Superb Salloi lands MLS Team of the Week honors

For the fourth time during his storybook 2021 campaign, Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi has been named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi.

The unplayable 25-year-old strengthened his MLS MVP bid on Wednesday night at Children’s Mercy Park, bagging a sublime last-gasp equalizer to give his side a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers.

Team of the Week (3-5-2, left to right): Carlos Coronel (RBNY) – Kai Wagner (PHI), Walker Zimmerman (NSH), Braian Galvan (COL) – Daniel Salloi (SKC), Ryan Gauld (VAN), Tommy McNamara (NE), Ezequiel Barco (ATL), Anderson Julio (RSL) – Gonzalo Higuain (MIA), Raul Ruidiaz (SEA)

Coach: Robin Fraser (COL)

Bench: Sebastian Breza (MTL), Miles Robinson (ATL), John Tolkin (RBNY), Wil Trapp (MIN), Luka Stojanovic (CHI), Emmanuel Boateng (NE), Felipe Mora (POR)

Facing a 1-0 deficit in the 92nd minute, Alan Pulido found Salloi in a pocket of space on the left channel. The Sporting KC Academy product and 2021 MLS All-Star carried the ball 20 yards, squared up a pair of Portland defenders and unleashed a quick-trigger shot inside the near post to bring the Children’s Mercy Park faithful to their feet.

In doing so, Salloi became just the third player in Sporting history—joining Eddie Johnson and the legendary Preki—to record 12 goals and six assists for the club in a single regular season.

Sporting KC: 12 goals and six assists in a regular season

• Preki (1996) | 18 goals, 13 assists
• Preki (1997) | 12 goals, 17 assists
• Preki (2003) | 12 goals, 17 assists
• Eddie Johnson (2007) | 15 goals, 6 assists
• Daniel Salloi (2021) | 12 goals, 6 assists

Not surprisingly, Salloi’s dozen goals and half-dozen assists stack up rather favorably when compared to the rest of Major League Soccer in 2021. His 18 combined goals and assists are the most in the league, outpacing the likes of Carles Gil and Raul Ruidiaz—two players who have led the MLS MVP conversation over the course of the year.

Most goals and assists in 2021 MLS regular season

• 18 | Daniel Salloi, SKC (12 goals, 6 assists)
• 17 | Carles Gil, NE (2 goals, 15 assists)
• 15 | Raul Ruidiaz, SEA (14 goals, 1 assist)
• 15 | Gustavo Bou, NE (12 goals, 3 assists)
• 15 | Nani, ORL (9 goals, 6 assists)
• 15 | Hany Mukhtar, NSH (8 goals, 7 assists)

Salloi has now scored or assisted in six consecutive MLS appearances dating back to July 21, two shy of tying the club record set by Diego Rubio in 2018.

Salloi and Sporting now face a quick recovery ahead of a pivotal Rivalry Week showdown at Minnesota United FC (7-6-6, 27 points) on Saturday afternoon. The club’s seventh match in 22 days will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT with national coverage on ESPN, the ESPN app and ESPN Deportes as well as local radio calls on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.