David Villa wins MLS MVP award: 'This is a very happy and proud day for me'

David Villa has been named Major League Soccer’s MVP for 2016, beating off competition from Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls, as well as Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco.

Villa, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, scored 23 goals in his second season in New York – one behind Wright-Phillips’ total of 24. He also helped NYC FC qualify for the playoffs for the first time.

“I’m very proud to represent NYC FC and to receive this award,” Villa said. “It’s a big day for me because this is one of the things I said I wanted to do when I came here two years ago. This is an important day in my career – this is an important moment for me. This award is for the best player in this amazing league which has many quality players so this is a very happy and proud day for me.”

The award was voted for by MLS team management, media, and current MLS players. Villa, 35, received an average of nearly 26% of the vote. Golden Boot winner Wright-Phillips had almost 19.3%, with Kljestan receiving 17.6.

Villa scored 18 goals in 2015, his first season in the US, and his two-year total of 41 represents the most in MLS in that span.

Carlos Valderrama was the first winner of the MLS MVP award back in 1996, and other winners have included Taylor Twellman (2005), Marco Etcheverry (1998) and former Everton forward Preki (1997 and 2003). Giovinco, who won the award last year, finished fourth in the voting this time around – although he was tied with Villa and Wright-Phillips in the media vote.