MLS MVP is Guillermo Barros Schelotto

The official announcement of who won the 2008 Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player award is scheduled to come at 1:50 pm on Thursday, but the cat was actually let out of the bag a little early.

The November 24th edition of Sports Illustrated magazine features a Volkswagen advertisement stating how proud the sponsor company is of Guillermo Barros Schelotto for winning the MLS MVP.

On Thursday the win was confirmed in press release from MLS saying that "EL Mellizo" garnered 54% of the total vote including a whopping 80% of the vote from America's media.

Schelotto was the odds-on favorite to win the award. The Argentine’s creative play and deft touch led Columbus to the best record in MLS and to the Eastern Conference title.

At 35-years-old, Schelotto still had the legs to play over 2000 minutes for the Black and Gold, racking up 19 assists and 7 goals in 27 regular-season starts.

Schelotto has shown the ability to control a match from his forward position and is undoubtedly one of the most talented players to ever lace up the boots for an MLS side.

No one ever imagined anyone would come close to El Pibe - Carlos Valderrama - and his amazing 26 assists in a single MLS season, but Scheloto was actually on pace to that mark at times this season.

Since his signing with Columbus from the legendary Boca Juniors of Argentina, Scheloto has been nothing short of spectacular. The crafty veteran regularly picked out teammates in good positions with inventive flicks and chipped balls in behind defenders, while never shying away from creating his own scoring chances.

For the third straight year the honor of the best player in the MLS has fallen to a South American. In 2007 the award went to Brazilian Luciano Emillio and in 2006 Argentinean Christian Gomez was the winner. Schelotto’s win also makes him one of the oldest players to ever win the award. Only two other players, Preki in 2003 and Carlos Valderrama in 1996, have ever been given the MLS MVP after their 35^th birthday.