2020 MLS advanced stats leaders

These are the statistics that don't jump off the page after a quick scan of the boxscore.

Beyond goals and assists, find out which players are racking up big numbers when it comes to chance creation or distance covered. Some of the names might surprise you. And for the full list of stats leaders in select categories visit the MLSsoccer.com stats section.

Note: Stats as of Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Data below courtesy of Opta unless otherwise indicated.

Big Chances created

Creating a situation in which a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a 1-on-1 scenario or from very close range.
#
Player
Big Chances created
T-1Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)14T-1Lewis Morgan (MIA)143Alejandro Pozuelo (TOR)13

Chances created

The final pass or pass before a shot leading to the recipient of the ball having an attempt at goal without scoring.
#
Player
Chances created
1Alejandro Pozuelo (TOR)702Lewis Morgan (MIA)653Darwin Quintero (HOU)63

Expected Assists

Expected assists (xA) measures the likelihood that a given pass will become a goal assist. It considers several factors including the type of pass, pass end-point and length of pass. Adding up a player or team's expected assists gives us an indication of how many assists a player of team should have had based on their build up and attacking play.
#
Player
Expected Assists
1Diego Valeri (POR)8.252Lewis Morgan (MIA)7.933Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)7.51

Passing Accuracy

Completed passes as a percentage of total passes attempted.
#
Player
Passing %
1Darlington Nagbe (CLB)95.02%2Anibal Godoy (NSH)91.91%3Xavier Arreaga (SEA)90.80%Minimum 900 minutes

Dribbles completed

This is an attempt by a player to beat an opponent in possession of the ball. A successful dribble means the player beats the defender while retaining possession.
#
Player
Dribbles Completed
1Cristian Pavon (LA)732Younes Namli (COL)663Brian Rodriguez (LAFC)59

Touches

A sum of all events which involve a player touching the ball.
#
Player
Touches per 90 min.
1Eduard Atuesta (LAFC)104.522Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)96.013Michael Bradley (TOR)93.06Minimum 900 minutes

Duels Won

A duel is an 50-50 contest between two players of opposing sides in the match. For every Duel Won there is a corresponding Duel Lost depending on the outcome of the contest.
#
Player
Duels Won
1Thiago Santos (DAL)1902​Kyle Duncan (RBNY)1713Latif Blessing (LAFC)153

Tackles

A tackle is defined as a play in which a player connects with the ball in a ground challenge, successfully taking the ball away from the man in possession.
#
Player
Tackles
1Judson (SJ)822Artur (CLB)7432 players tied61

Blocks

An action which involves a player blocking a shot by an opponent.
#
Player
Blocks
1Jonathan Mensah (CLB)302Lalas Abubakar (COL)2432 players tied22

Interceptions

An action in which a player intentionally intercepts a pass by moving into the line of the intended ball.
#
Player
Interceptions
1Francisco Calvo (CHI)772Harrison Afful (CLB)573Yeimar Gomez Andrade (SEA)52

Clearances

A defensive action which sees a player kick the ball away from his own goal with no intended recipient of the ball.
#
Player
Clearances
1Jonathan Mensah (CLB)1142Walker Zimmerman (NSH)1123Dave Romney (NSH)104

Recoveries (by an outfield player)

An action in which a player wins back the ball when it has gone loose or when the ball has been played directly to him.
#
Player
Recoveries
1Diego Chara (POR)1742Latif Blessing (LAFC)1693Victor Wanyama (MTL)168

Distance run per 90 minutes

Courtesy of Second Spectrum. Minimum 800 minutes.
#
Player
Distance per 90
1Alex Muyl (NSH)7.51 miles2Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)7.38 miles3Pablo Piatti (TOR)7.28 miles