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Approaching the halfway point of the 2017 Major League Soccer season, Minnesota United has already answered two questions that lingered around the expansion club throughout preseason: 1.) Is MNUFC the worst MLS side of all-time? No. Far from it. In fact, with five wins (which is what many predicted would be their grand total for the entire season), they’re only three points out of the playoff picture.
2.) Is Christian Ramirez a MLS-caliber player? Yes. After tearing up the NASL with Minnesota for three years, Ramirez is now scoring goals at the same rate in MLS.
Against Portland last night, he scored a goal that was Zlatan-esque in its execution.
Superman skill.@MNUFC are back in front. #MINvPOR https://t.co/ddHGRzM8TR
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 22, 2017
He’s got nine goals in 16 matches, one less than David Villa and more than the likes of Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo and Chris Wondolowski. In fact, the 26-year-old Californian has scored more goals this season than any of the seven forwards called up by Bruce Arena in the preliminary 40-player Gold Cup roster.
Ramirez has been extremely consistent this season, even managing three goals on the road while his teammates capitulate time after time. He has one of the best conversion rates in the league, and if you take away goals scored from the penalty spot, he only trails Chicago’s Nemanja Nikolic.
While players like Juan Agudelo, Dom Dwyer and C.J. Sapong also deserve their shots with the national setup, what has Jordan Morris done to warrant his latest call-up? What does Arena hope to learn from watching Chris Wondolowski play, and does Clint Dempsey really need to play at a fifth Gold Cup?
With the World Cup less than a year away, this tournament should be used as a litmus test to see if players are ready to contribute on the international stage. As Ramirez has shown this season, he just needs a chance — it's a shame he's not getting one.
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