De Rosario named MLS MVP

Dwayne De Rosario finally netted Major League Soccer most valuable player honours for the first time in his career.

De Rosario, from Scarborough, Ont., was the popular choice in voting conducted by players, club representatives and the media.

He was a finalist in 2005 and 2006.

De Rosario will be presented the award Friday at a 4:30 p.m. ET media conference at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, site of Sunday's MLS Cup championship final between the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy.

De Rosario was the league's leading scorer with 16 goals and 12 assists and named to the Best XI for a record sixth time.

The 33-year-old midfielder began the season with Toronto FC, which traded him to the New York Red Bulls three matches into the season. He was later dealt to D.C. United, where he hit stride with 13 goals and seven assists in 18 matches.

De Rosario is the first MVP to play on three different clubs in a single season, and the first player to be named MVP yet fail to make the playoffs.