Making 306 total appearances (265 starts) across all competitions, Diego Valeri tallied 100 goals and 104 assists – both tops in club history – and is a Ring of Honor member
Editor's Note: In honor of the Portland Timbers' 50th anniversary, the club is recognizing an All-Time XI collection of the best players from across all eras of the team's history as voted on by you, the fans. The XI is comprised of one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three forwards – a 3-4-3 formation.
Each day between now and the team's 50th anniversary celebration on July 19 – when the Timbers host Minnesota United FC (7:30pm PT, TICKETS, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) – the club will unveil one player from the All-Time XI followed by a special recognition of the group on the evening of July 19th.
It is difficult to summarize the impact Timbers All-Time XI member Diego Valeri has had in the Rose City.
Making 306 total appearances (265 starts) in all competitions across nine seasons (2013-21), the Valentín Alsina, Argentina, native tallied 100 goals and 104 assists – both tops in club history.
Signed as a Designated Player in 2013 from Club Atlético Lanús, Valeri burst onto the scene scoring in his first match with a juggling, zig-zagging run against New York Red Bulls. The Argentine led the team in goals (10) and assists that year (8) while leading the club to their first appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs and earning himself the 2013 MLS Newcomer of the Year Award and an MLS Best XI selection.
Diego Valeri's scores in his first game with Portland
Known as “El Maestro,” Valeri’s creativity and soccer IQ on the field was the stuff of legend. He could beat players on the dribble, slip in a perfectly weighted pass, score from a sharp angle, launch a gorgeous volley on the fly, fire a thunderbolt from distance or tee up a picturesque free kick set piece.
Along with fellow All-Time XI member Dairon Asprilla, Valeri was a part of every major trophy-winning side in the team’s MLS era, including three Western Conference Championships (2015, 2018, 2021) an MLS is Back Tournament win in 2020 and the club’s MLS Cup victory in 2015.
That 2015 Cup final was marked by Valeri scoring the fastest goal in MLS Cup history, pouncing on a mistake by Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark to score just :27 seconds into the match and send Crew SC scrambling on the back foot. Valeri was named the 2015 MLS Cup MVP in the 2-1 Timbers victory.
2017 marked a memorable season for the midfielder, highlighted by a team-record 21 goals and 11 assists, while also recording a goal in nine consecutive matches – an MLS record at the time. Valeri’s season was capped off with another MLS Best XI selection and the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award.
Diego Valeri's 2017 MVP season
He was a four-time MLS All-Star and four-time MLS Best XI selection, all in the same seasons: 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018. 2020 saw Valeri become just the third player in league history to record 80 goals and 80 assists in their regular season career while also being named to the MLS 25 Greatest Players list, honoring the best in the league across its 25 seasons. Valeri is the only player in league history to win Newcomer of the Year, regular season MVP and MLS Cup MVP.
After finishing his playing career with his boyhood club Lanús in Argentina, Valeri signed a one-day contract in 2023 to retire a Timbers player before becoming just the sixth player in club history to be inducted into the club’s Ring of Honor.
From the Archives
- READ: El Maestro: How a magical summer symbolized Diego Valeri’s legacy and impact
- READ: Valeri continues to embrace, redefine what it means to be an icon
- READ: Diego Valeri inducted into Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
- READ: Valeri spending time reading up on one of Argentina's greats: César Luis Menotti
Join us for the presentation of the Timbers All-Time XI on July 19 when the Timbers host Minnesota United!
Celebrating 50 years of the Timbers
Celebrating 50 years as a club, the Timbers honor the fan-vote, All-Time XI, Ring of Honor members and alumni from all eras. The match features a crossbody bag giveaway.
All-Time XI Eligibility:
The Timbers All-Time XI is comprised of one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three forwards – a 3-4-3 formation.
To be considered, fans voted on the 50 eligible players who met established criteria based upon career achievements as a Timbers player and were selected by a panel. Players had to meet one of the following criteria:
- Play a minimum of 100 league games for the club for field players; 50 league games for goalkeepers.
- Inducted into the Timbers Ring of Honor.
- Rank in the Top 5 (by era) in a career statistical category (games played, goals, assists, wins, shutouts, etc.) for the club.
- Be a key contributor in winning a championship or trophy.
- Receive league honors (All-League, Best XI, MVP, All-Star, Golden Boot, Rookie of the Year, etc.) as a member of the club.
