Diego Valeri

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Valeri began his career with his boyhood club Lanús. Promoted to the first team by head coach Miguel Ángel Brindisi, Valeri made his Primera División debut in 2004 against Quilmes. He soon broke into the starting line-up more consistently, having his breakout season in 2007–08, helping Lanús to the Torneo Apertura title. In 2009, Valeri joined Portuguese club Porto on loan for the 2009–10 season, helping the club win the Taça de Portugal. The next season, Valeri was loaned out to Spanish club Almería, where his loan was eventually ended early in December 2010. In August 2012, Valeri and his family were victims in an armed robbery in Lanús. The incident lead to Valeri instructing his agent to pursue a move abroad more aggressively. In January 2013, Valeri joined the Portland Timbers on loan for the 2013 season. The deal was eventually made permanent in August 2013. In his debut season, Valeri helped the club top the Western Conference standings, earning him the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. In December 2015, he scored the opening goal for the Timbers after 27 seconds against the Columbus Crew in MLS Cup 2015 — the fastest goal in MLS Cup final history. The Timbers went on to defeat the Crew and win their first ever championship. Two seasons later, Valeri registered his best season statistically, posting a career-high 21 goals while recording 11 assists. He helped the Timbers top the Western Conference standings and won the MLS Most Valuable Player award. The following season, Valeri helped lead his side to MLS Cup 2018 against Atlanta United FC, where they were defeated 0–2. In August 2020, Valeri helped captain the Timbers to the final of the MLS is Back Tournament, defeating Orlando City SC.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell softly on Providence Park as the clock wound down. Diego Valeri stood over the ball, his chest heaving slightly, eyes scanning the shifting geometry of the defense. With a calm that belied the chaos around him, he received a pass, turned, and spotted a sliver of space between two defenders. A single touch to set himself, another to lift the ball perfectly into the path of a sprinting striker. The net rippled. The crowd erupted, not just for the goal, but for the sheer beauty of the assist that made it possible.

Reader's Guide

The narrative surrounding Diego Valeri is less about a feud and more about the elevation of the Portland Timbers brand through his individual brilliance. His arrival in 2013 coincided with the team's transition from an MLS Cup runner-up to a championship powerhouse. Key moments that intensified his legendary status include his pivotal role in the 2015 MLS Cup victory, where his midfield control was the difference-maker against Columbus Crew SC. Furthermore, his consistent performance year after year established a new standard for technical play in the Western Conference, forcing rival teams to adapt their defensive strategies specifically to neutralize him. Culturally, Valeri became the bridge between the club's historic roots and its modern identity. For the Timbers Army, he represented the realization of a dream: a world-class player choosing Portland as his home. His tenure solidified the rivalry with Seattle Sounders FC not just through competition, but by proving that Portland could attract and retain elite international talent.

Did You Know?

• Valeri scored the opening goal after 27 seconds in MLS Cup 2015 — the fastest goal in MLS Cup final history.
• He is the Portland Timbers' MLS-era leading goalscorer with 100 goals in all competitions.
• Valeri earned three caps for Argentina, all occurring in 2011, making his international debut on 16 March against Venezuela.
• In 2017, Valeri became one of the few players in league history to record at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season, finishing with 21 goals and 11 assists.
• Valeri was named MLS Newcomer of the Year in his debut season (2013) after scoring 10 goals and 13 assists.