Leandro Damião is the MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE MVP for 2021. The Brazilian striker scored 23 goals, tied for tops in the league, and added eight assists, third-best in J1, to take home co-Top Scorer as he led Kawasaki Frontale to the title.

Consistency was the mark of Leandro Damião’s terrific season. He was kept off the scoresheet in the season opener, but he notched two goals and an assist in a spectacular performance against Cerezo Osaka in matchweek 2, and he was unstoppable from that point on. He only went more than two straight starts without a goal on one occasion in 2021, finding the back of the net with unmatched regularity.

Leandro Damião finished among J1’s top five goalscorers a year ago, when he also helped Frontale take home the league crown, but he took it to another level this season. Not only was he more deadly in front of goal, but he became a go-to provider too. His eight assists were a last-pass addition to his great hold up play and central role in their build up.

Frontale didn’t just take home their second straight J1 title and fourth in the last five seasons, they also topped the league with 81 goals scored. No player was more integral to that team success than Leandro Damião.

In an incredible season full of amazing performances, Leandro Damião was the best of them all and now he has league MVP honors to show for it.