Diego Valeri scores with spectacular volley in Portland's 1-1 draw with New England

We’re only five weeks into the 2017 Major League Soccer season, so it would be ridiculous premature to anoint someone as the favorite for the Landon Donovan Most Valuable Player Award. But here at FC Yahoo, we’re oblivious not afraid of breaking such norms.

We give props to those who deserve them, and Diego Valeri, star midfielder of the Portland Timbers with a co-MLS-best nine points after a 3-1 start, arguably had been the league’s top player. The following graphic by Yahoo Canada’s Ciaran Breen illustrated just how impressive the 30-year-old Argentine had been going into Sunday’s 1-1 draw against the visiting New England Revolution.

Not surprisingly, Valeri added to that way-too-early MVP resume against the Revolution. And he did so in the most memorable of manners – with the outrageous, must-see goal – in the 12th minute.

The poor clearance on Diego Chara’s cross into the box gave Valeri plenty of time to size up the opportunity. He opted for the side volley smash, an aesthetically-pleasing strike when pulled off successfully. New England goalkeeper Cody Cropper could do nothing to stop it.

Valeri’s wonder goal gave the Timbers a 1-0 halftime lead, but ultimately they could not hold off the Revs, who were playing just their fourth MLS game ever at Providence Park. New England earned a share of the points thanks to Lee Nguyen’s 85th-minute equalizer aided by Timbers keeper Jake Gleeson’s inability to hold onto the ball.