HARRISON, NJ (Nov. 26, 2012) – New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry was named to the Major League Soccer 2012 Best XI today. It is the second straight season that the World Cup, European Championship and UEFA Champions League winner has earned the honor, which recognizes the League’s top 11 players at each position on the field.
Henry, who is also a finalist for the 2012 MLS Most Valuable Player award for the first time in his career, had a superb campaign for the Red Bulls, recording 15 goals and a team-high 12 assists in 25 regular season games played. He finished in fifth place in MLS in goals and assists and was voted to the 2012 MLS All-Star team last summer for the second-straight year.
Watch: Henry's Olimpico
Since joining the Red Bulls midseason in 2010, the World Cup, UEFA Champions League and European Championship winner has tallied 31 goals and 19 assists in 62 regular season appearances, 61 of which were starts. The winner of the MLS MVP award will be announced on Nov. 29.
This year MLS players, club leadership, and media members voted one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards to the Best XI, listed below in alphabetical order within each position:
Goalkeeper – Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)
Defender – Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
Defender – Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Defender – Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielder – Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielder – Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Midfielder – Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Midfielder – Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forward – Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Forward – Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Forward – Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
