STATMAN | Eight low-key benchmarks from Diego Valeri's time in Portland

Mike Donovan

With Diego Valeri being named as one of the 25 greatest players in MLS history, here are eight of the lesser-known stats in No. 8's eight seasons with the Portland Timbers.

:27

In the 2015 MLS Cup, Diego Valeri scored 27 seconds into the match for the earliest goal in MLS Cup history. Valeri is the only player in MLS history to score both in the first minute of an MLS playoff game and after the 90th-minute in an MLS playoff game (Nov. 29, 2018 at Sporting Kansas City).

668

Since making his MLS debut, Valeri has been credited with 668 chances created in the MLS regular season, which is 155 more than any other MLS player in that time span. In 2019, Valeri created 124 chances, which is the most of any MLS player in a season since Opta started tracking MLS in 2011.

26

Over his eight seasons with Portland, Valeri has scored 26 game-winning goals in the regular season with an additional two more in the playoffs. The 26 game-winning goals are good for 11th-most in MLS history.

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3

In the 45-year history of the Timbers, no player has been named to a league Best XI more than Valeri, who has been named three different times. In the club's MLS era, Valeri's 3 Best XIs are the same amount as all other Timbers players combined.

96

Valeri has scored 96 goals in all competitions for the Timbers. Valeri has scored in the regular season, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, the MLS Cup Playoffs, the MLS Cup Final, and the CONCACAF Champions League.

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8

The Argentine maestro has notched eight assists in postseason play for Portland. Valeri is tied with David Beckham and Lee Nguyen for 13th-most assists in MLS playoff history.

22

A total of 22 different clubs have conceded goals to Valeri in MLS play. No club has been victim to Valeri more than the LA Galaxy, who have given up nine goals to Valeri.

2

Having been named an all-star more than any other player in team history, Valeri is the only player in MLS All-Star Game history to convert multiple career penalty kicks (including shootouts). In addition, Valeri had the game-winning assist for MLS in the 2014 All-Star Game hosted in Portland.