TORONTO - Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco has been named MVP of Major League Soccer.

It's the latest and biggest accolade this season for the 28-year-old Italian international. Giovinco won the Golden Boot as the league's top scorer, was voted top newcomer and named to the league' Best XI. He is also a finalist for goal of the year.

In his first season in North America, Giovinco rewrote the Toronto FC record book while leading the league with 22 goals and 16 assists.

He also helped lead Toronto to the playoffs for the first time

Giovinco beat out Columbus striker Kei Kamara and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber in voting by players, league officials and media.

The MVP award is named after retired U.S. star Landon Donovan.

Giovinco is the first player on a Canadian team to win MVP honours. Canadian Dwayne de Rosario won in 2011 when he started the season in Toronto but was traded to the New York Red Bulls before finishing the year with D.C. United.

Giovinco did not come cheap, with a salary of US$7.1 million. But the Italian was directly involved in two-thirds of Toronto's 58 goals this season.

He also led the league in shots (181) and shots on goal (73).

And Giovinco seemed happy doing it, a pleasant change from England's Jermain Defoe who left TFC after one season.

Feilhaber made $362,200 this season while Kamara earned $536,650.