Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri was on Monday named Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player for 2017.

The 31-year-old, who joined Portland in 2013 from Buenos Aires side Lanus, was a key figure in helping the Timbers finish top of the Western Conference.

The Argentinian playmaker scored 21 goals and contributed 11 assists this year.

Portland were eliminated in the semi-final stage of the conference playoffs and do not feature in this week's MLS Cup final.

Valeri's scoring feats this season included a run of nine consecutive matches where he scored a goal, a new MLS record.

Valeri was the overwhelming choice for MVP, polling 50.71 percent of votes.

New York City FC's Spanish striker David Villa was second with 16.4 percent, while Hungary international Nemanja Nikolic was third with 7.84 percent.

Toronto's Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco was fourth in the voting with Paraguay international Miguel Almiron of Atlanta fifth.