Goal's 2016 MLS player rankings

Goal USA's Thomas Floyd has offered his comprehensive analysis of the top 10 players at all 11 positions on the field during the 2016 MLS season.

Another year, another round of debate. As we look back on the 2016 MLS regular season, there are talking points aplenty.

How, exactly, did reigning MVP Sebastian Giovinco miss out on that award's shortlist this time around? Is Defender of the Year Matt Hedges the true anchor of FC Dallas' back line, or should it be Walker Zimmerman collecting the accolades? Which striker reigned over New York: the Red Bulls' Bradley Wright-Phillips or NYCFC's David Villa?

In the spirit of such end-of-year discussions, I've compiled a ranking of the top 10 players at all 11 positions on the field from the 2016 MLS regular season. While these rankings aren't exact science, here's a brief summation of the criteria that helped inform the selections:

— The rankings ultimately begin and end with the eye test. That evaluation involved absorbing countless matches live and pouring over highlights of all 340 games played this season. In short, a lot of soccer was watched.

— That said, statistics also influence these rankings. Although leaning on stats is a tricky proposition in such a fluid sport, the raw numbers are key to negating recency and highlighting teams that received less exposure. A journalist may be subjected to cognitive bias, but the stats are objective.

— As a snapshot of the entire regular season, this list is designed to reward durability. If a player missed substantial time because of injury or arrived midseason, he faces an uphill climb to a high ranking. There are, however, some notable exceptions for players whose contributions transcended their limited minutes.

1. NICOLAS LODEIRO (SEA): Perhaps the most influential midseason signing in MLS history, the Uruguay international sparked the Sounders' surge from ninth place in the Western Conference to fourth. Lodeiro's flair and creativity resulted in four goals and eight assists for Seattle, which went 7-2-4 with him in the lineup.

2. KEVIN MOLINO (ORL): Bouncing back from a torn ACL, Molino produced 11 goals and eight assists in his first full MLS season. The 26-year-old's speed, audacity and toughness made him a difficult matchup for back lines across the league.

3. JUAN MANUEL MARTINEZ (RSL): A crafty playmaker on the flank, "Burrito" scored seven goals for Real Salt Lake while finishing among the league's top five players in dribbles completed, duels won and fouls won.

4. MICHAEL BARRIOS (DAL): The 5-foot-4 Colombian finished the season with nine goals and led right-sided midfielders with 54 chances created, serving as an effective secondary weapon for an attack that centered around Mauro Diaz.

5. DARLINGTON NAGBE (POR): Pushed to the flank after a successful run in central midfield last fall, Nagbe (one goal, five assists) had his least productive season since 2011. He remains slick on the ball, though, as evidenced by his 90 percent passing accuracy — the league's second-best mark.

6. KELYN ROWE (NE): The New England Revolution struggled to find an identity for much of 2016, but that didn't stop Rowe from putting together a five-goal, seven-assist campaign while leading all right wingers with 49 tackles won.

7. LLOYD SAM (DC): Traded from the New York Red Bulls to D.C. United midseason, Sam overcame that upheaval to enjoy another fruitful season. Hitting 10 assists for the first time, the Englishman was a pivotal part of United's rise up the standings.

8. ETHAN FINLAY (CLB): This year represented the first step back for Finlay, who enjoyed incremental improvements each of his first four MLS campaigns. That said, his output of six goals and nine assists was respectable.

9. JACK HARRISON (NYC): The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 SuperDraft made just 17 starts following an offseason pelvic injury, but the flashes of raw skill and confidence definitely made Harrison one to watch.

10. CHRISTIAN BOLANOS (VAN): It was a sneaky good debut season in MLS for the Costa Rica international, who compiled five goals and eight assists in 27 appearances.

1. IGNACIO PIATTI (MTL): Boasting world-class pace, creativity and control, the Argentine maestro scored 17 goals to lead all wingers and topped MLS with 83 dribbles completed. In a season dominated by Didier Drogba drama, it was Piatti who carried the Montreal Impact on his back.

2. CHRIS PONTIUS (PHI): Hampered by injury in recent years, Pontius scored 12 goals in his debut season for the Philadelphia Union to get back on track. The slashing winger also drew three penalty kicks and led all midfielders in aerial duels won.

3. JOAO PLATA (RSL): The 5-foot-2 speedster showcased his instincts in the final third, recording nine goals and a career-high 12 assists. Between Plata and Juan Manuel Martinez, Real Salt Lake offered plenty of danger on the flanks.

4. SHKELZEN GASHI (COL): With nine goals — several of the spectacular variety — and four assists, Gashi served as the catalyst for a conservative Colorado Rapids attack. The Albanian also created 64 scoring chances to lead all wingers.

5. JUSTIN MERAM (CLB): While everyone else in Columbus seemed to regress, Meram actually enjoyed a career year. A wily presence out wide, the 27-year-old recorded five goals and 13 assists and only finished behind Ignacio Piatti in dribbles completed.

6. DAVID ACCAM (CHI): The Ghana international used his speed and skill to notch nine goals and five assists for the Chicago Fire, who didn't provide Accam with much of a supporting cast.

7. MIKE GRELLA (NY): A clever winger, Grella held off stiff competition to start 28 matches on the left flank. His seven goals and six assists helped ease the burden on the star duo of Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

8. THOMAS MCNAMARA (NYC): Consistency is an issue, but on a good day McNamara can be one of the most fun players to watch in MLS. The 25-year-old ended the year with nine assists, and the majority of his five goals were highlight-reel material.

9. PATRICK NYARKO (DC): The skilled, quick-thinking winger overcame a pair of concussions to enjoy a career year, compiling four goals and eight assists over 26 appearances for D.C. United.

10. GYASI ZARDES (LA): A foot injury ended Zardes' season prematurely, but the U.S. international still managed to record six goals and five assists in 19 matches while filling a variety of attacking roles.

1. SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO (TOR): An inexplicable snub from the MVP shortlist, the Italy international played a part in more goals than any other player in MLS — scoring 17 times and adding 15 assists. Electric on the dribble and a threat to score from anywhere inside 30 yards, Giovinco arguably is the toughest matchup in league history.

2. SACHA KLJESTAN (NY): In terms of a traditional No. 10, the New York Red Bulls playmaker stands above the crowd. Adept at finding pockets between the lines and picking out the killer through ball, Kljestan easily led MLS with 20 assists and 106 scoring chances created.

3. GIOVANI DOS SANTOS (LA): The LA Galaxy's star's production was somewhat erratic, but the final stats speak for themselves. With 14 goals and 12 assists, Dos Santos was the only player not named Sebastian Giovinco to hit double digits in both categories this season.

4. MAURO DIAZ (DAL): A dominating influence in seemingly any game he plays, Diaz always knows the perfect pass to pick apart a back line. His 13 assists tied for third in MLS, and the 25-year-old drew 81 fouls to lead the league. That long-term Achilles injury looms large for FC Dallas next season.

5. DIEGO VALERI (POR): The 30-year-old's 14 goals marked a career best as he showcased his precision in the final third. While his seven assists made for a modest number, Valeri finished second in MLS with 89 scoring chances created.

6. BENNY FEILHABER (SKC): It was another prolific season for Feilhaber, who scored seven goals (five penalties) to go along with his 13 assists. An ideal fit for Peter Vermes' high-pressing system, the 31-year-old led all playmakers in tackles won.

7. KAKA (ORL): The Brazil international logged just 24 matches this year because of injury, but Kaka's touch and ingenuity still make him a force to be reckoned with — as evidenced by his nine-goal, 12-assist total.

8. LEE NGUYEN (NE): It's a far cry from his 18-goal season in 2014, but Nguyen delivered a solid haul of six goals and 10 assists while finishing third in the league in scoring chances created.

9. FRANK LAMPARD (NYC): Limited by injury to 15 starts, Lampard rode a summer hot streak to 12 goals. Many, however, will remember the outgoing England star as a bust nonetheless.

10. LUCIANO ACOSTA (DC): Sparked by a midseason switch to a 4-1-4-1 formation, the swift 22-year-old compiled 11 assists and led playmakers in dribbles completed and recoveries.

1. BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS (NY): The Englishman not only scored 24 goals to win his second Golden Boot — he did so without the benefit of a single penalty kick. For all of the praise you can heap on his goal-poaching prowess, Wright-Phillips also deserves credit for his hold-up play and defensive pressing.

2. DAVID VILLA (NYC): Finishing second in the Golden Boot race with 23 strikes, the Spain legend also served as New York City FC's emotional core. Patrick Vieira's attack flowed through the shrewd veteran, who led all strikers in scoring chances created and recoveries.

3. DOM DWYER (SKC): After 22 goals in 2014 and just 12 last season, Dwyer hit a happy medium with a 16-goal campaign in 2016. Only Bradley Wright-Phillips can say he's scored more goals in MLS over the past three years.

4. OLA KAMARA (CLB): Not earning his first MLS start until mid-May, the Norway international made Columbus Crew fans quickly forget about departed striker Kei Kamara by scoring 16 goals in just 20 starts.

5. FANENDO ADI (POR): The 6-foot-4 target forward managed a repeat of his 16-goal season from 2015, winning his fair share of battles for a Portland team that often had to resort to desperation soccer.

6. JOZY ALTIDORE (TOR): Held scoreless through eight games before suffering a hamstring strain, Altidore returned for the second half of the MLS campaign and proceeded to score 10 goals in 14 games while providing exceptional hold-up play.

7. CYLE LARIN (ORL): There was certainly no sophomore slump for the 21-year-old Canada international, who followed up his 17-goal rookie season with 14 tallies this year.

8. JORDAN MORRIS (SEA): The speedy homegrown player largely lived up to the hype, scoring 12 goals during his rookie season and stepping up down the stretch with Clint Dempsey sidelined.

9. PATRICK MULLINS (DC): D.C. United's midseason turnaround coincided with the acquisition of Mullins, who managed to bag eight goals in just 14 starts for his new club.

10. CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI (SJ): The 33-year-old poacher finally seems to be slowing down, but his 12-goal campaign made it seven straight seasons with a double-digit haul.