Former Champions League players in MLS 2017

Christian Bolaños (Vancouver Whitecaps, since January 2016)
Age: 32
Position: midfielder
UEFA Champions League appearances/goals
København: 14/0
Did you know?
• Bolaños enjoyed a successful start to his MLS career, scoring four goals in his first ten appearances in 2016.

Ashley Cole (LA Galaxy, since January 2016)
Age: 36
Position: left-back
UEFA Champions League appearances/goals
Arsenal: 45/1
Chelsea: 60/0
Roma: 3/0
Did you know?
• Cole, who converted a penalty in Chelsea's shoot-triumph over Bayern München in the 2012 final, scored his first goal in almost four years when he equalised in the 89th minute against the New York Red Bulls on 7 August 2016.

Marco Donadel (Montreal Impact, since December 2014)
Age: 33
Position: midfielder
UEFA Champions League appearances
Fiorentina: 8/0
Did you know?
• Donadel helped Montreal become the first Canadian team to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final, playing in four of their six knockout matches in spring 2015.

Shkëlzen Gashi (right) during his time with Basel©Getty Images

Shkëlzen Gashi (Colorado Rapids, since February 2016)
Age: 28
Position: forward
UEFA Champions League appearances/goals
Basel: 5/1
Did you know?
• The Swiss-born Albanian international's left-footed shot from almost 35 metres in the Rapids' Western Conference semi-final against the LA Galaxy was one of the goals of the 2016 MLS season.

Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto, since January 2015)
Age: 30
Position: forward
UEFA Champions League appearances
Juventus: 19/2
Did you know?
• Giovinco took MLS by storm in 2015, firing TFC into the play-offs for the first time with a Golden Boot-winning 22 goals and picking up the MLS Newcomer of the Year and MLS MVP awards to boot.

Kaká knows Marco Donadel from his time in Serie A©Getty Images

Kaká (Orlando City, since June 2014)
Age: 34
Position: attacking midfielder
UEFA Champions League appearances/goals
AC Milan: 62/25
Real Madrid: 24/5
Did you know?
• Kaká, competition top scorer in Milan's 2006/07 UEFA Champions League-winning campaign, registered on his MLS debut – a 1-1 draw against New York City FC in March 2015.

Nemanja Nikolić (Chicago Fire, since January 2017)
Age: 29
Position: forward
UEFA Champions League appearances
Legia Warszawa: 5/1
Did you know?
• Serbian-born Hungarian international Nikolić will be coached by former Atlético Madrid player Veljko Paunović, who oversaw Serbia's victory at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Kaká (left) and Andrea Pirlo (right) after the 2007 final in Athens©Getty Images

Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC, since July 2015)
Age: 37
Position: midfielder
UEFA Champions League appearances/goals
Internazionale Milano: 5/0
AC Milan: 78/7
Juventus: 25/1
Did you know?
• Two-time UEFA Champions League winner Pirlo was one of the creative forces behind NYCFC clinching a play-off berth in only their second season, providing a team-high 11 assists in 33 outings in 2016.

Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy, since January 2016)
Age: 33
Position: centre-back
UEFA Champions League appearances/goals
Ajax: 9/0
Anderlecht: 3/0
Did you know?
• Van Damme was appointed Galaxy captain on 1 March, replacing the departed Robbie Keane.

David Villa (New York City FC, since June 2014)
Age: 35
Position: forward
UEFA Champions League appearances/goals
Valencia: 14/6
Barcelona: 26/8
Atlético Madrid: 7/0
Did you know?
• Villa, on target in Barcelona's 2011 final victory over Manchester United, succeeded Giovinco as MLS MVP in 2016 after scoring 23 goals in 33 regular-season outings.