There might be a month of Major League Soccer matches to go, but just go ahead and give Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco the MVP award.
Teams are still fighting for the Supporters’ Shield and playoff spots, but Giovinco already locked up MLS’ most coveted individual award. From the dazzling free kicks he seems to bury with ease to the elaborate, mazey runs through defenders, he has been the best player in the league by a wide margin.
“The Atomic Ant,” the nickname Giovinco has earned due to his small stature and lightning-fast pace, has scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists during Toronto’s campaign. Those numbers are impressive no matter how you look at them.
When you consider Giovinco produced at that level in 28 games, they’re even more impressive. Giovinco is averaging more than a goal or an assist every game, a staggering statistic. This is the type of thing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi do.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber has 10 goals and 14 assists this season. He’s been creative and boasts a respectable goalscoring total for a midfielder. Feilhaber seems to be behind almost everything good Sporting KC does, but his statistics pale when compared to Giovinco.
Columbus Crew SC forward Kei Kamara is the only man who has scored more goals (21) than Giovinco this season, but he’s been less creative with eight assists. Kamara is lethal when he gets near the goal, but he fails to bring the same excitement Giovinco does.
It feels like every time Toronto plays a game, I’ll scroll through my Twitter feed and see multiple Giovinco highlights. Whether he’s splitting two defenders, pulling off nutmegs or scoring a curling free kick, Giovinco always puts on a show.
Giovinco’s play is not only beautiful, it’s been vital for a team seeking its first ever playoff berth.
Toronto’s porous defense conceded the second highest number of goals in MLS (50), but Giovinco’s contributions are a major reason Toronto sits in 5th place in the Eastern Conference despite a questionable back line.
The top six teams in each conference make the playoffs, so if Giovinco continues to produce, Toronto could make history by making the MLS Cup Playoffs.
In another season, Feilhaber and Kamara would have a real shot at the MVP award, but it’s just impossible to overlook what Giovinco has done this season. Giovinco has overshadowed them, despite their impressive statistics.
At 5’4,” Giovinco is almost always the smallest player on the pitch, but he is normally the guy who makes the biggest effect. That’s why he should be the 2015 MLS MVP.
Jack Woods is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Jack_TDR.