With MLS and the rest of the US sports leagues suspended due to COVID-19, now is the perfect time to look at the league’s top 25 current players.
As with the rest of the world, Major League Soccer is currently on hold. In the meantime, this break gives everyone plenty of time to re-watch old matches, revisit the league’s best teams, and make lists of best goals, players, and matches. In this piece, we will look at the league’s top 25 current players before discussing this list on the next MLS Multiplex podcast, which you can find and listen to here.
Listen to the latest episode of the MLS Multiplex podcast here! — Top 25 players in MLS
This list factors in players’ “current” form (relative to the COVID-19 pandemic), their success in MLS only, and resume from their time in MLS. For example, for all the success he achieved in Europe and on the international stage, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez will not appear on this list because he only appeared in two matches with the LA Galaxy thus far. Meanwhile, a player like Bradley Wright-Phillips, who is currently coming off his worst year in the league, made the list because of his impressive MLS resume in the years prior to 2019.
An attempt to include all positions was also made. There will be at least one forward, midfielder, defender, and goalkeeper on this list, to get the best at each position into the list while recognizing that in MLS, attackers steal the spotlight and have the most effect on their respective teams.
Note: players are listed by their position on the league’s official site, mlssoccer.com.
Without further ado, here is the list, followed by some explanation on where players landed:
25. Bill Hamid
24. Bradley Wright-Phillips
23. Miles Robinson
22. Graham Zusi
21. Luis Robles
20. Michael Bradley
19. Aaron Long
18. Omar Gonzalez
17. Kei Kamara
16. Chris Wondolowski
15. Ozzie Alonso
14. Jordan Morris
13. Stefan Frei
12. Diego Valeri
11. Ike Opara
10. Jozy Altidore
9. Jonathan Dos Santos
8. Raul Ruidiaz
7. Darlington Nagbe
6. Diego Chara
5. Maxi Moralez
4. Nico Lodeiro
3. Alejandro Pozuelo
2. Josef Martinez
1. Carlos Vela