Deservedly, Christian Gomez was named Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday. Gomez led United, which had the best record in MLS, to the Eastern Conference final where it lost 1-0 to the New England Revolution. After a barnstorming first half of season, D.C. United grew complacent with its commanding lead of the Eastern Conference. Gomez, an Argentine, proved the difference for United in several games towards the end of the season, and scored the team’s only two goals in the playoffs. He finished the year with 16 goals and 11 assists, an incredible achievement for a center midfielder. The other candidates were Jeff Cunningham of Real Salt Lake, a forward who finished the season with the same stats but did not make the playoffs, and Houston midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, who will play for the MLS championship on Sunday against New England. The league did not release the final vote count. Gomez has become only the second MVP for D.C. United in the league’s 11-year history despite the fact that United has won four MLS championships. This year, two other D.C. players also won individual awards: Troy Perkins for best goalkeeper, and Bobby Boswell for best defender. “In a way, this award will kind of make up for the sadness of not moving on in the playoffs,” Gomez said. The 32-year old is the third-highest wage earner on D.C. United, earning $182,500 this season, behind Freddy Adu ($550,000) and Jamie Moreno ($241,250).