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Bastian Schweinsteiger #31 of Chicago Fire celebrates with Joao Meira #66 and Nemanja Nikolic #23 after scoring a goal in the first half against the Montreal Impact during an MLS match at Toyota Park on April 1, 2017. Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Nemanja Nikolic are the Chicago Fire representatives in the 53-player preliminary list for the 2017 MLS Most Valuable Player and Newcomer of the Year awards.
Both Schweinsteiger -the Fire’s designated player -and Nikolic -the leading scorer in MLS- make both lists in just their first season in the league.
Up to three players are allowed per team on each award list, as nominated by each of the teams. The three MVP and Newcomer of the Year finalists will be announced on October 31.