Goal + Assist Leaders, MLS 2020

Below are the Goal + Assist leaders per 90 minutes (no penalties, minimum of 900 minutes played) for the 2020 MLS Regular Season. Included are age and last known wages (the MLSPA did not release 2020 salaries).

After putting these together for the past decade I've started to be able to tease out a player or two worth noting. This year it's Cole Bassett, who has been identified by foreign clubs including Arsenal, who had him over for some U-23 training recently. Colorado and Arsenal share ownership, so it isn't all that unexpected that he's getting a chance to show his talents. 

MLS is reporting that several German clubs are looking at him, but who isn't getting a look from German clubs right now. The last two USMNT coaches have obvious ties to that region, Jürgen Klinsmann and now Gregg Berhalter.

G+A-PK	Name	Team	Age	Yearly Wage
1.01	Bradley Wright-Phillips	LAF	35	$ 1,380,000
0.98	Christopher Mueller	ORL	24	$ 109,375
0.94	Alan Pulido	SKC	29	$ 2,000,000
0.92	Cole Bassett	COL	19	$ 84,000
0.89	Jordan Morris	SEA	26	$ 619,600
0.89	Raúl Ruidíaz	SEA	30	$ 2,000,000
0.85	Diego Rossi	LAF	22	$ 1,052,000
0.85	Jeremy Ebobisse	PDX	23	$ 238,000
0.84	Gyasi Zardes	CLB	29	$ 1,471,667
0.79	Romell Quioto	MTL	29	$ 556,501
0.76	Ayo Akinola	TFC	20	$ 124,256
0.75	Darwin Quintero	HOU	33	$ 1,750,000
0.75	Sergio Santos Gomes	PHI	26	$ 668,500
0.74	Daryl Dike	ORL	20	$ 180,000
0.71	Kevin Molino	MIN	30	$ 546,254
0.69	Lucas Zelarayán	CLB	28	?
0.69	Djordje Mihailovic	CHI	21	$ 114,600
0.67	Felipe Mora	PDX	27	$ 310,000
0.59	Kacper Przybyłko	PHI	27	$ 277,000
0.59	Pedro Santos	CLB	32	$ 864,560
0.59	Yimmi Chará	PDX	29	$ 550,000
0.58	Alejandro Pozuelo	TFC	29	$ 3,800,000
0.58	Mark-Anthony Kaye	LAF	25	$ 177,811
0.58	Hany Mukhtar	NAS	25	$ 56,500
0.57	Mauricio Pereyra	ORL	30	$ 1,078,000
0.57	Nani	ORL	33	$ 2,486,250
0.57	Robin Lod	MIN	27	$ 952,496
0.57	Saphir Taïder	MTL	28	$ 1,400,000
0.57	Ethan Finlay	MIN	30	$ 400,008
0.56	Robert Berić	CHI	29	$ 2,000,001
0.56	Teal Bunbury	NER	30	$ 270,750
0.55	Diego Valeri	PDX	34	$ 2,420,000
0.52	Diego Rubio	COL	27	$ 353,750
0.52	Gadi Kinda	SKC	26	$ 72,550
0.50	Cristian Espinoza	SJE	25	$ 550,000
0.50	Brian Rodríguez	LAF	20	$ 1,039,800

Zlatan's MLS: All-Time NPG+A Leaders

A couple months ago I wrapped up my Helltown MLS player ratings and noticed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a very high number of 1.18 Non-Penalty Goals + Assists per 90 (NPG+A p90) minutes played. So high, that I couldn't recall another MLS player reaching that level. So, I looked it up.

Here here's the list. You have to have played more than 1000 minutes.

G+Ap90	Year	Player	Team
1.39	2012	Alan Gordon	SJ
1.37	2001	Diego Serna	MIA
1.23	2001	Alex Pineda Chacon	MIA
1.18	2018	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LA
1.15	2012	Thierry Henry	NY
1.15	2018	Adama Diomande	LAFC
1.14	2015	Sebastian Giovinco	TOR
1.13	2014	Robbie Keane	LA
1.13	2009	Jeff Cunningham	DAL
1.12	2001	Jeff Cunningham	CLB
1.09	2000	Mamadou Diallo	TB
1.06	2017	Josef Martinez	ATL
1.05	2008	Landon Donovan	LA
1.05	2015	Robbie Keane	LA
1.05	2015	Obafemi Martins	SEA

It was surprising to me that Alan Gordon topped the list, especially since I was neck deep in MLS at that time. Tis true, however. Remembering back, it was the "Goonies" San Jose Earthquake team that Chris Wondolowski (who won Helltown Beer Player of the Year in 2012) lead to a Supporters' Shield. The ended up losing to a motivated David Beckham, Robbie Keane team in the Western Conference semifinals.

Josef Martinez, All-Time MLS Goal Leader

Noticeably absent from the top of this list is Martinez, who this past season set the new record for goals scored in an MLS season with 31. Great season, but not one of the most dominant when looking at total offensive production. 8 of his 31 were from the penalty spot and he only noticed 6 assists. That said, he does have a MLS Cup to his name.

I expect Zlatan to come strong this year, in regards to goals and assists. He missed about a third of last season. With a full season, I fully expect him to be hunting for a number of MLS records.

Looking at these leaders, I see a lot of trophies. Look for LA, if they can get their FO right, to win one or two this year.