The Top 10 Stars in MLS in 2026—Ranked

The star power in MLS has never been greater than it is in the league’s 31st season.

Headlined by eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, the quality of players has risen exponentially in the past several seasons, including 2025, which saw Thomas Müller and Son Heung-min make their way to the American top division, with 2026 already set to introduce Antoine Griezmann in July.

While past eras of MLS were defined by stars that became known for their achievements overseas, the new era is different. Those types of players still remain; however, they are joined by MLS-grown talents and players who have elevated their play stateside. 

Here’s Sports Illustrated breakdown of the top 10 stars of the 2026 season.

10. Josh Sargent (Toronto FC)

Josh Sargent arrived in Toronto on a $22 million transfer, which could rise to $27 million if all add-ons are met, making the USMNT striker the most expensive incoming transfer in MLS history and earning English Championship side Norwich City a pretty penny. 

A starter for the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup, Sargent had reached a modicum of success with Norwich, sparking Toronto’s interest in a potential connection between him and fellow U.S. Designated Player, midfielder Djordjie Mihailovic. 

While Sargent has not had ample USMNT opportunities under manager Mauricio Pochettino, he is off to a stellar start in Toronto, with a goal, an assist and four shots on target in his first 244 minutes for the Canadian side.

9. Facundo Torres (Austin FC)

Facundo Torres returned to MLS in 2026 with Austin FC and could be the lone MLS player to play for manager Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay at the World Cup, boasting 22 appearances thus far for his country.

Now 25 years old, Torres played three seasons with Orlando City between 2022 and 2024, scoring 47 goals and 25 assists. He then moved to Brazilian giants Palmeiras, where he scored 10 goals and contributed six assists.

Torres has adapted quickly to Austin, boasting four assists in his first four games and 20 key passes, ranking third in MLS in the latter category early on.

8. Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)

Rodrigo De Paul arrived in MLS from Atlético Madrid in 2025, further elevating the league’s profile by linking up with Argentina international teammate Messi.

Known for his aggressive play-style, De Paul became a more versatile and transitional player in his first MLS year, and connected nicely with emerging Inter Miami star Tadeo Allende, who broke the record for the most goals in a single MLS Cup playoff campaign.

De Paul finished his debut year in the league with four assists in nine regular-season games, before scoring a goal in the MLS Cup final win over Vancouver Whitecaps.

7. Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)

Hany Mukhtar has been one of the most consistent superstars in MLS since joining Nashville SC in 2020, having earned 2022 MLS MVP honors and evolving with the team through several managers. 

Known for his creativity and ability to create stunning goals and assists, Mukhtar has moved from being Nashville’s only potent attacker to a critical piece of a trio alongside pure goalscorer Sam Surridge and former San Jose Earthquakes star, Cristian Espinoza, who joined as a free agent in 2026.

The 2022 season saw Mukhtar win the Golden Boot with 23 goals and 11 assists, a campaign that also earned him the MLS MVP Award and other headline personal accolades, as well as four MLS All-Star selections. Team-wise, he played a key role in Nashville’s 2025 U.S. Open Cup win, the first professional championship for a team from Tennessee. 

In total, through his first 220 games across all competitions, Mukhtar has 96 goals and 57 assists.

6. Evander (FC Cincinnati)

FC Cincinnati’s Evander has been a superstar in MLS for several years and remains one in 2026. First bursting onto the scene as an artistic yet aggressive attacking midfielder with the Portland Timbers, he has established himself as a key cog in FC Cincinnati’s setup.

With Cincinnati in 2025, he scored 18 goals and 15 assists, despite not linking up well with the club’s marquee striker option, Kévin Denkey. In total, he boasts 42 goals and 35 assists in his 93-game MLS regular season career thus far.

5. Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC)

Anders Dreyer burst onto the MLS scene with 2025 expansion side San Diego FC and quickly established himself as one of the league’s best players on a team few expected to do well, let alone top the Western Conference through the regular season. 

A Denmark international winger, Dreyer netted 19 goals and 19 assists, while missing not a single match in the 34-game regular season, showcasing attacking potency and consistency that few other players have. 

Although San Diego faltered against Vancouver in the 2025 Western Conference final, Dreyer’s debut season will go down as the best ever by a player on an expansion roster.

4. Denis Bouanga (LAFC)

Denis Bouanga’s time with LAFC has been nothing short of exceptional, with the Gabon international establishing himself as one of the best players in the league.

With electrifying pace and tactical versatility, Bouanga has led several eras of LAFC, first with Gareth Bale and most recently, alongside Son Heung-min. Through it all, he has amassed 109 goals and 43 assists across 164 games, helping the club claim the 2022 MLS Cup in his first season, followed by dominant regular seasons and the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.

3. Son Heung-min (LAFC)

A veteran of 10 seasons with Tottenham Hotspur and one of the best Asian soccer players ever, Son Heung-min has further elevated his profile at LAFC even after standing out as one of the best players in the Premier League. 

Joining LAFC for a then-record incoming transfer fee of $26.2 million, Son made an immediate impact, scoring 12 goals and four assists in his first 12 games. At the same time, he forged a quick partnership with LAFC talisman Bouanga and scored an iconic free kick in an eventually futile effort in his first crack at the MLS Cup playoffs.

At the start of 2026, he quickly adapted to new manager Marc Dos Santos and became the second player in MLS history to score four assists in a single half, matching only Lionel Messi in a 6–0 win over Orlando City.

2. Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Few soccer players rival the number of trophies that Thomas Müller has won in his career. In total, he has scooped 35 trophies for club and country—including the 2014 World Cup—which is the most by any German player in history.

After nearly two decades with Bayern Munich, he joined Vancouver Whitecaps in 2025 and helped the club secure a fourth-straight Canadian Championship title, then won the Western Conference before losing to Miami in the MLS Cup. 

He got off to a blistering start after joining the Whitecaps midseason, with seven goals in seven regular-season games. This season, he has managed to lead the Canadian side to the top of the MLS table after Matchday 7.

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

It doesn’t get any bigger than Lionel Messi when it comes to superstars in global soccer. For many, being 38 years old may mark the twilight of a career, but the Argentine No. 10 is still playing at an outstanding level. 

Since signing with the Herons midway through the 2023 season, Messi has been at an elite level in MLS play, leading the team to the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters' Shield, and the 2025 MLS Cup. Through his first 96 games across all competitions, he has 83 goals and 44 assists and is the only player to have earned back-to-back MLS MVP Awards

He’s signed with the Herons through 2027–28.

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