Soccer <\/p>\n
Guilherme<\/a> has been nearly unstoppable for Houston Dynamo FC<\/a> this season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n And the Brazilian Designated Player may be hitting the best form of his debut MLS season, netting four goals and two assists in his last four games following the 2026\u00a0FIFA World Cup<\/a> break.<\/p>\n On Saturday, he briefly catapulted the Dynamo to the top of the Western Conference \u2013 the first time Houston have ranked in the top two spots in the conference during the month of August since 2017 \u2013 before Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> reclaimed their pole position on Sunday night.<\/p>\n Now, Houston visit Vancouver on Wednesday at BC Place with the winner laying claim to first place in the West (10:30 pm ET |\u00a0Apple TV<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n GUI ON \ud83d\udd1d pic.twitter.com\/m68L7Y1608<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) August 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Arriving as the club’s marquee DP signing this offseason from Brazilian side Santos, alongside former LAFC<\/a> midfielder Mateusz Bogusz<\/a>, the 31-year-old forward carried high expectations to revitalize a Dynamo team that finished 12th in the West last season.<\/p>\n As the reigning Brazilian Campeonato Paulista Golden Boot winner (10 goals), there was no doubt in his ability to put the ball in the back of the net. The question was how fast he would hit the ground running in H-Town.<\/p>\n Seven months and an MLS All-Star<\/a> nomination later, that question has been answered emphatically.<\/p>\n “You need your DPs playing at a high level to really have success in this league. You can have success, and then you can make the postseason, and you can still have good years,” said head coach Ben Olsen. “But to really maximize your team, your DPs have to be at a high level and performing. It\u2019s just the nature of our league, and it\u2019s nice that he’s doing that.<\/p>\n “I think he\u2019s proven in a short amount of time that he\u2019s one of the best players in the league.”<\/p>\n Arguably the favorite to win the MLS Newcomer of the Year award, it’s hard to disagree with Olsen’s claim.<\/p>\n With 12g\/7a through 19 league matches, Guilherme boasts the third-most goal contributions in MLS behind only perennial Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Evander<\/a> (11g\/11a) and back-to-back MVP winner Lionel Messi<\/a> (12g\/8a).<\/p>\n On Wednesday, he’ll have the opportunity to shine on the big stage, in a massive match for the club.<\/p>\n “He\u2019s best when the lights turn on. He’s a showman. He’s fun to watch, and I\u2019m very thankful, obviously, that he’s here,” added Olsen.<\/p>\n “There’s no secret that he’s been a big part of why we’re in the position we have because he’s a game-changer, and he\u2019s put up that many goal contributions, and you need that. You need that from your DPs. You need that from your offensive pieces.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The moment Guilherme found out \u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n Surprising Guilherme with the news that he’s headed to Charlotte as a 2026 MLS All-Star. \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/8I5YaUw2qJ<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) July 25, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Guilherme’s stellar form has logically coincided with Houston’s longest winning streak this season. Unbeaten in eight games across all competitions, the Dynamo are arguably the hottest team in MLS, riding a four-game winning streak in which they haven’t conceded a single goal.<\/p>\n Their momentum swing began all the way back in mid-May with a 1-0 victory<\/a> over Vancouver at Shell Energy Stadium, notably courtesy of a 96th-minute Guilherme game-winner<\/a>. Now, they’ll aim to complete the sweep of the Whitecaps, proving themselves as one of the league’s top contenders in the process.<\/p>\n “Excited for this opportunity to go against one of the best teams in this league, not only in the moment but over the last few years. And we\u2019ve all seen this team run through the league and represent MLS in the Concacaf [Champions Cup] so well. A lot of respect from our side,” said Olsen.<\/p>\n “But once the whistle blows, we\u2019re very excited about this opportunity. In some ways, yeah, it\u2019s another league game, and we’ll prep in the same way, but to be honest, there\u2019s a little something to this. Not being in this situation for a long time with this club, an opportunity to go back up top is something I think our guys are excited about.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The race for the top of the West is heating up. \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/X2yezX3JqS<\/a><\/p>\n\n
“One of the best players in the league”<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Top-tier clash<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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