The 2025 MLS regular season is reaching its conclusion, and the big names are making their presence felt.
From Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami star machine to the shock of San Diego FC in their expansion year, Major League Soccer is a wide-open field right now, with the race for the Supporters’ Shield title and MVP award in full swing.
Of course, it’s MLS Cup that everybody really wants to win, and it’s these key players who will decide the fate of United States soccer’s ultimate prize when the Playoffs come around.
So, who is the very best player in MLS right now? Here are our top 10.
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10. Jakob Glesnes
- Club: Philadelphia Union
- Position: Centre-back
Jakob Glesnes has been with the Philadelphia Union for over five years now, and during that time, they’ve established themselves as the strongest defensive unit in MLS. The Norwegian is the cornerstone of that formidable backline, and this season alone, he ranks joint-first among his team-mates for clearances (137), and in the top two for aerial duels won (58), interceptions (43) and blocks (33). As a result, the Union have conceded just 26 goals so far this season — at least five fewer than any other team.
Glesnes is yet to make an error leading to a shot in 2025, while he continues to show excellent composure on the ball as well, completing the third-highest number of passes (781) among Union players.
Jakob Glesnes key stats:
- 137 clearances — level with Olwethu Makhanya and 27 clear of any other Union player
- Zero errors leading to a shot
9. Denis Bouanga
- Club: LAFC
- Position: Left winger
Denis Bouanga has been a revelation since joining LAFC in 2022. The Gabon international has bagged 90 goals in 143 appearances for the Black and Gold so far, winning the 2023 MLS and Concacaf Champions League Golden Boot awards.
His goals have fired LAFC to MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and US Open Cup titles, while also finishing as runners-up in the 2023 CCL and 2024 Leagues Cup.
In 2025, Bouanga has another 17 goals to his name across all competitions so far — not to mention completing 84 dribbles, at least 21 more than any other player in the league — once again proving his immense quality.
Denis Bouanga key stats:
- 17 goals (15 in MLS)
- 84 completed dribbles in MLS — 21 more than his closest rival (Lionel Messi)
8. Kai Wagner
- Club: Philadelphia Union
- Position: Left-back
Coming back to that Union defence, it’s impossible not to mention Kai Wagner.
The German is pretty much the standout full-back in MLS right now. He’s registered more assists (10)* than any other defender in 2025 and has created 77 chances — at least 36 more than any of his teammates.
Wagner is also first among Union players in open-play crosses (26), passes completed (1,202), tackles (85) and blocks (42), proving how much of an elite two-way force he is in this league. There’s a reason he’s been linked so much with a return to Europe, and the Union are lucky to have kept him.
Kai Wagner key stats
- 10 assists — more than any other MLS defender
- Team-high 85 tackles — 16 more than the next-closest Philadelphia Union player (Jovan Lukic)
7. Hany Mukhtar
- Club: Nashville SC
- Position: Attacking midfield
Hany Mukhtar endured a bit of a dip in 2024, with eight goals his lowest return in a full MLS season. However, the 2022 MVP is back, with 14 goals and 10 assists to his name so far this campaign, helping Nashville compete among the very best Eastern Conference teams following a poor collective season last year.
The former Germany youth international is one of the league’s top creative forces, while he’s a relentless driver of the ball, sitting first among Nashville players in 2025 for final third carries (70), progressive carries (95) and carries into the penalty area (29).
At his fantastic best, Mukhtar is unstoppable.
Hany Mukhtar key stats
- 70 carries into the final third — 23 clear of his nearest Nashville teammate (Andy Najar)
- 90 goals for Nashville SC — 48 more than any other player in club history
6. Martin Ojeda
- Club: Orlando City
- Position: Left winger
This is Martin Ojeda’s third year in MLS, and while the first two were decent enough in setting the stage, 2025 has been truly sensational.
The Argentine has 18 goals and 13 assists to his name in 35 appearances across all competitions, including 14 goals and nine assists in 27 MLS outings.
Ojeda is fifth in the entire league for chances created (76), while nobody in Orlando can match him for touches in the opposition box (118). The 26-year-old is more about function than flair, as proven by his team-high return for recoveries (108), always alert to the loose ball.
Martin Ojeda key stats
- 79 chances created in MLS — only four players in the league have more (Kai Wagner, Marcel Hartel, Carles Gil, Cristian Espinoza)
- Team-high 118 touches in the opposition box
5. Carles Gil
- Club: New England Revolution
- Position: Attacking midfield
Moving to MLS at the start of 2019 has proven to be one of the best decisions Carles Gil has ever made.
The Spaniard — once of Aston Villa — has clocked up 53 goals and 63 assists in 208 appearances for the Revs since then, including a handsome nine goals and seven assists in 28 outings this season.
Along the way, Gil has won MVP and Supporters’ Shield titles in 2021, while he’s been an MLS All-Star three times.
Carles Gil key stats
- 85 chances created in MLS — 52 more than his nearest New England Revolution teammate (Alhassan Yusuf)
- 59 successful take-ons in MLS — 29 more than his nearest New England Revolution teammate (Alhassan Yusuf)
4. Evander
- Club: FC Cincinnati
- Position: Attacking midfield
Evander originally arrived in MLS from FC Midtjylland by joining the Portland Timbers. The Brazilian tore the league apart while in the Pacific Northwest, with a 15g/15a return in the 2024 MLS regular season the pinnacle of his achievements there.
But Evander has taken things to an even greater level since joining FC Cincinnati for 2025, hitting 20 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances for the Orange and Blue so far to see them second in the Eastern Conference.
The 27-year-old tops out among Cincy players in a host of key metrics in MLS this season, including chances created (59), passes into the penalty area (59), final-third touches (648) and progressive carries (103).
Evander key stats
- 16 MLS goals in 2025 — only three players have more (Dejan Joveljic, Lionel Messi, Sam Sturridge)
- 648 touches in the attacking third — 103 more than his nearest FC Cincinnati teammate (Luca Orellano)
3. Sam Sturridge
- Club: Nashville SC
- Position: Striker
Given his modest record in England, few could have predicted how much of a raging success Sam Sturridge would become for Nashville. In fact, the striker managed just two goals in his first 11 combined regular-season and MLS Cup Playoff outings, while a return of 15 goals in 32 outings across all competitions last season was solid at best.
But Sturridge really has found his feet this season, with his 20 goals in 29 appearances enough to see him one ahead of a certain Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Sturridge and Mukhtar have combined to form a lethal attack for Nashville, who will be a serious threat heading into the post-season.
Sam Sturridge key stats
- Top of the MLS Golden Boot race with 20 goals — one clear of second-place Lionel Messi
- 75% of Sam Sturridge’s goals have been scored with his right foot
2. Lionel Messi
- Club: Inter Miami
- Position: Right winger
Even at 38 years old, Lionel Messi continues to be a force of nature.
Just this season, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has hit 27 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, firing Inter Miami well into Supporters’ Shield contention and the Leagues Cup final — where they were eventually battered 3-0 by the Seattle Sounders.
Messi fever has been in full swing in MLS, and while for some, that is intoxicating, it has been a source of frustration for others — who see the Argentine distracting from some of the league’s exciting young talents and other shining lights.
But on an individual basis, there can be no denying just how ruthlessly effective Messi has been since arriving in Fort Lauderdale.
Lionel Messi key stats
- 27 direct goal contributions in MLS this season — only Anders Dreyer (30) has more
- 61 all-time goals for Inter Miami — 23 more than Luis Suarez in second
1. Anders Dreyer
- Club: San Diego FC
- Position: Right winger
And yet, if you want the best player in MLS right now in terms of effectiveness, influence on their team and sheer output, Anders Dreyer is your man — not Messi.
The Denmark international has been an utter revelation for San Diego in their expansion year, registering more direct goal involvements (30, 14g/16a) than any other player.
Dreyer is second in MLS for big chances created (20), while he’s also proven unnervingly effective at generating openings for himself.
He can pass, dribble and shoot in equal measure, and with his output firing San Diego to within just a point of the Supporters’ Shield lead as we reach the final sprint of the regular season, it’s easy to see why Dreyer is a firm favourite for the MVP award.
Anders Dreyer key stats
- League-high 30 direct goal involvements in 2025
- 69 chances created — 35 more than his nearest San Diego FC teammate, Jeppe Tverskov
Honourable mentions: Pep Biel, Hugo Cuypers, Yohei Takaoka, Tai Baribo, Alonso Martinez, Dayne St. Clair, Philip Zinckernagel, Eric Choupo-Moting, Diego Rossi, Alex Roldan, Nathan Harriel, Hirving Lozano, Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, Andre Blake, Cristian Roldan, Diego Luna.
*Assist stats based on Opta definition