Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan scored six goals and added three assists in 2017, led Major League Soccer in tackles and duels won and started earning call-ups to the United States national team. But he’s still flying under the radar.
In an MLS players poll conducted by ESPN that was released on Tuesday, Roldan’s peers voted him one of the most underrated players in the league. He’s joined by the likes of Chicago Fire defensive midfielder Dax McCarty, Montreal Impact playmaker Ignacio Piatti, Real Salt Lake attacking midfielder Albert Rusnak and Columbus Crew defensive midfielder Wil Trapp.
Roldan has started and gone the full 90 minutes in the Sounders’ first two matches of the 2018 MLS season. He is currently with the U.S. in Cary, N.C., ahead of an international friendly against Paraguay on March 27.