normally the best team in the league has the most representatives on an All-Star team, and that is the same case with this week’s list. Five of the 20 players after Week 8 come from Los Angeles Football Club.
The top 10 is a who’s who of the league’s best, and 10 of the league’s top scorers are included in the 20-player rankings.
The player rankings take into account form over the last four games, with the most-recent performance carrying extra weight.
20. Johnny Russell, M, Sporting Kansas City
Previous Ranking: 14
Sporting Kansas City surprised us all with its dreadful performance on Saturday in San Jose.
But there were a few bright spots, including Johnny Russell, who produced three key passes and two shots on target in the 4-1 defeat at Avaya Stadium.
Peter Vermes’ side hasn’t won in three league games and needs to get back on track against New England in Week 9.
19. Krisztian Nemeth, F, Sporting Kansas City
Previous Ranking: 13
Krisztian Nemeth was a bit more active than Russell on Saturday by producing five shots and winning a pair of aerial duels.
But the main statistic that will keep the Sporting KC scorers on this list after next week is goals.
Since his hat trick against Montreal, Nemeth hasn’t found the back of the net in 200 minutes.
18. Zack Steffen, GK, Columbus Crew SC
Previous Ranking: 10
The Columbus Crew gave up more than one goal with Zack Steffen in net for the first time in 2019 on Saturday night.
Steffen and the Crew dropped a 3-1 result to head coach Caleb Porter’s former team, the Portland Timbers.
Steffen only came up with two saves in the defeat at MAPFRE Stadium.
17. Latif Blessing, M, Los Angeles Football Club
Previous Ranking: 20
Latif Blessing continued to provide a steady hand to the LAFC midfield on Sunday while other players stepped into the spotlight.
Blessing recorded the most touches of any LAFC player against Seattle with 99 and he came up with four tackles.
Although he might not be involved in the attack every week, Blessing has carved out a valuable position for himself in Bob Bradley’s starting XI.
16. Danny Hoesen, F, San Jose Earthquakes
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Danny Hoesen was one of a few multiple-goal scorers in MLS in Week 8.
What separates Hoesen from Jordan Hamilton and Albert Rusnak is that he’s found the back of the net on three occasions in the last three games for the Earthquakes.
REMEMBER THE NAME!
DANNY HOESEN WITH A BRACE! pic.twitter.com/otkncpUaSV
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) April 21, 2019
Hoesen scored his two goals on Saturday with both of his shots on target, and he recorded those numbers while only making 26 touches.
15. Darwin Quintero, F, Minnesota United
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Before Minnesota United’s defense fell apart at BMO Field, Darwin Quintero got back on the scoresheet with a pair of tallies.
The 31-year-old, who scored in three of his first four games, found the back of the net twice for the Loons to open up a one-goal advantage over Toronto FC that was later erased.
https://twitter.com/Jasoninho10/status/1119414569619865600
The Colombian playmaker is now up to five goals and three assists in six games played.
14. Jack Elliott, D, Philadelphia Union
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
The Philadelphia Union have quietly put together an impressive run of form, and they have their defense to thank for that.
Center back Jack Elliott, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, has been model of consistency at the back for the club.
In the 3-0 win over Montreal, Elliott and the Union defense held the Impact to a single shot on target. In the last five games, Elliott has helped the Union earn three clean sheets.
13. Jesse Gonzalez, GK, FC Dallas
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Jesse Gonzalez turned in a tremendous performance between the pipes for FC Dallas in its road win over Atlanta United.
The U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper made seven saves in the 2-1 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a performance that followed up a five-save showing against Portland.
If Gonzalez’s play continues to trend upward, he could be in the mix for one of the goalkeeping spots on Gregg Berhalter’s Concacaf Gold Cup roster.
12. C.J. Sapong, F, Chicago Fire
Previous Ranking: 18
C.J. Sapong has already matched his goal total from a year ago.
The 30-year-old forward scored for the fourth time in a Chicago Fire shirt in their Week 8 victory over Colorado.
You love to see it. @BigAfrika88 delivers the lead!#CHIvCOL #cf97 https://t.co/MDhunXuOwD
— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) April 20, 2019
Sapong, who has scored twice in the last three games, currently sits at four goals for the season, a number he earned for the entire 2018 campaign in Philadelphia.
11. Ezequiel Barco, M, Atlanta United
Previous Ranking: 15
Ezequiel Barco did everything he could to push Atlanta United past FC Dallas on Saturday.
Barco followed up his two-goal performance against New England with seven key passes, five shots and two shots on target.
Although the Five Stripes still haven’t found consistent results, Barco appears to be rounding into form in Frank de Boer’s system.
10. Mark-Anthony Kaye, M, Los Angeles FC
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Mark-Anthony Kaye produced one of the best individual performances of Week 8 by handing out three assists in LAFC’s win over Seattle.
Kaye picked out Carlos Vela with a perfect pass to get the scoring started in the 12th minute, and then he assisted on goals by Eduard Atuesta and Christian Ramirez.
Kaye hasn’t missed a beat in the LAFC midfield since recovering from a season-ending injury in 2018. He has two goals and five assists in eight games.
9. Diego Rossi, F, Los Angeles FC
Previous Ranking: 6
Diego Rossi had a rare quiet week up top for LAFC.
The Uruguayan forward struck out in front of net on Wednesday in Vancouver and Sunday at home against Seattle.
Rossi came close to catching Vela a few weeks ago on this list and in the Golden Boot race, but now he’s slipped four goals back of his teammate and fallen another few spots in this ranking.
8. Jozy Altidore, F, Toronto FC
Previous Ranking: 5
Unfortunately, we likely won’t see Jozy Altidore on this list after Week 9.
Altidore left Toronto FC’s win over Minnesota United with hamstring tightness and it looks like he’ll be out for a few weeks.
The injury interrupts an impressive spell of form in which Altidore recorded five goals and two assists in his last five games.
7. Eduard Atuesta, M, Los Angeles FC
Previous Ranking: 8
Eduard Atuesta once again played a significant role in a LAFC win on Sunday, but this time around he directly contributed to the final score.
Atuesta scored his first goal of the season and handed out his fourth assist on Vela’s second tally against the Sounders.
2-0! LAFC take advantage of a bad Sounders giveaway and worse defense as Atuesta doubles the lead. #LAFCvSEA pic.twitter.com/hJBBHRPsJ8
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2019
In total, Atuesta dished out three key passes and completed 93.3 percent of his 75 attempted passes.
6. Kei Kamara, F, Colorado Rapids
Previous Ranking: 11
Kei Kamara’s form is the only thing going right for the Colorado Rapids.
The 34-year-old forward scored in the fourth straight game for the Rapids by netting the club’s lone strike against the Fire.
4️⃣ games
4️⃣ goals for @keikamara#Rapids96 | #Elevate pic.twitter.com/IFI1IqRL9j— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) April 22, 2019
In the last four games, Kamara has accounted for four of the Rapids’ seven goals.
5. Nani, M, Orlando City
Previous Ranking: 7
Nani extended his scoring streak to three games in an unconventional manner on Saturday.
The Portuguese winger jumped in front of a Sacha Kljestan shot and deflected it into the back of the net to hand Orlando City a 1-0 victory over the Whitecaps.
Gotta love a good home call for a late winner! #FaceOfCity pic.twitter.com/TbXLkThZR2
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 21, 2019
Thanks to the contributions of Nani, who has four goals in his last three games, the Lions are up to fifth in the Eastern Conference.
4. Alberth Elis, F, Houston Dynamo
Previous Ranking: 4
Alberth Elis struck the back of the net for the fourth straight game in Week 8.
The Honduran forward recorded the lone Houston Dynamo goal at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday night in the club’s loss to the LA Galaxy.
.@alberthelis17 wins it, @alberthelis17 converts it!#LAvHOU https://t.co/nUP0Dg2tDO
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) April 20, 2019
Elis has an opportunity to score at home for the third straight game in Week 9 against Columbus.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, F, LA Galaxy
Previous Ranking: 2
Another week, another Zlatan goal.
Ibrahimovic extended his scoring run to four games by bagging one of the Galaxy’s two goals on Friday night.
2️⃣9️⃣ STARTS. 2️⃣9️⃣ GOALS.
Another game, another goal for @Ibra_official 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3OHr1tiVWW
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 20, 2019
During that span, Ibrahimovic has converted on six of his seven shots on target.
2. Alejandro Pozuelo, M, Toronto FC
Previous Ranking: 3
Alejandro Pozuelo put together another near perfect performance on Friday night at BMO Field.
In addition to scoring twice in the first half, Pozuelo handed out an assist on one of his five key passes.
Beaut of a solo effort from @Pozuelo_10#TFCLive | #TORvMIN pic.twitter.com/X8Ke0Bkktg
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) April 20, 2019
In five games for Toronto FC, Pozuelo has four goals and five assists in 349 minutes.
1. Carlos Vela, F, Los Angeles FC
Previous Ranking: 1
Vela has been able to fend off all challengers for the top spot on this list by continuously scoring.
After his brace against Seattle, Vela has 10 goals through nine games and legitimately has Josef Martinez’s single-season scoring record in his sights.
9 games ✅
10 goals ✅
5 assists ✅Carlos Vela is having himself a season for #LAFC 🔥
Watch every goal & assist ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/mcTe09PIkg
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 23, 2019
Vela is already one-third of the way to the 31-goal mark set by Martinez a year ago, and he’s done so in dominant fashion for the best team in the league.