- Ignacio Piatti is CF Montreal’s all-time leader in goals and assists.
- Marco Di Vaio was the club’s first designated player and ranks second all-time in goals.
- Former captain Patrice Bernier has made the third-most appearances for Montreal.
CF Montreal has finished outside of the Eastern Conference’s top six in seven of the previous eight seasons, so it hasn’t often had favourable soccer odds to win the MLS Cup at the BetMGM online sportsbook. However, the franchise hasn’t always been a bottom-dweller.
Montreal has won five Canadian Championships and made several postseason appearances, thanks to the contributions of some of the club’s best all-time players.
With over a decade of history in MLS to look back on, I’ll rank the best five players to suit up for CF Montreal.
5 Best CF Montreal MLS Players, Ranked
Rank | Player | Position | CF Montreal Years |
1 | Ignacio Piatti | Midfielder | 2014-2019 |
2 | Marco Di Vaio | Forward | 2012-2014 |
3 | Patrice Bernier | Midfielder | 2012-2017 |
4 | Didier Drogba | Forward | 2015-2016 |
5 | Laurent Ciman | Defender | 2015-2017 |
CF Montreal All-Time Greatest Players
1. Ignacio Piatti
Piatti is widely recognized as the club’s best player of all time, making him an easy choice for the top spot on this list.
The Argentine midfielder played six seasons in Montreal, making over 100 goal contributions in MLS play. Piatti remains the club’s all-time leader in goals and assists and ranks in the top five in appearances.
His creative abilities in attack earned him three consecutive All-Star appearances from 2016-2018 and MLS Best XI nods on two occasions. He also earned Canadian Championship MVP honours in 2019, scoring four goals to help his team to the trophy.
2. Marco Di Vaio
Di Vaio was the club’s first Designated Player, joining from Serie A side Bologna in the summer of 2012. The Italian forward scored a handful of goals down the stretch of that season but truly made his impact felt in 2013.
He led the team with 20 goals, finishing third in the MLS Golden Boot race and earning All-Star and Best XI honours. He was also a league MVP finalist and helped the club to its second Canadian Championship.
Di Vaio scored 34 goals in 76 appearances for Montreal, leaving him in a tie for second on the club’s all-time scoring list.
3. Patrice Bernier
Bernier made his mark on Montreal’s first MLS campaign, leading the team with nine goals and eight assists en route to club MVP honours.
The Canadian midfielder was named club captain in 2014 and is considered one of its greatest servants, ranking third in appearances (151) and second in assists (25) behind Piatti.
He helped the team to back-to-back Canadian Championships (2013 and 2014) and multiple postseason appearances.
4. Didier Drogba
The Ivorian legend only made 33 appearances in MLS play for Montreal, but his impact on the club and the energy he brought to it were massive.
Drogba powered home 21 goals and added seven assists in that short span, helping the team to back-to-back playoff appearances and its best finishes in the Western Conference.
Although he fell a few wins short of bringing the MLS Cup to Quebec, Drogba’s time in Montreal was an enthralling spectacle.
5. Laurent Ciman
When I consider MLS betting, I value a strong, composed centre back who can assess dangerous situations and clear the ball when the team is under pressure.
Ciman was the defensive anchor for those competitive Montreal sides, making an instant impression on the back line in his first campaign. The Belgian, who was never shy about sliding into a tackle, helped the team concede 14 fewer goals than the season prior, leading to his recognition as MLS Defender of the Year.
He was an All-Star in two of his three seasons with the club before being traded to LAFC in December of 2017.