Designated Player

Impact striker Marco Di Vaio nominated for MLS Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Award

Marco Di Vaio celebration

MONTREAL – Major League Soccer announced Wednesday that Impact Designated Player Marco Di Vaio was named one of three finalists for the MLS Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Award. 


Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists
Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact)
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Mike Magee (Chicago Fire)


Given to the top vote recipient in selected categories, the 2013 MLS Awards were voted on by all 19 clubs and their players as well as media members.


Marco Di Vaio earns his first nomination for the MLS Volskwagen Most Valuable Player Award after being named the 2013 Impact Player of the Year, leading the team in scoring and finishing third in the league with 20 goals in 33 games played, 31 as a starter, for a total of 2,746 minutes. He became just the 11th player in league history to reach the 20-goal plateau in a single season this year, with five of those markers game winners.


Of the top three marksmen in MLS, he’s the only striker to score all of his 20 goals from the run of play (no PK or free-kicks).


Di Vaio, who had four multiple goal games this season, was one of just seven players to have recorded a hat trick this season, on May 25 against the Philadelphia Union, which earned him MLS Player of the Week honours for Week 28. He was also selected to take part in the MLS All-Star Game against AS Roma.


The winner will be announced on December 5.