Nani turned in a true Designated Player performance in Saturday’s 3–3 draw against the New England Revolution. It was production the Lions haven’t seen enough of since joining MLS in 2015. The Portuguese international was involved in every goal, scoring twice and assisting another as the Lions tried to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
It’s a part of the Orlando City roster structure that has come under severe scrutiny — and for good reason. In a salary-capped league, finding value is important up and down the roster. But with Designated Players not counting towards the cap, they represent the biggest potential advantage when used properly.