Ranking the Top 100 MLS Players of the Last 10 Years: 20. Gyasi Zardes

Updated: Nov 21, 2023

Gyasi Zardes began his youth soccer career in the LA Galaxy Academy, who also gave him his start professionally. In 2012, Zardes signed on as a Homegrown Player. In 2014, he broke out. He opened his account on the year on a header off a Juninho cross. He rose high to score a header against Chivas USA. It was just his second goal of the year, and it was already June. He was poised for an incredible goal-scoring run down the stretch.

Zardes scored his first MLS brace against New England in a preview of the 2014 MLS Cup. He snuck the first one in at the near post, then turned in a Robbie Keane cross. He scored in Seattle with a clean left footed finish. He beat the other Pacific Northwest team with a great run and header. He pulled one back with a first-time volley in Columbus. He curled one in from distance, then tapped in a great build-up against Chivas USA. Zardes reacted quickly to pull one back up in Montreal. He scored his 16th goal of the season against the New York Red Bulls. The Galaxy entered the postseason as the second seed in the West. Zardes played every minute in the playoffs, but did not score, until the biggest possible moment. He controlled a ball down at the back post, smashing the opening goal of the final to the back post. The Galaxy won it 2-1 in extra time, lifting MLS Cup in 2014.

The rest of Gyasi's time in Los Angeles was not all smooth sailing. He scored just 6 goals in each of the next two seasons. He poked one in against Portland to score his first of 2015. He continued to live in the nightmares of New England fans, netting one at Gillette Stadium. His next match was for the United States, where he scored a goal in a stunning 4-3 victory over the Netherlands. Back in MLS play, he made a back post run and slotted home his shot versus Philadelphia. He made the 2015 MLS All-Star Team. Zardes is not the flashy type of player, he can always be relied upon for close control and simple finishing. He scored a free header at home against NYCFC. In the Galaxy's 2015 playoff exit, he scored on Seattle.In 2016, he opened his season with a brace versus the Earthquakes, tapping one in, before rolling the second in. A broken foot ended his season. He came back and scored just 2 goals in 2017, ending his Galaxy career. His final goal in the diagonal striped kits was a header in Seattle.

On Janaury 20, 2018, the Columbus Crew acquired Gyasi Zardes and up to $500K GAM from LA in exchange for Ola Kamara. The change of scenery was huge for Zardes, and he was well worth the swap. His career in Ohio began with a debut goal against Toronto FC. In a faceoff with the other Eastern Conference Canadian side, he scored a brace. He tapped a crossbar rebound in, then won the game at 94' with an inch perfect penalty kick. In July, he went off the post and in against Orlando, before tying the game late ahead of a huge win. On the final day of the campaign, Zardes found the back of the net three times. His hat trick began with a header, followed by a roofed rebound, finished off with a tap in to win the match against Minnesota. The fifth seeded Crew beat DC in the playoffs. In the next round, Zardes scored against the Red Bulls, but they lost in leg two. Zardes won the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award with 19 goals.

In 2019, the bleach-blond striker added another 13 goals to his career. He opened his account with a double against the New England Revolution, heading the first in early, then adding the brace late on Brad Knighton. He missed some of the summer at the Gold Cup with the US, as they finished as runner-up in the tournament. In the Hell is Real Derby, Zardes scored another brace. His back post run turned into a left-footed goal, while a chest control and tight finish added the second. The 38 points of Columbus was not enough to qualify for the playoffs in 2019. The final goal of Gyasi's season came from the spot in Vancouver. The Crew had a bad year, but it was still a productive one for Zardes individually.

In 2020, Zardes approached his scoring mark of the previous season despite playing over 700 less minutes in the shortened season. He scored 12 goals, while assisting 4 more. He continued to light up the cross-town rivals in Cincinnati, scoring twice against the team again. With one of his first touches of the match after subbing in, Zardes pushed one into the net, then stayed with it to score another. A solo run from midfield against Atlanta United on Decision Day served as goal No. 12 on the season. The successful regular season put the Crew in third. To solidify a victory over RBNY in the first round, Zardes headed a cross back where it came from. In the following postseason match, he assisted the match-winner over Nashville, then coolly sent his team through with one of his own. He played all 90 minutes in the MLS Cup victory over the Seattle Sounders, winning his second trophy.

Gyasi Zardes fell just short of the double-digit goal mark in 2021, scoring 9 times. His best game of the season included a June brace against Chicago. He launched a quick fire volley into the bottom corner, and sent an unselfish Derrick Etienne pass goalwards. He returned to the Gold Cup with the US, winning his second edition of that trophy during the summer months. In September, Zardes went airborne to tap one in versus CF Montreal, then smashed a rare screamer into the upper 90. Two more Zardes goals were scored in a single game with Inter Miami, where he used a signature flick header to open the scoring, while also scoring a charging run and duck header. The Crew's ninth placed finish saw them miss the playoffs.

In 2022, Gyasi Zardes finished up his successful years in Columbus. The last time he scored a goal in black and gold took place in San Jose's six-yard box. On April 22, 2022, the Colorado Rapids acquired Gyasi Zardes from Columbus in exchange for up to $1.4m in GAM. His first Colorado goal, wearing the number 29 on his back, came from the penalty spot against LAFC. He put three in against Minnesota United for the second time in his career. A poor spill by Dayne St. Clair handed him the first of three. The poacher smashed another in within the opening 15 minutes. St. Clair's nightmare day gave Zardes another one, marking his second career hat trick, both against the Loons. A left footed finish against Vancouver ended a short stint in Colorado.

On December 12, 2022, Zardes signed on with Austin FC on a three-year deal in free agency. He scored his first goal in Verde against the Seattle Sounders with a power header. In two straight Copa Tejas matches, he scored another pair of goals. He scored against FC Dallas during a 3-0 victory and again in the next match with the Dynamo during another 3-0 win. He scored his most recent goal came in the form of a rebound against Sporting Kansas City. It was a fairly disappointing 6 goal season in a bad Austin FC year. The 32-year-old striker will look to get back on track along with his team when they return to play in 2024. Zardes' pure goal scoring ability has led him to score 103 times, 11th most in MLS history. These contributions place him at #20 on the list.

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