Soccer <\/p>\n
It’s another sign that the business end of the season has well and truly arrived: Voting for MLS’s Year-End Awards opens this week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Many of these categories are shaping up as tight races, and there are still a few regular-season games left that could edge some contenders a nose ahead in the eyes of the voters.<\/p>\n
As it stands, here’s how I see things breaking down for the best and brightest of 2025.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Cards on the table: My MVP pick is Anders Dreyer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n And that\u2019s because San Diego FC<\/a>\u2019s star has been doing the business all season. He’s been available. He’s been on the pitch. His numbers speak for themselves: 15 goals, six game-winners, a league-leading 18 assists, 80 key passes and a team that’s vastly exceeded expectations, as shown by equaling the MLS record for most points in an expansion season (57). One more point over their final two matches, and it\u2019s theirs outright.<\/p>\n I know what you\u2019re thinking: How can Dreyer compete with Lionel Messi<\/a>?<\/p>\n Indeed, the GOAT has the advantage in name recognition, and he’s been excellent with 24g\/14a (and counting). He’s the league leader in goal contributions and is the best attacker of all time. But he’s got help \u2013 Sergio Busquets<\/a>, Jordi Alba<\/a>, Luis S\u00faarez<\/a>, Rodrigo De Paul<\/a> and the rest of the supporting cast at Inter Miami<\/a>. We knew nothing about this San Diego team before the season started. For a player to arrive in the league and do what Dreyer has done in year one is incredible, and even if it’s just my vote, he gets it.<\/p>\n LAFC<\/a>\u2019s Denis Bouanga<\/a> is making a late run into the reckoning, too. With an absurd nine goals in his last five games, he might just pip Messi to the 2025 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi. Evander<\/a> also has a strong case, and I thought he was quite close to surpassing Messi to last year\u2019s MVP \u2013 he was very underrated for Portland<\/a>. I was rooting for him, and with 17g\/14a, many of them highlight-reel quality, he\u2019s been every bit as good for FC Cincinnati<\/a> this season.<\/p>\n All that said, Dreyer\u2019s numbers don\u2019t lie, and he\u2019s turned up week after week for a brand-new team. What else can I say?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Lots of worthy contenders here. Shoutouts to Minnesota United<\/a>‘s Eric Ramsay, who\u2019s fashioned the Loons into a very difficult team to beat. And Jesper S\u00f8rensen, architect of Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a>\u2019s best-ever season in MLS \u2013 I’m a big Vancouver supporter, I love what they’ve crafted, and S\u00f8rensen\u2019s done a great job.<\/p>\n Yet for me, it\u2019s undoubtedly Bradley Carnell. You\u2019ve got to remember, Jim Curtin and the Philadelphia Union<\/a> were down and out after last season; they simply were not the Philly we\u2019re used to. They’re supposed to be in a rebuilding period right now. This was meant to be a transition year, with a new coach to get them going again after losing a legendary manager.<\/p>\n In a matter of months, Carnell has done what most of us thought he\u2019d need three or four years to achieve. They\u2019re tops in the Supporters’ Shield race, and can lock it up this weekend with a win over New York City FC<\/a>. They’re solid in all areas of the pitch. He’s got commitment from every player in that squad, and you can see it in 10 players defending, six or seven attacking \u2013 it’s an all-action team.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Dreyer will undoubtedly earn plenty of votes here for such an excellent debut season. But since he\u2019s my MVP pick, Philip Zinckernagel<\/a> is my choice for Newcomer.<\/p>\n Those who watch Wrap-Up and 360 on MLS Season Pass<\/a> have probably heard me say the catchphrase: \u201cIf you\u2019ve got to think, give it to Zinck.\u201d The Danish winger has been excellent for Chicago Fire FC<\/a>, notching a goal contribution almost every game on average (14g\/13a in 29 matches). He’s a huge reason why Chicago broke their eight-year Audi MLS Cup Playoffs drought.<\/p>\n He\u2019s unlucky that so many other wide attacking players are having great seasons, because in another year, he might well be in the MVP conversation. With his clinical finishing and IQ in the final third, he\u2019s class. And to be as effective and have such an impact on the team in his first season, I have to give him credit.<\/p>\n Should we be adding Son Heung-Min<\/a> to this list? LAFC\u2019s new superstar has made a massive splash since his record-breaking August arrival from Tottenham; 8g\/3a in his first 640 MLS minutes is an absurd level of productivity right out of the gates. Still, he\u2019s only played eight games so far, so on principle, I\u2019m taking Zinckernagel\u2019s season-long sample size.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n That\u2019s our All Star \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8 #cf97<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eouxcsMOFF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 X – Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) June 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n We\u2019ve got some lively competition for this one. Though he\u2019s only just turned 20, Obed Vargas<\/a> has been outstanding for Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> for four years now, winning two major trophies and becoming a full international for Mexico.<\/p>\n I know Quinn Sullivan<\/a> won’t get enough love \u2013 in fact, I think that may be the story of his career, that he will be chronically overlooked because there might be a few players a bit glossier than him \u2013 but that’s a top player, and he ranks highly on my list.<\/p>\n Still, I have to go with Alex Freeman<\/a> for this award. Orlando City<\/a>\u2019s rising right back is just such a beast. He plays above his years; he can step into midfield, runs up and down that right flank relentlessly, scores goals and is an amazing athlete. He broke onto the scene this year and hasn’t looked back, earning a US men\u2019s national team<\/a> call-up and seizing it so well that he\u2019s probably headed to the FIFA World Cup<\/a> next summer.<\/p>\n My advice to both Oscar Pareja and Mauricio Pochettino: Just let the kid attack.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n ALEX FREEMAN FINDS THE EQUALIZER! pic.twitter.com\/Jwslrjlcok<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n We\u2019ve got plenty of deserving candidates for this honor, including Daniel<\/a> (San Jose<\/a>), Lawrence Ennali<\/a> (Houston<\/a>) and Pablo Ruiz<\/a> (RSL<\/a>). I\u2019ve got C\u00e9lio Pompeu<\/a> at the top of my list, though.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The St. Louis CITY SC<\/a> attacker suffered a nightmare injury in the midst of a career year last season, which required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. After a long recovery that I\u2019m sure was a painstakingly difficult process, he made his way back to the pitch over the summer and produced some moments of magic:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Though it\u2019s been another frustrating campaign in St. Louis, the 25-year-old Brazilian should be a real asset to the incoming leadership team at Energizer Park.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Many of the usual suspects for this award \u2013 namely Walker Zimmerman<\/a> and Matt Miazga<\/a> \u2013 have been hampered by injuries. That\u2019s opened the door for several worthy contenders, including Seattle\u2019s Jackson Ragen<\/a>, Vancouver\u2019s Tristan Blackmon<\/a> and Andy Najar<\/a>, a revelation for Nashville SC<\/a> on his return to MLS. At one point, I had Portland\u2019s Finn Surman<\/a> on my radar, but the Timbers have dropped off in recent months.<\/p>\n Philadelphia\u2019s Jakob Glesnes<\/a> is my pick.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Any time I see a Philly lineup, he’s there. With 2,446 minutes under his belt, only Kai Wagner<\/a> has played more minutes for the current league leaders. The big Norwegian anchors the stingiest defense in MLS (33 goals allowed in 32 matches), plays in about 99 percent of the games, and for long stretches, he\u2019s had to do it without Andre Blake<\/a>, the Union\u2019s veteran goalkeeper.<\/p>\n I think people will overlook Glesnes because there are bigger names and more glamorous clubs, but he’s been the mainstay.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n I think Carlos Coronel<\/a> has been really good, even if his New York Red Bulls<\/a> haven’t, and their North American pro sports record streak of playoff qualifications is over. Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Matt Freese<\/a> is class; he\u2019s powered NYCFC’s run up the table and gained the inside track on the USMNT starting job with just months to go until the World Cup.<\/p>\n The reigning GKOTY, Kristijan Kahlina<\/a>, has been superb and leads the league in saves \u2013 it\u2019s no accident that Charlotte FC<\/a>\u2019s recent nine-game winning streak coincided with him returning to form.<\/p>\n\n
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