Is it too early to start out making assumptions about how the MLS common season will pan out?
It is a truthful query to ask. With 4 matchdays within the books and solely 360-plus minutes of play per workforce, 2025 yields a small pattern dimension and loads of time left in a marketing campaign that extends all the best way into October.
That stated, there are some attention-grabbing traits which have emerged after just one month.
In what has confirmed to be a captivating checkpoint, a lot of shock gamers have taken cost and stolen the early highlight from lots of the league’s greatest names. As is the norm in MLS, this season is to date wanting like one other through which we must always count on the sudden by means of not solely workforce performances, but additionally the person gamers.
With that in thoughts, let’s dive into 5 gamers who’ve hit the bottom operating within the 2025 MVP race, in addition to checking in on just a few preseason favorites which have room to catch as much as the pack.
The Early Prime 5
Tai Baribo | ahead | 27 | Philadelphia Union
League minutes performed: 319
Targets: 6
Assists: 0
FotMob score: 8.04
Is he outperforming his xG (3.69) and it is solely a matter of time earlier than he slows down his goal-scoring tempo? In all probability, however there is not any denying that Baribo has been essentially the most environment friendly ahead in MLS to date, with six targets from solely 9 pictures.
Scoring all of them within the 18-yard field and thru one-touch alternatives, it makes you surprise if there is a case of luck to the participant who appears to at all times be in the correct place on the proper time, or if his sensible positioning makes his kind sustainable.
Luck or not, a lot of his success might be depending on his teammates which have carried out their work to feed the striker and others within the frontline. Dániel Gazdag, Quinn Sullivan and Kai Wagner lead the membership in possibilities created, with seven every.
Hugo Cuypers | ahead | 28 | Chicago Hearth FC
League minutes performed: 293
Targets: 4
Assists: 1
FotMob score: 8.13
Objective off a header? Verify. From the penalty spot? Verify. After being concerned within the buildup? Yup, examine that one too.
What stands out about Cuypers is not only his potential to shortly discover the again of the web 4 instances, but additionally the number of targets he has scored. As seen in his help, he additionally has the imaginative and prescient to set issues up along with his 4 possibilities created in simply as many appearances.
Trying again on a 2024 season through which it took him 16 video games to attain the identical quantity of targets in 2025 to date, the brand new season is clearly a resurgent one for the participant who price the Hearth an €11 million switch payment to recruit from Gent early final yr.
Anders Dreyer | ahead | 26 | San Diego FC
League minutes performed: 360
Targets: 3
Assists: 0
FotMob score: 7.99
There is a lengthy listing of names which have three targets like Dreyer — eight, to be actual — however what units San Diego’s Designated Participant aside is his playmaking that has him fifth general in xA throughout MLS.
Even when the at the moment injured Mexico celebrity Hirving “Chucky” Lozano was wholesome and on the sector, Dreyer has earned highlight-reel moments by means of his breathtaking distribution and skill to search out the again of the web.
Properly-rounded within the assault and paired with a harmful combo of pace and energy behind his pictures, the Denmark worldwide will proceed to be a menace for defenders throughout the league.
Luis Suárez | ahead | 38 | Inter Miami CF
League minutes performed: 291
Targets: 1
Assists: 4
FotMob score: 7.76
Positive, 4 of these purpose contributions arrived in a 4-1 thrashing of the Houston Dynamo, however these should not be discounted — particularly for a participant like Suárez.
Nonetheless making an affect at 38 years of age and stepping up when a sure Argentine World Cup winner is easing into the season, it would not be a shock if Suárez nears and even surpasses his tally of 30 purpose contributions set in 2024. If we’re taking a look at all competitions, he has additionally been an asset in midweek Concacaf Champions Cup video games, including an extra three targets and an help.
But when there’s one factor that the previous Uruguay worldwide wants to enhance on, it is his capturing in MLS. It is a minuscule pattern dimension that should be taken with a grain of salt contemplating that he has been discovering the again of the web within the Champions Cup, however after 4 common season video games, he has only one shot on the right track for Miami.
Albert Rusnák | midfielder | 30 | Seattle Sounders FC
League minutes performed: 321
Targets: 1
Assists: 3
FotMob score: 7.79
Other than Dreyer, leaving out the remainder of the seven-member “three-goal membership” was a troublesome determination right here. As was leaving out somebody from the top-of-the-table Vancouver Whitecaps, who’ve recreation changers like Jayden Nelson, Tristan Blackmon and Sam Adekugbe.
If we’re speaking concerning the potential of an MVP to actually have an effect and vital function, although, Rusnak has been invaluable along with his joint-league-leading whole of 15 possibilities created in 4 video games.
Add in a purpose in his first 4 appearances and you’ve got a participant that appears set to raise the Sounders again right into a playoff place within the close to future.
The Too Early To Rule Out Prime 5
Lionel Messi | midfielder | 37 | Inter Miami CF
League minutes performed: 180
Targets: 1
Assists: 2
FotMob score: 8.70
One of many least controversial issues that any person can say about Messi is to by no means rule him out.
The one purpose why he is not within the prime 5 of the listing above is that he has been unavailable for 2 video games, and when he has been obtainable, he has produced a purpose and two assists in 180-plus minutes of play.
Barring some kind of season-ending harm, the best participant of all time might be anticipated to leapfrog all others on this listing. It is virtually inevitable at this level, and it should take a really particular and singular season from somebody in MLS to prime Messi’s manufacturing by means of October.
Evander | midfielder | 26 | FC Cincinnati
League minutes performed: 281
Targets: 1
Assists: 1
FotMob score: 7.30
You do not look previous a participant who had 15 targets and 15 assists in MLS final season, although the 26-year-old Brazilian might have a bit extra time to settle into his new workforce. As seen when he hit the woodwork in his final match, he is on the verge of breaking by means of with a proficient squad that simply must fine-tune its play within the closing third.
And it isn’t as if the participant is not making an attempt both. In final week’s 2-0 loss to Charlotte FC, Evander confirmed that he can enhance his attacking affect with six pictures and 4 possibilities created.
Miguel Almirón | midfielder | 31 | Atlanta United FC
League minutes performed: 357
Targets: 0
Assists: 1
FotMob score: 7.34
Let’s give a while and credit score to the returning Atlanta United legend who offered a game-winning help in his first recreation again, and a latest hockey help in his final look.
Contemplating that Emanuel Latte Lath has already discovered the again of the web thrice, there ought to be loads of alternatives going ahead for Almirón to at the least enhance his help whole.
We additionally should not overlook that this was a participant who was out and in of the Newcastle United XI since final summer time, which means that his match health will not be at 100% simply but.
Gabriel Pec | midfielder | 24 LA Galaxy
League minutes performed: 360
Targets: 1
Assists: 0
FotMob score: 6.73
Issues simply aren’t the identical when your normal attacking buddies like Ricard Puig and Joseph Paintsil are injured, and when striker Dejan Joveljic is now with Sporting Kansas Metropolis.
Pec might start to choose up his tempo as soon as Paintsil is anticipated to return this spring, and if Puig recovers forward of schedule, that is also the distinction between a quiet and standout yr for not solely Pec, however for the Galaxy.
The title holders have been powerful to look at in 2025 and should not discover their rhythm till later this yr.
Denis Bouanga | ahead | 30 | LAFC
League minutes performed: 301
Targets: 0
Assists: 0
FotMob score: 6.49
If we’re together with all competitions, this may be an honest begin to the yr for Bouanga, who has offered three targets in his previous two Champions Cup appearances.
Sadly, these targets do not depend in MLS for the ahead who has needed to steadiness out his tasks throughout two competitions since February, which led to him being a bench possibility in a recreation earlier this month.
Nonetheless, extra is anticipated of the participant who’s arguably second greatest to Messi in MLS when he is enjoying on the peak of his skills.
