2020 MLS advanced stats leaders

Lewis Morgan celebrates - Inter Miami - September 9, 2020

These are the statistics that don't jump off the page after a quick scan of the boxscore.


Beyond goals and assists, find out which players are racking up big numbers when it comes to chance creation or distance covered. Some of the names might surprise you. And for the full list of stats leaders in select categories visit the MLSsoccer.com stats section.


Note: Stats as of Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Data below courtesy of Opta unless otherwise indicated.



Big Chances created


Creating a situation in which a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a 1-on-1 scenario or from very close range.

#
Player
Big Chances created
T-1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/nicolas-lodeiro">Nicolas Lodeiro</a> (SEA)
14
T-1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/lewis-morgan">Lewis Morgan</a> (MIA)
14
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/alejandro-pozuelo">Alejandro Pozuelo</a> (TOR)
13



Chances created


The final pass or pass before a shot leading to the recipient of the ball having an attempt at goal without scoring.

#
Player
Chances created
1
Alejandro Pozuelo (TOR)
70
2
Lewis Morgan (MIA)
65
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/darwin-quintero">Darwin Quintero</a>&nbsp;(HOU)
63



Expected Assists


Expected assists (xA) measures the likelihood that a given pass will become a goal assist. It considers several factors including the type of pass, pass end-point and length of pass. Adding up a player or team's expected assists gives us an indication of how many assists a player of team should have had based on their build up and attacking play.

#
Player
Expected Assists
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/diego-valeri">Diego Valeri</a> (POR)
8.25
2
Lewis Morgan (MIA)
7.93
3
Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)
7.51



Passing Accuracy


Completed passes as a percentage of total passes attempted.

#PlayerPassing %
1Darlington Nagbe (CLB)95.02%
2Anibal Godoy (NSH)91.91%
3Xavier Arreaga (SEA)90.80%
Minimum 900 minutes




Dribbles completed


This is an attempt by a player to beat an opponent in possession of the ball. A successful dribble means the player beats the defender while retaining possession.

#
Player
Dribbles Completed
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/cristian-pavon">Cristian Pavon</a>&nbsp;(LA)
73
2
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/younes-namli">Younes Namli</a>&nbsp;(COL)
66
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/brian-rodriguez">Brian Rodriguez</a> (LAFC)
59



Touches


A sum of all events which involve a player touching the ball.

#PlayerTouches per 90 min.
1Eduard Atuesta (LAFC)104.52
2Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)96.01
3Michael Bradley (TOR)93.06
Minimum 900 minutes




Duels Won


A duel is an 50-50 contest between two players of opposing sides in the match. For every Duel Won there is a corresponding Duel Lost depending on the outcome of the contest.

#
Player
Duels Won
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/thiago-santos">Thiago Santos</a> (DAL)
190
2
​<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/kyle-duncan">Kyle Duncan</a>&nbsp;(RBNY)
171
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/latif-blessing">Latif Blessing</a> (LAFC)
153



Tackles


A tackle is defined as a play in which a player connects with the ball in a ground challenge, successfully taking the ball away from the man in possession.

#
Player
Tackles
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/judson">Judson</a>&nbsp;(SJ)
82
2
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/artur">Artur</a> (CLB)
74
3
2 players tied
61



Blocks


An action which involves a player blocking a shot by an opponent.

#
Player
Blocks
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jonathan-mensah">Jonathan Mensah</a> (CLB)
30
2
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/lalas-abubakar">Lalas Abubakar</a> (COL)
24
3
2 players tied
22



Interceptions


An action in which a player intentionally intercepts a pass by moving into the line of the intended ball.

#
Player
Interceptions
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/francisco-calvo">Francisco Calvo</a> (CHI)
77
2
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/harrison-afful">Harrison Afful</a>&nbsp;(CLB)
57
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/yeimar-gomez-andrade">Yeimar Gomez Andrade</a> (SEA)
52



Clearances


A defensive action which sees a player kick the ball away from his own goal with no intended recipient of the ball.

#
Player
Clearances
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jonathan-mensah">Jonathan Mensah</a> (CLB)
114
2
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/walker-zimmerman">Walker Zimmerman</a>&nbsp;(NSH)
112
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/dave-romney">Dave Romney</a> (NSH)
104



Recoveries (by an outfield player)


An action in which a player wins back the ball when it has gone loose or when the ball has been played directly to him.

#
Player
Recoveries
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/diego-chara">Diego Chara</a>&nbsp;(POR)
174
2
Latif Blessing (LAFC)
169
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/victor-wanyama">Victor Wanyama</a>&nbsp;(MTL)
168



Distance run per 90 minutes


Courtesy of Second Spectrum. Minimum 800 minutes.

#
Player
Distance per 90
1
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/alex-muyl">Alex Muyl</a> (NSH)
7.51 miles
2
Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)
7.38 miles
3
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/pablo-piatti">Pablo Piatti</a>&nbsp;(TOR)
7.28 miles