When FC Dallas signed Joaquin Valiente from Defensor Sporting in February, the reaction was mostly a shrug and a Google search. A 5-foot-5 Uruguayan attacking midfielder coming off a loan in Ecuador, not a Designated Player, and no splashy fee.
By the end of May, that shrug looked justified. He had two assists and even friendly local coverage called his work as a provider underwhelming while he learned to navigate life in the United States and play in MLS.
Then after the World Cup wrapped up, Valiente became the engine of the highest-scoring FC Dallas team in club history. He became the first FC Dallas player to hit double-digit assists since 2018.
| Stat | Valiente | Rank / context |
|---|---|---|
| Assists | 13 | T-11 |
| Goals | 2 | |
| Key passes / chances created | 48 | |
| Assists before the World Cup break | 2 | |
| Assists since | 11 | |
| Set pieces taken | 72 | Primary corner and free-kick taker |
| Game-winning assists | 4 | leads FC Dallas |
| Minutes | 2082 | Eligibility needs 500; he's well clear |
These stats are as of November 3, 2026.
The post-World Cup is the argument
Split the season at the World Cup break and Valiente is two different players. Before: two assists, adjusting to a new league, a new climate and a team that didn't know where to find him. After: 11 assists in 18 matches, and one of the most productive creative stretches in the league.
Most newcomers fade after the first-year honeymoon. Valiente went the other way. That's the profile of a player who figured MLS out, not one who got hot for a month.
He made Musa better
Petar Musa scored 18 times last season with service that came mostly from chaos, though Patrickson Delgado did his best to set the Croatian up.
This year, four of Musa's goals came off Valiente's passes or set pieces. Valiente also helped set up passes that later turned into Musa goals. The best striker in the league finally has a reliable supply line.
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