New York City FC midfielder Mix Diskerud, who was voted Major League Soccer's most overrated player in a recent ESPN FC poll, has called the label "almost an honor" considering the quality of players that join him on the list.
ESPN FC anonymously polled 123 MLS players for their choice for the league's most overrated and underrated players, among a series of other questions on the state of the league.
The final results showed the NYCFC midfielder was selected No. 1, slightly ahead of Toronto FC's Jozy Altidore as well as City teammates Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo.
Asked for his reaction to the survey, the United States international was quick to point out the talent and stature of the players who accompany him in the rankings.
"If you look at that list, it's almost an honor to be with those guys. It's just quality players, and every day of the week I'd like to be on a list with them," Diskerud said on Thursday, before jokingly adding: "If I'm going to answer that, I'd like to answer it anonymously as well."
Many of those on the list were among the league's top earners last season, which the 25-year-old Diskerud also acknowledged.
"Yeah, I am overrated, but the top 10 percent of the guys on the income list in MLS you can say are [overrated] if you compare it to the average player," Diskerud said.
NYCFC manager Patrick Vieira moved Diskerud to a central midfield role this season, a change teammate Patrick Mullins says will benefit the former Rosenborg man.
"I think there's a comfort level, because that's where he really wants to play [in central midfield], I think it complements a lot of his skills well, and also I think it takes a little while to get used to the league," Mullins said.
"I thought he did well last year to fight through some of the tough times when you do get used to the league. I think he's really hitting his stride now."
Vieira agreed, adding: "What I like about him is his cleverness. I think he's a really smart player and he gets things quite really quickly, and technically he's really good, really comfortable on the ball. He's smart, he can score goals, he's a team player and that's good."