There’s just something about voting for your favorite team, player and dream team lineup that gives you a sense of satisfaction. Could you create a better team than a team manager—drill your team better than the coach? Debatable, sure, but it’s always fun to imagine what it would be like. So every year when you get to vote on the BEST MLS goal of the year, it’s like you get a (teeny, tiny) part of at least one decision!

OK, so it’s not just the Sounders participating. AT&T MLS Goal of the Year is up for grabs for players all across the country and most of them are not Sounders. But we’ve got FIVE guys up for the title this year and they are all deserving in their own way. Let’s recap:

Tyrone Mears

If you recall, Mears won the AT&T Goal of the Week back in July in a game against the D.C. United team, a goal that aided the team in a solid victory. Not only was it an impressive feat, but it was also Mears’ first MLS goal, making it doubly special for #4.

Gonzalo Pineda

Another Goal of the Week Winner, Gonzalo Pineda, is up for the coveted Goal of the Year Award. He won back in September during his fourth career goal, this time against Vancouver. It was his first goal of the year.

Clint Dempsey

When Clint Dempsey scored Goal of the Week back in March, there was actually a bit of controversy. Some argued that it was a “team” goal and the Sounders should have simply won as a team.

Obafemi Martins

It was dubbed a “wonder goal,” and it wasn’t even his first. Will he win again this year?

Marco Pappa

Pappa won the week 13 Goal of the Week his year, but was it good enough to win Goal of the Year?

Remember last year when the Sounders’ own Obafemi Martins won the glory during the game against Colorado Rapids? The angle was seemingly impossible to make and just the expression on the Rapids’ goalie’s face was enough to make it worth it—but the Sounders sure celebrated in style. The goal really earned the MLS Goal of the Year title, and the Sounder can do it again with your help.

Visit the MLS Soccer website to cast your vote for one of the Sounders above. Be sure to check back for each new round as it opens up. To see the full bracket of possible winners up for the award this year, click here.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia