David Villa, Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips are finalists for MLS MVP

One way or another, the MLS MVP award will head to one of the league's two New York teams.

One way or another, the MLS MVP award will head to one of the league's two New York teams.

New York Red Bulls stars Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips and New York City FC forward David Villa are the finalists for the league's MVP honors–the Landon Donovan MVP Award–the league confirmed on Tuesday.

Wright-Phillips won the league's Golden Boot with 24 goals, while Villa was one off the pace at 23. Kljestan notched a league-high 20 assists. Both of their clubs trail in the Eastern Conference semifinals prior to hosting the second legs, with the Red Bulls falling 1-0 to the Montreal Impact and NYCFC losing 2-0 to Toronto FC in their respective first legs. TFC's Sebastian Giovinco, last year's winner, was omitted from the finalists following a season in which he had 17 goals and 15 assists despite missing six games.

MLS Golden Boot contenders Villa, Wright-Phillips take wildly contrasting paths

Seattle Sounders and U.S. men's national team forward Jordan Morris is a finalist for the league's Rookie of the Year honors, joined by NYCFC's Jack Harrison and the Philadelphia Union's Keegan Rosenberry.

Colorado Rapids midseason addition Tim Howard is a finalist for Goalkeeper of the Year, along with Philadelphia's Andre Blake and reigning winner and Red Bulls backstop Luis Robles.

GALLERY: 20 years of MLS Cup champions

MLS Cup Winners Through The Years

1996 — D.C. United

Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

1996 — D.C. United (beat LA Galaxy 3-2 in extra time)

1997 — D.C. United

Doug Mills/AP

1997 — D.C. United (beat Colorado Rapids 2-1)

1998 — Chicago Fire

Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

1998 — Chicago Fire (beat D.C. United 2-0)

1999 — D.C. United

Al Bello/Getty Images

1999 — D.C. United (beat LA Galaxy 2-0)

2000 — Kansas City Wizards

Stephen J. Boitano/AP

2000 — Kansas City Wizards (beat Chicago Fire 1-0)

2001 — San Jose Earthquakes

David Bergman for Sports Illustrated

2001 — San Jose Earthquakes (beat LA Galaxy 2-1 in extra time)

2002 — LA Galaxy

Winslow Townson for Sports Illustrated

2002 — LA Galaxy (beat New England Revolution 1-0 in extra time)

2003 — San Jose Earthquakes

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

2003 — San Jose Earthquakes (beat Chicago Fire 4-2)

2004 — D.C. United

Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

2004 — D.C. United (beat Kansas City Wizards 3-2)

2005 — Los Angeles Galaxy

Wade Jackson/Icon Sportswire

2005 — Los Angeles Galaxy (beat New England Revolution 1-0 in extra time)

2006 — Houston Dynamo

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

2006 — Houston Dynamo (beat New England Revolution in penalty kicks after 1-1 draw)

2007 — Houston Dynamo

Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

2007 — Houston Dynamo (beat New England Revolution 2-1)

2008 — Columbus Crew

Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

2008 — Columbus Crew (beat New York Red Bulls 3-1)

2009 — Real Salt Lake

Harry How/Getty Images

2009 — Real Salt Lake (beat LA Galaxy in penalty kicks after 1-1 draw)

2010 — Colorado Rapids

Lou Capozzola for Sports Illustrated

2010 — Colorado Rapids (beat FC Dallas 2-1 in extra time)

2011 — LA Galaxy

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

2011 — LA Galaxy (beat Houston Dynamo 1-0)

2012 — LA Galaxy

Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire

2012 — LA Galaxy (beat Houston Dynamo 3-1)

2013 — Sporting Kansas City

Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire

2013 — Sporting Kansas City (beat Real Salt Lake in penalty kicks after 1-1 draw)

2014 — LA Galaxy

Jae C. Hong/AP

2014 — LA Galaxy (beat New England Revolution 2-1 in extra time)

2015 – Portland Timbers

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

2015 – Portland Timbers (beat Columbus Crew SC 2-1)

2016 – Seattle Sounders

Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP

2016 – Seattle Sounders (beat Toronto FC in penalty kicks after 0-0 draw)

2017 – Toronto FC

Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press/AP

2017 – Toronto FC (beat Seattle Sounders 2-0)

2018 - Atlanta United

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

2018 - Atlanta United (beat Portland Timbers 2-0)

The Defender of the Year will be a center back from the Western Conference, as FC Dallas's Matt Hedges, LA Galaxy's Jelle Van Damme and Colorado's Axel Sjoberg make up the finalists.

Van Damme is also a finalist for Newcomer of the Year, along with Columbus Crew SC's Ola Kamara and Seattle's Nicolas Lodeiro.

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Coach of the Year will come down to Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni, FC Dallas's Oscar Pareja and NYCFC's Patrick Vieira.

The Comeback Player of the Year will be either NYCFC's Frank Lampard, Orlando City's Kevin Molino or Philadelphia's Chris Pontius.

The MVP award will be the last one handed out, with the league announcing its winner on Dec. 6. Rookie of the Year will be announced Nov. 10, followed by Comeback Player (Nov. 16), Goalkeeper (Nov. 17), Newcomer (Nov. 21) and Coach (Nov. 29).