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Former Barcelona and Atlético Madrid Striker, David Villa wins Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award after scoring 23 goals for New York City in his second season with the team.
Villa, received the award, named after Landon Donovan, from MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Tuesday. Villa got an average of 25.9 per cent of the vote in balloting by players, club officials and media.
The New York Red Bulls’ Bradley Wright-Phillips was second at 19.3 per cent, followed by Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan (17.6), Toronto forward Sebastian Giovinco (16.3) and Montreal midfielder Ignacio Piatti (7.7).
David Villa a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, finished second in MLS in scoring this year, one behind the Wright-Phillips.
Villa, who turned 35 on Saturday, is Spain’s career scoring leader with 59 goals. He scored 22 regular-season MLS goals from inside the penalty area this year, including five on penalty kicks. He led the league with 68 shots on target.
Villa was named NYCFC’s first ever team captain on 1 February 2015, as well as a Designated Player. Nine days later, in a friendly against Scottish club St Mirren, he scored the team’s first-ever goal.
On 8 March, he started in the team’s first MLS game, away to fellow newcomers Orlando City. In a 1–1 draw, he set up Mix Diskerud for the first goal and was fouled by Aurélien Collin, who was sent off for the challenge.
A week later, in their first home match at Yankee Stadium, Villa opened the scoring in a 2–0 win over the New England Revolution for the team’s first competitive victory.
On 12 July, Villa netted twice in a 4–4 home draw against Toronto FC, despite missing a penalty in the first half.
He was selected to take part in the 2015 MLS All-Star Game on 29 July, at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado he scored the match-winning goal from a Kaká assist as the MLS All-Stars defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–1