David Villa, the Spanish striker who scored 23 goals this season to lead New York City F.C. to its first playoff berth, was named Major League Soccer’s most valuable player on Tuesday.
Villa edged two other New York metropolitan area players, forward Bradley Wright-Phillips and midfielder Sacha Kljestan of the Red Bulls, in voting by players, club officials and members of the news media. Villa took special pride in the overwhelming support of his fellow players, saying, “This trophy, it means a lot to me because the community of players chose me.”
Last year’s winner, Toronto F.