Zlatan Ibrahimovic knows how to start a conversation.
After proclaiming he's the best ever player in MLS on Sunday following a hat-trick against Sporting Kansas City -- this comes after preseason claims of "breaking all the records," amongst other bodacious decrees -- takes have been tweeted, opinions discussed, agreed with and dismissed.
The beauty of the professional wrestling-style assertion is that it is very much open for interpretation. What, really, does "best-ever" mean? Most talented? Best season in MLS? Best career before MLS? Best total career? Team success? Taekwondo goals?
It's a nebulous discussion, which is in the eye of the beholder. It makes it difficult to quantify, but stats do play a role. Here's one slice of the debate, viewed through the prism of most goals plus assists per 90 minutes in MLS history (minimum 4,000 minutes played).
Player |
Goals |
Assists |
G+A |
Minutes |
G+A/90 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carlos Vela |
42 |
28 |
70 |
4,744 |
1.33 |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
48 |
14 |
62 |
4,393 |
1.27 |
Sebastian Giovinco |
68 |
52 |
120 |
9,634 |
1.12 |
Josef Martinez |
74 |
9 |
73 |
6,748 |
1.11 |
Robbie Keane |
83 |
45 |
128 |
10,808 |
1.07 |
Stern John |
44 |
7 |
51 |
4,463 |
1.03 |
Obafemi Martins |
40 |
23 |
63 |
5,871 |
0.97 |
David Villa |
77 |
26 |
103 |
9,693 |
0.96 |
Mamadou Diallo |
47 |
14 |
61 |
5,846 |
0.94 |
Diego Serna |
57 |
42 |
99 |
9,681 |
0.92 |
Throughout his MLS career, Ibrahimovic has been the second most prolific player in MLS history by way of goal contributions per 90 minutes. Trailing only... on-field rival Carlos Vela. MLS single-season goal king Josef Martinez isn't far off the two Los Angeles-based superstars.
Sure, the debate isn't settled and never will be. But one thing is for sure: We're watching three of the very best attackers in league history week in, week out in 2019. And there's much more to come.
