LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Monday, Dec. 5, 2016) – LA Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme and forward Giovani dos Santos are two of 11 players named by Major League Soccer today to the 2016 MLS Best XI, recognizing the league’s top players at each position on the field as determined by media, MLS players and MLS club staff. The LA Galaxy continue to lead Major League Soccer with 35 players all-time named to the MLS Best XI, including players earning Best XI honors in 16 of MLS’ 21 seasons.
Van Damme, 33, joined LA this offseason from Belgian side Standard Liege and went on to make 29 appearances for LA during the regular season in addition to three more during the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, which all came as all starts. Van Damme also led a Galaxy defense that allowed just 39 goals on the season, tied for the third-fewest in Major League Soccer, which gave LA the league’s second-best goal differential (+15).
Dos Santos, 27, in his second season with the Galaxy, tallied 14 goals and 12 assists in 28 MLS Regular Season appearances, with 27 starts, two game-winning goals and two game-winning assists. The Mexico international led a Galaxy offense that scored 54 goals, the most in the MLS Western Conference and the third-most in MLS overall. Dos Santos’ 14 goals and 12 assists made him just one of two players in MLS to tally double-digit goals and assists in 2016, joining last year’s MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto FC.
2016 MLS Best XI
Goalkeeper: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
Defenders: Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids), Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)
Midfielders: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact)
Forwards: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), David Villa (New York City FC), Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)
