An interesting piece of MLS history could be reached this weekend.
If the LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Houston Dynamo’s Alberth Elis each record an assist in their respective games, a record-tying eight MLS players will have reached double-digits in both goals and assists, marking only the second time that’s ever happened — and the first in 20 years.
Six players are currently in the “Double-Double Club.” LAFC’s Carlos Vela got there in last weekend’s 2-0 win over San Jose with two assists, bumping his total to 11 goals and 10 assists on the season.
Vela joined Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron (12g, 14a), Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco (11g, 14a), the Montreal Impact’s Ignacio Piatti (13g, 13a), Minnesota United FC’s Darwin Quintero (10g, 12a) and the Portland Timbers’ Diego Valeri (10g, 10a) in the exclusive club.
Valeri reached double figures in goals and assists for a fourth time in his MLS career this year, matching Jaime Moreno and Preki as the only players to accomplish such a feat.
Moreno and Preki were among the record eight players to hit double figures in goals and assists in 1998 — the mark that will be matched whenever Ibrahimovic (18 goals, nine assists) and Elis (11 goals, nine assists) both notch their next helper.
Other players, such as D.C. United’s Luciano Acosta and NYCFC’s Maxi Moralez, both of whom have eight goals and 13 assists, are hovering around the mark as well, meaning the record could be broken as the season winds down.
10 goals, 10 assists, by year (single-season)
1998 |
8 |
Ronald Cerritos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Marco Etcheverry, Eduardo Hurtado, Cobi Jones, Welton, Jaime Moreno, Preki |
2014 |
7 |
Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, Obafemi Martins, Javier Morales, Diego Valeri |
2018 |
6 |
Miguel Almiron, Sebastian Giovinco, Ignacio PIatti, Darwin Quintero, Diego Valeri, Carlos Vela |
2015 |
4 |
Clint Dempsey, Benny Feilhaber, Ethan Finlay, Sebastian Giovinco |
2017 |
4 |
Diego Valeri, Hector Villalba, Romain Alessandrini, Lee Nguyen |
