Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 12. Yeimar Gomez Andrade

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Yeimar Gomez Andrade has been one of the very top center backs in Major League Soccer since arriving in 2020. He has hardly taken a wrong step in his five seasons and 173 appearances in the Rave Green. He anchored the very best defense in MLS during the 2024 season, conceding just 35 total goals. He was named to the MLS Best XI as well, his second time making the elite eleven. He made 33 appearances over the course of the season as the rock the Sounders knew they could count on. Seattle will continue to count on Yeimar for the defensive presence he brings to the team.

The Colombian earned his first clean sheet of the year in an April 5-0 win over CF Montreal. He followed it up with another shutout performance in the following game against FC Dallas. He also held LA Galaxy to zero in early May. The Sounders defeated Minnesota 2-0 the following month. He had a fabulous match against New England, amassing nine clearances during a 2-0 victory. The 32-year-old scored four minutes into a Leagues Cup win over LA Galaxy. Two consecutive clean sheets saw Seattle defeat Columbus and Sporting Kansas City back-to-back. He scored against Portland in the Cascadia Cup on Decision Day. In the playoffs, he helped shut out Houston before the Galaxy ended the run.

Yeimar ranked in the 92nd percentile of players in defensive actions. He intercepted over two passes per 90 and won just under 70% of his aerial duels. He won 65.6% of his duels in general as well. He blocked 0.23 shots per 90. His partnership with Ragen might just be the most solid pairing in the league if current trends hold into 2025. The Sounders are the defensive team to beat in the league. They hope to recreate that same success and get some help from the brand-new attackers they've brought in. Yeimar comes in at No. 12.

12) YEIMAR GOMEZ ANDRADE | DEF, SEA | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

2.09 INTECERCEPTIONS PER 90 (96%)

69.6% AERIAL DUELS WON (91%)

65.6% DUELS WON (89%)

0.23 BLOCKS PER 90 (86%)