The 40 Best MLS Players of All Time

By YPB TeamMay 14

Homegrown American icons, marquee European arrivals and South American maestros have all left their stamp on Major League Soccer. Where do you stand?

1
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose Earthquakes striker who became MLS's all-time leading scorer with 171 goals.
1000pts
2
Landon Donovan
All-time MLS Cup leader and the league's defining homegrown star across the LA Galaxy era.
999pts
3
Brian Ching
Houston Dynamo striker who scored the extra-time equaliser in the 2006 MLS Cup final and won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
810pts
4
Lionel Messi
Argentine icon whose 2023 arrival at Inter Miami brought MLS its biggest-ever global spotlight.
678pts
5
Tim Howard
Veteran American goalkeeper whose New York and Colorado MLS spells bookended a long Premier League career.
678pts
6
Juan Pablo Ángel
Colombian striker who scored freely for New York Red Bulls and led them to their first MLS Cup final in 2008.
635pts
7
Jason Kreis
Dallas Burn striker who won the 1999 MVP award and became the first player to reach 100 MLS goals.
635pts
8
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Swedish striker whose two LA Galaxy seasons produced 53 goals and a 2018 Newcomer of the Year award.
586pts
9
Ignacio Piatti
Argentine attacker who carried Montreal Impact for five seasons and was one of the most productive designated players of the late 2010s.
532pts
10
Omar Gonzalez
Towering centre-back, 2011 Defender of the Year, who won three MLS Cups with LA Galaxy and was MVP of the 2012 final.
532pts
11
Marco Etcheverry
Bolivian playmaker who led DC United to three of the first four MLS Cup titles.
532pts
12
Kyle Beckerman
Real Salt Lake captain and midfield anchor who lifted the 2009 MLS Cup and played nearly 500 regular-season games in the league.
469pts
13
Jeff Agoos
Defender who won a record five MLS Cups with DC United and San Jose Earthquakes during the league's first decade.
469pts
14
Dwayne De Rosario
Canadian attacker who won four MLS Cups, two MLS Cup MVP awards and the 2011 league MVP across five different clubs.
469pts
15
Andre Blake
Jamaican Philadelphia Union goalkeeper who won three Goalkeeper of the Year awards and the 2020 Supporters' Shield.
469pts
16
Carlos Valderrama
Colombian playmaker and 1996 inaugural MLS MVP, a defining icon of the league's early years.
469pts
17
Jaime Moreno
Bolivian forward who won four MLS Cups with DC United and retired in 2010 as the league's all-time leading scorer with 133 goals.
469pts
18
Sebastian Giovinco
Italian Atomic Ant whose 2015 MVP season for Toronto FC is among MLS's most decorated debut campaigns.
469pts
19
Thierry Henry
Arsenal legend who lifted New York Red Bulls to a Supporters' Shield during his four MLS seasons.
469pts
20
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls striker who won two Golden Boots and equalled the single-season scoring record with 27 goals in 2014.
397pts
21
Brian McBride
Fearless Columbus Crew target forward of the league's early years who later finished his career back in MLS with Chicago Fire.
397pts
22
Nicolás Lodeiro
Uruguayan playmaker who powered Seattle Sounders to MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019 and the 2022 Concacaf Champions League.
397pts
23
Diego Valeri
Argentine playmaker who won the 2017 MVP award and the 2015 MLS Cup with Portland, scoring in the final after just 27 seconds.
397pts
24
Robbie Keane
Irish striker who won the 2014 MVP and led LA Galaxy to two MLS Cup titles.
313pts
25
Josef Martinez
Atlanta United striker whose 31-goal 2018 MVP season powered the club to its MLS Cup.
313pts
26
Taylor Twellman
New England Revolution striker who won the 2005 MVP award and scored more than 100 MLS goals before concussions ended his career.
313pts
27
Preki
Two-time MVP whose Kansas City Wizards and Miami Fusion years stamped him onto MLS lore.
313pts
28
Carlos Ruiz
Guatemalan striker who scored 24 goals in his debut season with LA Galaxy in 2002, winning the MVP award and the MLS Cup.
313pts
29
Brad Davis
Houston Dynamo left-footed playmaker who won two MLS Cups and retired among the league's all-time assist leaders.
313pts
30
Luciano Acosta
Argentine playmaker who won the 2023 MVP award while leading FC Cincinnati to the Supporters' Shield.
213pts
31
David Beckham
LA Galaxy midfielder whose 2007 move transformed MLS marketing and on-field credibility.
213pts
32
Denis Bouanga
Gabonese forward who won the 2023 Golden Boot with LAFC and became one of the league's most prolific scorers of the 2020s.
213pts
33
Raúl Ruidíaz
Peruvian striker who scored prolifically for Seattle Sounders from 2018 and won the 2019 MLS Cup.
213pts
34
Cobi Jones
LA Galaxy winger and longtime MLS appearances record holder who spanned 12 seasons.
213pts
35
Clint Dempsey
Hard-running American forward who returned home to Seattle Sounders and won the 2016 MLS Cup.
213pts
36
Nick Rimando
Real Salt Lake goalkeeper who won the 2009 MLS Cup and retired holding league records for appearances, wins and shutouts.
213pts
37
Eddie Pope
Commanding centre-back who scored the golden goal in the inaugural 1996 MLS Cup final and won three titles with DC United.
0pts
38
Carlos Vela
LAFC playmaker whose record 34-goal 2019 MVP season is the high-water mark of modern MLS attacking play.
0pts
39
Osvaldo Alonso
Cuban midfielder who anchored Seattle Sounders for nine seasons from the club's MLS debut and won the 2016 MLS Cup.
0pts
40
Michael Bradley
Toronto FC captain who led the club to the 2017 treble of Supporters' Shield, Canadian Championship and MLS Cup.
0pts