D.C United midfielder Christian Gomez claimed Major League Soccer's top individual award today as he was named the 2006 MLS Honda Most Valuable Player. Gomez helped lead United to the League's best regular season record and the MLS Cup Eastern Championship match.
In his second full season with D.C. United, Gomez led the team in goals (14) and assists (11) - both MLS career highs. He appeared in 30 games (28 starts) for the Black-and-Red and represented D.C. as a starter in the 2006 MLS All-Star game. In games in which Gomez scored, D.C. United was 6-3-3, and they were 7-1-3 in games which he notched an assist. Gomez also led the team in game-winning assists (four) and his three game-winning goals were second behind teammate Jaime Moreno.
Gomez was named Player of the Week twice during the season - first for his two-goal performance in Week 23 against Chivas USA and again in Week 26, as he hit for a goal and two assists against the New York Red Bulls. He earned Goal of the Week honors for his is left-footed effort against Los Angeles on June 11. The Argentine also had a standout two-goal performance in the club's loss to Chicago in the first round of playoffs, and scored his team's last five goals during the regular season and playoffs.
Houston Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario and Real Salt Lake's Jeff Cunningham were runners-up for the award.
The following are select highlights of the Gomez's career:
- Ranked first on D.C. United in 2006 in goals scored (14) and assists (11).
- His 14 goals and 11 assists each were the second highest totals in the league during the 2006 season.
- Was a member of the 2005 and 2006 MLS All-Star teams and was named to the RadioShack Best XI in 2005.
- Was named MLS Player of the Week twice during the 2006 season and has won the award three times in his three-year MLS career.
- In only three years in the league he has scored 29 goals and tallied 20 assists.
MLS HONDA MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS:
2006: Christian Gomez - D.C. United
2005: Taylor Twellman - New England Revolution
2004: Amado Guevara - MetroStars
2003: Preki - Kansas City Wizards
2002: Carlos Ruiz - Los Angeles Galaxy
2001: Alex Pineda Chacon - Miami Fusion
2000: Tony Meola - Kansas City Wizards
1999: Jason Kreis - Dallas Burn
1998: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United
1997: Preki - Kansas City Wizards
1996: Carlos Valderrama - Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Honda MLS MVP was determined by equal voting from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
