When you think of the biggest names from MLS past, some that come to mind include David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Kaka, Robbie Keane, Andrea Pirlo and Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Current names in MLS that draw attention are the likes of David Villa, Diego Valeri, Ignacio Piatti, Jozy Altidore, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Miguel Almiron.
What if I told you that Vako’s first 15 appearances in MLS were more productive than all those aforementioned names and then some?
With seven goals and four assists in less than 1,000 minutes to date, Vako’s points (g+a) per minute ratio is better than some of the highest paid and most well-known players in league history through their first 15 appearances.
In essence, Vako’s early-career production has been as prolific as, or more than, many legendary imports in MLS history. Valeri went on to win the MLS MVP Award in his fifth season, Keane in his fourth, Villa in his second.
Fifteen appearances, of course, is a small sample size. But fact of the matter is Vako has burst onto the scene quicker than many players who went on to lengthy, iconic careers in North America’s top league.
His form has clearly carried into the international break as well, with two goals in two games, including this worldie against Estonia.
Here’s a table of a random assortment of recognizable names from MLS history and how their first 15 appearances compare to Vako’s, sorted by points per minutes:
