D.C. United forward Luciano Emilio received Major League Soccer's top individual award today as he was named the 2007 MLS Honda Most Valuable Player. The award was unveiled at The ESPN Zone in Washington, D.C., the host city of MLS Cup 2007.
Emilio follows teammate Christian Gomez as the second consecutive D.C. United player to win Honda MVP and the third United player ever to be honored with the award. Marco Etcheverry was named the League's MVP in 1998.
The Honda MVP was determined by equal voting from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
Emilio, 28, a native of Andradina, Saõ Paulo, Brazil, scored 20 goals during the 2007 campaign. He led all goal scorers and was also the recipient of the Budweiser Golden Boot award. In his first season in Major League Soccer, he helped lead United to a 16-7-7 record and their second consecutive Supporters' Shield title for finishing the regular season with the most points in MLS.
He became the first MLS player to reach the 20-goal mark in one season since 2002, when current FC Dallas forward Carlos Ruiz scored 24 goals for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Taylor Twellman scored 23 for the New England Revolution.
Among Emilio's 20 goals were four game-winners, which tied for third most in the League. He tied New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel for the most multi-goal games this season with five. During the course of the 2007 regular season Emilio claimed MLS Player of the Week honors in Week 11 and Week 18, and was named the MLS Player of the Month for September.
Emilio joined D.C. United in January 2007 from CD Olimpia of Honduras and immediately had an impact with his new team as he scored four goals in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and led D.C. United to the tournament semifinals. Emilio has played professionally in Brazil, Germany, Honduras, Mexico and the United States.
New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel and Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco were finalists for the award.
MLS Honda Most Valuable Players
2007: Luciano Emilio - D.C. United
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
