League MVP likely opting out of MLS is Back tournament?

Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela (right) is likely to remove himself from the tournament, largely because his wife is pregnant. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

League MVP Carlos Vela likely opting out of MLS is Back tournament?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/1/20

Hours after Major League Soccer side FC Dallas confirmed a coronavirus outbreak among players after the team landed in Florida for the MLS is Back tournament, former player and ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez speculated that LAFC star forward and reigning MLS MVP Carlos Vela would opt out of joining teammates at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the competition:

If you are a player that has grossed in over $15 MILLION in two and a half seasons of MLS play would you go into the bubble for 30+ days?

The Carlos Vela watch is on.

My money is on a no show. #MLSisBack
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) July 1, 2020

It appears Gomez was spot on.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Jeff Carlisle reported that Vela is likely to remove himself from the tournament, largely because his wife is pregnant. Carlisle added, however, that Vela hasn't yet informed the club of his final decision.

Family members aren't allowed inside the MLS "bubble" during the tournament.

Last year's winner of the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award set a league single-season scoring record with 34 goals in 31 regular-season appearances in 2019.

Zac Wassink is a football and futbol aficionado who is a PFWA member and is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment. Erik Lamela and Eli Manning apologist. Chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. Whoops. You can find him on Twitter at @ZacWassink.

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