Best players in MLS: 20 of the most talented players in the MLS currently

Who are the best players in MLS? Major League Soccer has seen some of the most gifted players feature in various teams locally and internationally. Here is a compiled list of some of the best players in the league, the teams they represent, and their career milestones.

The MLS was founded in 1993 but began play in 1996 with 10 teams battling it out. Today, 28 teams compete for the ultimate title, where an average game attracts up to 20,000 fans cheering for their favourite clubs. These top MLS players have a track record of exceptional performance wherever they go. Who are the best players in MLS? Read on and discover.

Best players in MLS

While ranking the best players in MLS, factors like unique skill and titles won come to play. These athletes have set impressive records in their countries and beyond and featured prominently in international leagues like UEFA and La Liga. Here is a list of the best players in MLS 2023:

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1. Hany Mukhtar

• Full name: Hany Abubakr Mukhtar
• Nationality: German
• Date of birth: March 21, 1995
• Team: Nashville SC

Hany is ranked among the best players in MLS 2023. The 28-year-old started playing at a tender age, joining Bundesliga's youth academy (Hertha BSC) at seven. He played for the Portuguese team Benfica from 2015 to 2020 and was named the Superliga Player of the Season in April 2018. He joined Nashville SC in 2019 as the first designated player in the club's history.

2. Lorenzo Insigne

• Full name: Lorenzo Insigne Cavaliere
• Nationality: Italian
• Date of birth: June 4, 1991
• Team: Toronto FC

Lorenzo, also known as 'Magnifico', started playing at 15 and is a winger for Toronto FC and the Italian National Team. The player's professional career began in 2009 before his Serie A debut in 2010.

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He played for his country's national Under-21 team, winning a runners-up medal at the UEFA European Championship in 2013. He joined the senior team in 2012 and has played at the FIFA World Cup (2014), UEFA Euro Cup (2016), and UEFA Euro 2020, which he won.

3. Daniel Gazdag

• Full name: Daniel Gazdag
• Nationality: Hungarian
• Date of birth: March 2, 1996
• Team: Philadelphia Union

27-year-old Daniel is one of the famous MLS players. He is the midfielder for the Philadelphia Union, which he joined in May 2021. Previously, he was part of the Budapest Honvéd FC, scoring 13 goals in 30 appearances. The player also represents his country's national team.

4. Luciano Acosta

• Full name: Luciano Federico Acosta
• Nationality: Argentine
• Date of birth: May 31, 1994
• Team: FC Cincinnati

Luciano is an attacking midfielder who joined FC Cincinnati in May 1994 as a designated player from Atlas FC. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2022 after leading the MLS with 19 assists and 10 goals for the second time in his career. The 28-year-old is among the best players in MLS soccer.

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5. Mateusz Klich

• Full name: Mateusz Andrzej Klich
• Nationality: Polish
• Date of birth: June 13, 1990
• Team: D.C United

Mateusz was born in June 1990 in Tarnow, Poland. The professional footballer started playing in 2008 with the Ekstraklasa, the top Polish league for men's Associated Football. He is D.C United's midfielder and also plays for the Polish national team. Additionally, Klich plays for English Premier League Club Leeds United and is among the best players in MLS FIFA 23.

6. Andre Blake

• Full name: Andre Jason Blake
• Nationality: Jamaican
• Date of birth: November 21, 1990
• Team: Philadelphia Union

Andre is a Jamaican native who plays goalkeeper for Philadelphia Union and the Jamaican national team. He previously played for the Connecticut Huskies, attaining 37 shutouts over three years. In 2011 and 2012, Blake won the Big East Goalkeeper of the Year award, and in 2013, he was named the AAC (American Athletic Conference) Goalkeeper of the Year and semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy.

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7. Diego Fagundez

• Full name: Diego Santiago Fagundez Pepe
• Nationality: Uruguayan
• Date of birth: February 14, 1995
• Team: Austin FC

Diego was born in Uruguay, but his family relocated to Leominster, Massachusetts, USA, when he was five. He started playing for the Leominster Youth Soccer before joining FC United in Massachusetts and FC Greater Boston Bolts, winning several titles with the two teams. The attacking midfielder and forward was named the Adidas Interregional All-Star in 2007/2008.

8. Christopher McVey

• Full name: Christopher Donald McVey
• Nationality: Swedish
• Date of birth: April 12, 1997
• Team: Inter Miami

26-year-old McVey is the defender for Inter Miami, which he joined in January 2022. He previously played for Sweden's IF Elfsborg and Dalkurd. He also played for his country's Under-17 and Under-18 teams and ranks among the top 10 best players in MLS.

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9. Jesús Ferreira

• Full name: Jesús David Ferreira Castro
• Nationality: American
• Date of birth: December 24, 2000
• Team: FC Dallas

Jesús is a forward for FC Dallas and the American national football team. He signed his first professional contract in 2016 with FC Dallas and joined the Tulsa Roughnecks on loan in 2018. He is now a designated player. Ferreira started playing for the national team in 2020. The athlete is the son of David Ferreira, a former professional footballer who played for clubs like Atletico Paranaense, FC Dallas, and the Colombia national team.

10. Brandon Vazquez

• Full name: Brandon Vázquez Toledo
• Nationality: American
• Date of birth: October 14, 1998
• Team: FC Cincinnati

Brandon ranks among the best players in the MLS current players. The 24-year-old is a forward for FC Cincinnati, which he joined in 2019. In 2022, Vazquez became the second player in the club to be selected for an All-Star roster after Luciano Acosta.

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11. Sebastian Driussi

• Full name: Sebastián Driussi
• Nationality: Argentine
• Date of birth: February 9, 1996
• Team: Austin FC

Sebastian Driussi is one of the best players in the MLS league. The Argentine player joined Austin FC as a designated player in 2021. In the 2022 season, Driussi attained 22 goals and 29 goal contributions, ranking him second and third highest in the league. His professional debut was in 2013 with his home country's River Plate team.

12. Riqui Puig

• Full name: Ricard Puig Martí
• Nationality: Spanish
• Date of birth: August 13, 1999
• Team: LA Galaxy

Riqui is a Spanish player signed with the LA Galaxy as a midfielder. He joined the franchise in August 2022 from La Liga's FC Barcelona. During his stay with the Spanish club, he scored two goals and three assists in 57 appearances.

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13. Carlos Vela

• Full name: Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido
• Nationality: Mexican
• Date of birth: March 1, 1989
• Team: Los Angeles FC

34-year-old Carlos is rated among the best players in the MLS. He is a forward for the Los Angeles FC and the Mexican national team. Vela joined the team in 2017 as the first designated player in club history. The former Arsenal player won the MLS Golden Boot in 2019 and the Gold Cup in 2009 and 2015.

14. Josef Martinez

• Full name: Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia
• Nationality: Venezuelan
• Date of birth: May 19, 1993
• Team: Inter Miami CF

Josef Martinez is a Venezuelan national born in May 1993. The 30-year-old is Inter Miami CF's striker and one of the best players in MLS history. He joined the club in January 2023 from Atlanta United. Martinez was listed among the MLS Best XI during his first three seasons with his former club and was an All-Star in 2018 and 2019.

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15. Walker Zimmerman

• Full name: Walker Dwain Zimmerman
• Nationality: American
• Date of birth: May 19, 1993
• Team: Nashville SC

Walker is an American player who started his professional career in 2013 with FC Dallas. He joined Nashville SC in February 2020 and won consecutive Defender of the Year Awards (2020 and 2021). Zimmerman also plays for the United States national team and was among the best players in MLS FIFA 22, with five recoveries and two clearances.

16. Facundo Torres

• Full name: Facundo Daniel Torres Pérez
• Nationality: Uruguayan
• Date of birth: April 13, 2000
• Team: Orlando City SC

Torres signed with Orlando City SC in January 2022 as a Designated Player. He started playing at 10 years and almost signed with Serie A's Juventus at 15 years old. His father opposed the move, who felt he was too young. Today, Facundo plays for his country's national team and represented them at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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17. Miles Robinson

• Full name: Miles Gordon Robinson
• Nationality: American
• Date of birth: March 14, 1997
• Team: Atlanta United FC

Miles Robinson is a top MLS player signed with Atlanta United and the USA national team as a centre-back. He was part of the 23-man team representing America at the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021. He led his team to victory in the final match against Mexico when he scored a goal during extra time.

18. Karol Swiderski

• Full name: Karol Grzegorz Świderski
• Nationality: Polish
• Date of birth: January 23, 1997
• Team: Charlotte FC

Karol is an incredible striker playing for Charlotte FC and the Poland national team. He played for Poland's Jagiellonia before making his EUFA debut in July 2015. Swiderski won the Greek Cup twice with PAOK Thessaloniki in 2019 and 2021. He also won the 2019 Greek Championship.

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19. Xherdan Shaqiri

• Full name: Xherdan Shaqiri
• Nationality: Swiss
• Date of birth: October 10, 1991
• Team: Chicago Fire FC

Xherdan is a Swiss national who is a mid-fielder for Chicago Fire FC and the Switzerland national football team. He started his career at FC Basel, a Swiss franchise, in 2009. Shaqiri has also played with Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Stoke City, and Liverpool. He won the Premier League in 2020, Liverpool's first title in 30 years. The footballer has featured in three consecutive World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018) and two European Championships (2016 and 2020).

20. Diego Rubio

• Full name: Diego Iván Rubio Köstner
• Nationality: Chilean
• Date of birth: May 15, 1993
• Team: Colorado Rapids

The famous 30-year-old Diego Rubio is a striker with the Colorado Rapids. He launched his professional career in 2011 with Colo-Colo, a local team. In the same year, he started playing with Chille's national team. Rubio joined the Portuguese Franchise Sporting CP between 2011 and 2013, attaining 22 goals in 52 games, before joining the Colorado Rapids in 2019.

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These talented MLS players have made waves in the sport, inspiring millions of fans and upcoming soccer lovers. With every passing season, more players will continue to thrive on the pitch in this popular sport.

READ ALSO: Top 10 best American soccer players ever

Sports Brief published the best American soccer players in the game's history. These individuals have appeared in international leagues with unmatched records to their names. Who are some of these individuals?

Landon Donovan, who played actively between 2000 and 2014, tops the list. He scored 57 goals in 157 international appearances. Others on the list include Clint Dempsey, Fulham's top scorer with 50 goals, and Tim Howard, goalkeeper for the MLS MetroStars and Everton. Check out the above article for the complete list of top American players.