Toronto FC might have completed the best season in MLS history. The Canadian franchise breezed through the regular season and managed to come out on top of the Eastern Conference after eliminating the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew SC during the playoffs. They also avenged their loss in the MLS Cup last year against the Seattle Sounders, winning 2-0 and securing the first league title for a franchise that is quickly emerging as an MLS powerhouse for years to come.
Much of the credit should go to the coaching staff and the entire team. However, there were a few players that stood out above the rest of their play during the entire campaign. So without further ado, here are the three key players for TFC during their sensational title run.
Victor Vazquez
The former FC Barcelona academy product was definitively one of the best signings in the entire league before the 2017 season. He joined from Cruz Azul and instantly became an important piece of the squad, adding depth on the attacking third while establishing as a consistent, competent left winger. He ended the campaign with eight goals and 16 assists in 31 appearances, with 28 of those being starts. As if that wasn’t enough, he also scored a goal during the 2017 MLS Cup final against the Sounders.
Vazquez’ numbers certainly back him up. The Spanish winger finished with 1,78% of the votes for the MVP Award and although that number does not look very high, it was good for an eighth-place finish. Not so bad for a 30-year-old who just completed his first year on U.S. soil, right?
Jozy Altidore
Could this be the year where Jozy Altidore finally lives up to the lofty expectations that have been around him ever since he was a teenager? It certainly seemed like it. The talented striker is only 28 years old, but he looked poised and mature beyond this year during this season. He struggled a bit with injuries but still ended playing a key role during both the regular season and the playoffs.
If we combined both stages, then Altidore ended the campaign with 17 goals and six assists in 31 appearances, with 29 of those being starts. Altidore appeared when the team needed him the most, as he scored the lone goal in the Eastern Conference Finals against Columbus, and the first goal in the MLS Cup final against Seattle. What a way to score twice during the playoffs, huh? He might not be the most technical player in the world, but there is no question TFC wouldn’t have had the kind of year they had without a consistent scorer like Jozy up front.
Sebastian Giovinco
Last but not least, we have Giovinco. “The Atomic Ant” cemented his place as one of the best players in the MLS with another dazzling year, but this time he managed to lead Toronto to the promised land. The former Juventus star was absolutely decisive for the Canadian franchise, and his peers chose him as one of the best players in the competition since he ended with a 6% of the total voting for the 2017 MLS MVP Award.
The 30-year-old Giovinco finished with 17 goals and seven assists between the regular season and the postseason, although it’s worth mentioning this was the year he played less since he only registered 25 regular-season presences and four more in the playoffs. This was also the first time in his three years in the league that he didn’t register double digits on both goals and assists. It might have been a down year for him, but still played a huge role in the franchise’s title run. That only goes to show just how important he has been for the club since his arrival.