Nelson Haedo Valdez turned 33 just prior to winning MLS Cup with the Seattle Sounders FC. In 2016 he was an all-effort forward who had difficulty scoring. Valdez left the Sounders to join Cerro Porteño, enabling Seattle to possibly sign a new DP. For all of Nelson’s struggles as a Sounder, without him the 2016 playoffs do not end with a Cup.
The ranking is based on several hundred Sounder at Heart readers’ votes. Realio rated every single MLS regular season and playoff game as well as the two CONCACAF Champions League matches.