Real Salt Lake has had its share of highly-successful South American players donning the Claret-and-Cobalt through the years. So when MLSsoccer.com listed its all-time Best XI from South America, it should come as no surprise that two of the players listed – and the only two current players – were from RSL.
Fabian Espindola ranks 29th on the league’s all-time scoring list with 63 goals and 35 assists in 10 MLS seasons – including 36 goals and 15 assists in six seasons with RSL. However, it wasn’t enough to get the Argentine forward onto the Best XI.
Juan Manuel Martinez has been a wizard with the ball in his 10 months since joining RSL last August, but with just 20 games to his credit, he hasn’t been in the league long enough to merit consideration – even with his five goals and three assists for the Argentine forward.
Joao Plata has been among the best young players in MLS in recent years and has 29 goals and 29 assists in 121 matches over six seasons. But even the 24-year-old Ecuadorian forward couldn’t gain entry into the Best XI.
The two that did make Best XI honors are defender Jamison Olave and midfielder Javier Morales.
Olave is in his ninth MLS season and seventh with Real Salt Lake. The 2010 MLS Defender of the Year and two-time MLS Best XI Colombian has been a central figure in RSL’s 2009 MLS Cup title and run to the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League final – a feat that has gone unmatched by any U.S.-based club since.
Morales is in his tenth season with RSL and is among the top playmakers in a league filled with great No. 10s – including many from South America. With 78 career assists to his credit, he ranks 12th on the all-time MLS list and has 46 goals, as well.
To read about the South American Best XI, click here.
