Matt Besler and Graham Zusi named to MLS Best XI

Defender Matt Besler and Midfielder Graham Zusi have been named to the MLS Best XI for the second straight season in an announcement Tuesday afternoon.

After winning Defender of the Year in 2012, Besler went on to help anchor the defense that conceded the fewest goals in 2013. He played in numerous games for the United States national team and was an All Star Game selection for the second time in his career.

Graham Zusi also used 2013 to solidify his spot on the United States national team roster while scoring six goals and recording eight assists and was an All Star selection for the second straight year. His flexibility on switching between attacking midfielder and winger has been a boost to Sporting KC's offense this year.

This Best XI was a downgrade for Sporting Kansas City from last year, when Jimmy Nielsen and Aurelien Collin gave Sporting KC four spots. This year the roster was headlined by the Portland Timbers, who notched three places.

The full roster, from back to front, features Donovan Ricketts (Portland), Jose Goncalves (New England), Matt Besler (Sporting KC), Omar Gonzales (Los Angeles), Tim Cahill (New York), Will Johnson (Portland), Diego Valeri (Portland), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC), Marco Di Vaio (Montreal), Robbie Keane (Los Angeles), Mike Magee (Chicago).

There's been some surprise that Golden Boot winner Camilo Sanvezzo from Vancouver was left off but overall it seems like a pretty good list.