As the MLS season starts this week with 29 teams (too many), no relegation, and replacement refs, there are many players to be excited about. MLS has started to shift its focus away from older former European stars to younger up-and-coming South American talents. There are a ton of talented and fun players to watch spread out over 29 teams, so obviously there will be some guys left out, apologies in advance.
Honorable Mention
The rest of Inter Miami stars: Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez. All three started in the 2015 Champions League final. All three are above the age of 34, yet still have insane amounts of quality. Busquets is the pick of the bunch, he will control the game from midfield and the tempo. Suarez should at least score a couple of goals that will end up on SportsCenter’s top 10.
Duncan McGuire should not be playing for Orlando City if everything went right on deadline day. As funny as his failed transfer to England is, it does mean McGuire should be gone in the summer to Europe. McGuire is a threat whenever he touches the ball and has a great eye for goal. The 23-year-old American from Omaha scored 13 goals last season and should be motivated in the next few months.
I almost put David Martinez in the top 10, irrationally high on the list. The 18-year-old Venezuelan is the coup of the MLS off-season. Described by The Guardian as “the best player of his generation,” Martinez has already played a full season in the Venezuelan top-flight league. The winger could be a flagship signing for the league and the newest star in LA.
10. Miles Robinson (USA) Centerback, FC Cincinnati
The 26-year-old would’ve been a starter at the World Cup in 2022 for the US, if not for an injury. As it stands now, he’s still on the starting bubble for the US. Robinson made the move to FC Cincinnati as a free agent and turned down offers in Europe. He is a no-nonsense defender who is dangerous in the air. He is one of the few Americans playing in MLS with a case to make the national team roster. At 26, he’s entering his early prime, and a solid season with FC Cincinnati could see him starting for the US on home soil this summer in Copa America.
9. Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) Winger, Toronto FC
After a disappointing first season in a half where he only played in 31 games and scored 10 goals, this season will be different. After all the European Championship is this summer, we know what Insigne can do in a tournament. A motivated Insigne is a dangerous man. He likes to cut in from the left winger and whip a curler with his right foot into the top corner. If he can mesh with new head coach John Herdman and produce goals and assists, Insigne will sure give Italian national team head coach Luciano Spalletti a lot to think about.
8. Thiago Almada (Argentina) Attacking Midfielder, Atlanta United
Sometimes the words “too good for this league,” are used, but never has it been more apparent. Thiago Almada will not be playing in MLS by August. He’s already a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022. Almost 23, and many European clubs are circling for him, with good reason. Almada is box office. He can affect the game in moments with his pace and dribbling skills when on the counterattack. He scores a lot of goals outside the penalty box, which reminds me a lot of Liverpool-era Philippe Coutinho. Almada produced double-digit goals and assists last season while finishing top-3 in MVP voting. Almada wants to leave for Europe, so watch out for his demeanor early in the season to see if he still plays with the excitement he’s known for.
7. Cristian Espinoza (Argentina) Winger, San Jose Earthquakes
If you contribute to 53% of your teams’ goals in a season, you probably should be on a “players to watch,” list. Cristian Espinoza’s fifth season in the MLS (All with San Jose) was his best. Espinoza has a wand for a left foot and should hopefully get more help this season. He is dangerous from a free-kick as well. Espinoza ranked in the 97th percentile in expected assists per 90, which means if his team can finish more of the chances he creates he could reach double-digit assists.
6. Hany Mukhtar (Germany) Forward, Nashville SC
In his last 67 MLS games, Hany Mukhtar has 54 goal contributions (goals plus assists). The 2022 MLS MVP is a fox in the box. Mukhtar always seems to be in the right position at the right time. Of his 23 goals scored in 2022, only one was from outside the box. Often he finds himself on the end of offensive moves from Nashville. Still only 28 and in his prime, Mukhtar will be crucial for Nashville’s title hopes, and although the German national team could use a goalscoring forward, he won’t be in Julian Nagelsmann’s squad for the Euros.
5. Luciano Acosta (Argentina) Attacking Midfielder, FC Cincinnati
Eventually, the 2023 MLS MVP was going to feature in this list. In his second go around in MLS, Acosta dazzles on the field with amazing dribbling and sick goals. Acosta stands out on the field, he’s hard to miss at 5’3. His 27-goal contributions for the Supporter Shields winner were exceptional. However, like Mukhtar, Acosta is still in his prime at 28. Can Acosta up his levels as expectations rise for his team and him? Since 1996, when MLS was founded, no player has ever won the MLS MVP in back-to-back years.
4. Pedro De La Vega (Argentina) Winger, Seattle Sounders
It’s risky to put someone on this list who has never played a single minute in the MLS, but De La Vega should be a success. Despite not having the best output numbers in Argentina for Lunas, De La Vega was wanted by European clubs for years. De La Vega wants to take on opponents when he receives the ball on the wing. He is a positive player who looks to take on the man defending him and make something happen. Having just turned 23, if De La Vega can contribute with high-goal contributions, he could easily be off to Europe in a year or two.
3. Denis Bouanga (Gabon) Forward, Los Angeles FC
Denis Bouanga broke out for LAFC last year scoring 20 goals. Bouanga is an absolute sniper on the field. He can score from anywhere and is always looking to shoot. A lethal finisher who uses his speed and dribbling ability to get his shot off. Bouanga often drifts wide in attack and looks for angles to shoot. Bouanga’s six assists point to his ability to be unselfish in the final third. LAFC. His experience as a proven MLS forward will be huge as LAFC invested in two young forwards this winter.
2. Riqui Puig (Spain) Central Midfielder, LA Galaxy
Vibes, pure vibes. Riqui Puig is one of the most technically gifted players to ever grace MLS. Puig often controls the pace of games from the midfield. He makes the game look effortless with his one-touch passing. The former Barcelona midfielder shocked many by coming to MLS, but at just 24, he still has plenty of time to go back to Europe. His underlying per-90 nerd numbers are also insane. He ranks in the 99th percentile in shots, shot-creating actions, passes attempted, progressive passes, progressive carries, and successful take-on.
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) Winger, Inter Miami
Seriously, did you think I was going to put anyone else? The best to ever do it has decided to spend the remaining years of his career in Miami. Messi has some of his favorite Barcelona teammates with him and is bound to make a run at MLS MVP. Messi is an elite free-kick taker, and whenever the game is stopped his genius truly comes out. At least once a game he will do something incredible. He enters his first full season in MLS with lots of expectations, but this is nothing new for him. We (Americans) should enjoy him as much as possible.
Featured Image: Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
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