Opinion: Landon Donovan, Chris Wondolowski, Jaime Moreno top our list of the top 25 MLS players ever
Major League Soccer has embarked on its milestone 25th season, and to celebrate we are unveiling a list of the greatest players in the league's first quarter century.
Compiling such a list is a challenge. Many of the players listed below had club playing careers outside of MLS, so ranking players here is not quite as intuitive as doing so for the NFL's top 100, per se. This list was composed solely on the value of a player's career and contributions made during their time in MLS.
This list contains a broad spectrum of players, including the league's pioneers from its inaugural season through the newcomers who became the latest record-setting goal-scorers.
Here are the top 25 players in MLS history:
25. Chad Marshall
Position: Defender
Teams: Columbus Crew (2004-13), Seattle Sounders (2014-19)
Honors: Two-time MLS Cup winner, three-time MLS Defender of the Year, four-time MLS Best XI
One of the most venerable and durable defenders in MLS history, Marshall is the only three-time winner of the MLS Defender of the Year award.
24. Ozzie Alonso
Position: Midfielder
Teams: Seattle Sounders (2009-18), Minnesota United (2019-present)
Honors: 2016 MLS Cup winner, 2012 MLS Best XI
Absolutely fearless and tenacious defensive midfielder who earned the appropriate nickname "Honey Badger," Alonso – who defected from Cuba to play in MLS – has never missed the playoffs in his 11-year career.
23. Thierry Henry
Position: Forward
Team: New York Red Bulls (2010-14)
Honors: Three-time MLS Best XI
One of the most significant signings in league history, Henry led NYRB to the 2013 Supporters' Shield (presented to team that finishes regular season with the most points), the first trophy in the club's history.
22. Bradley Wright-Phillips
Position: Forward
Team: New York Red Bulls (2013-19)
Honors: Two-time MLS Golden Boot winner, two-time MLS Best XI, eighth all time in goals scored
In addition to helping lead the Red Bulls to three Supporters' Shields, BWP owns two of the top 10 best goal-scoring seasons in league history (including tying the then-MLS record with 27 in 2014).
21. Tony Meola
Position: Goalkeeper
Teams: MetroStars (1996-98, 2005), Kansas City Wizards (1999-2004), New York Red Bulls (2006)
Honors: 2000 MLS Cup winner, 2000 MLS MVP, 2000 MLS Best XI, 2012 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee
A goalkeeping legend in U.S. soccer, Meola had a season for the ages in 2000, setting a record with an incredible 16 clean sheets en route to leading the KC Wizards to their first MLS Cup win.
20. Clint Dempsey
Position: Forward
Teams: New England Revolution (2004-06), Seattle Sounders (2013-18)
Honors: 2004 MLS Rookie of the Year, two-time MLS Best XI, 2016 MLS Cup winner, 2017 MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Relentless goal-scoring threat who had a flair to his game – as former USMNT coach Bruce Arena so eloquently put it, "He tries (expletive)" – "Deuce" was one of the most awe-inspiring players to watch in MLS history.
19. Preki
Position: Midfielder/forward
Teams: Kansas City Wizards (1996-2000, 2002-05), Miami Fusion (2001)
Honors: Two-time MLS MVP, two-time MLS scoring champion, four-time MLS Best XI, 2000 MLS Cup winner, fifth all time in assists, 2010 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee
Predrag Radosavljevic, a.k.a. Preki, is the only two-time winner of league's MVP award.
18. Carlos Vela
Position: Forward
Team: Los Angeles FC (2018-present)
Honors: 2019 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, two-time MLS Best XI
In record-setting 2019 season, Vela set a goal-scoring standard (34 in 34 games) that will be difficult to match. For good measure, Vela also smashed the single-season record for combined goals and assists.
17. Taylor Twellman
Position: Forward
Team: New England Revolution (2002-09)
Honors: 2005 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, 2002 MLS scoring champion, two-time MLS Best XI, 10th all time in goals scored
Before becoming the face of ESPN's MLS TV coverage, Twellman scored more goals (101) than any other player from 2002-09.
16. Carlos Ruiz
Position: Forward
Teams: Los Angeles Galaxy (2002-04, 2008), FC Dallas (2005-07, 2016), Toronto FC (2008), Philadelphia Union (2011), DC United (2013)
Honors: 2002 MLS Cup winner, 2002 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, 2002 MLS Best XI, 2002 MLS Goal of the Year award
On top of being a lethal goal-scorer, "El Pescadito" – or "The Little Fish" – is one of the most extraordinary personalities in league history.
15. David Beckham
Position: Midfielder
Team: Los Angeles Galaxy (2007-12)
Honors: Two-time MLS Cup winner, 2011 MLS Best XI
Beckham's signing with the Galaxy after playing for European soccer powerhouses Manchester United and Real Madrid was a seminal moment in the league's history.
14. David Villa
Position: Forward
Team: New York City FC (2015-18)
Honors: 2016 MLS MVP, two-time MLS Best IX
The first player signed by NYCFC, Villa netted 77 goals in four seasons as NYCFC rose from expansion to become one of the league's top clubs.
13. Josef Martinez
Position: Forward
Team: Atlanta United (2017-present)
Honors: 2018 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, 2018 MLS Cup winner, three-time MLS Best XI, 2019 MLS Goal of the Year award
First player in league history to win all-star, league and MLS Cup MVP honors during a single season (2018).
12. Sebastian Giovinco
Position: Midfielder/forward
Team: Toronto FC (2015-18)
Honors: 2015 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, 2017 MLS Cup winner, three-time MLS Best XI
Toronto FC's fortunes changed significantly with the arrival of the "Atomic Ant" in 2015, making the playoffs for the first time in team history. Then, Giovinco helped Toronto reach MLS Cup in back-to-back seasons, winning the title in 2017.
11. Carlos Valderrama
Position: Midfielder
Teams: Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996-97, 1999-01), Miami Fusion (1998-99), Colorado Rapids (2001-02)
Honors: 1996 MLS MVP, three-time MLS Best XI
Still the MLS record-holder for single-season assists (26), Valderrama's popularity was boosted by not only his knack for dropping dimes but also for sporting the most distinctive hair in league history.
10. Eddie Pope
Position: Defender
Teams: DC United (1996-2002), MetroStars (2003-04), Real Salt Lake (2005-07)
Honors: Three-time MLS Cup winner, four-time MLS Best XI, 1997 MLS Defender of the Year, 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee
Pope scored the dramatic golden goal to give DC United the win in the first MLS Cup in 1996.
9. Jeff Agoos
Position: Defender
Teams: DC United (1996-2000), San Jose Earthquakes (2001-04), MetroStars (2005)
Honors: Five-time MLS Cup winner, three-time MLS Best XI, 2001 MLS Defender of the Year, 2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee
Agoos is second only to Landon Donovan for most MLS Cup wins.
8. Nick Rimando
Position: Goalkeeper
Teams: Miami Fusion (2000-01), DC United (2002-06), Real Salt Lake (2007-19)
Honors: Two-time MLS Cup winner, three-time MLS Save of the Year winner
Rimando holds the MLS records for career wins, shutouts, saves and overall appearances. His stops in a penalty shootout against the LA Galaxy in the 2009 MLS Cup helped Real Salt Lake win its first title.
7. Diego Valeri
Position: Midfielder
Team: Portland Timbers (2013-present)
Honors: 2015 MLS Cup winner, 2017 MLS MVP, three-time MLS Best XI
Arguably the league's most technically gifted midfielder ever, Valeri also scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup history.
6. Marco Etcheverry
Position: Midfielder
Team: DC United (1996-2003)
Honors: Three-time MLS Cup winner, 1998 MLS MVP, four-time MLS Best XI, two-time MLS Goal of the Year award winner
Midfield maestro for the DC United teams that dominated in the league's formative years.
5. Dwayne De Rosario
Position: Midfielder/forward
Teams: San Jose Earthquakes (2001-05), Houston Dynamo (2006-08), Toronto FC (2009-11, 2014), New York Red Bulls (2011), DC United (2011-13)
Honors: Four-time MLS Cup winner, 2011 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, six-time MLS Best XI, two-time MLS Goal of the Year award winner
De Rosario had a knack for scoring dramatic goals, including the golden goal to win the 2001 MLS Cup.
4. Robbie Keane
Position: Forward
Team: Los Angeles Galaxy (2011-16)
Honors: Three-time MLS Cup winner, 2014 MLS MVP, four-time MLS Best XI
With David Beckham and Landon Donovan already in tow, Keane was the final piece for a Galaxy dynasty that won three MLS Cups in a four-year span.
3. Jaime Moreno
Position: Forward
Teams: DC United (1996-2003, 2004-10), MetroStars (2003)
Honors: Four-time MLS Cup winner, five-time MLS Best XI
Fourth all time in goals scored and sixth all time in assists, Moreno was the first to hit the 100 goals-100 assists career plateau. Landon Donovan is the only other MLS player with more than 100 career goals and 100 career assists.
2. Chris Wondolowski
Position: Forward
Teams: San Jose Earthquakes (2005, 2009-present), Houston Dynamo (2006-09)
Honors: MLS' all-time leading goal-scorer, 2012 MLS MVP, three-time MLS Best XI, two-time MLS Golden Boot winner, two-time MLS Cup winner
This season will be the retirement tour of one of the league's most prolific all-time goal-scorers. Wondo solidified his legendary status by joining the Earthquakes' supporters while serving a red-card suspension late last season.
The @MLS all-time leading goal scorer.
In the stands with our supporters.
We will do anything for this man. #VamosSJpic.twitter.com/QxPcvPQTsp
1. Landon Donovan
Position: Midfielder
Teams: San Jose Earthquakes (2001-04), Los Angeles Galaxy (2005-14, 2016)
Honors: Six-time MLS Cup winner, 2009 MLS MVP and Goal of the Year winner, seven-time MLS Best XI
An easy choice for No. 1 on this list, Donovan ranks second on the all-time goals-scored list and first on the career assists list. He's also won a quarter of the league's MLS Cup titles.
Also considered: Miguel Almiron, Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Bradley, Diego Chara, Brian Ching, Jeff Cunningham, Marcelo Balboa, Kyle Beckerman, Brad Davis, Stefan Frei, Brad Guzan, Kevin Hartman, Tim Howard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cobi Jones, Kasey Keller, Jason Kreis, Nicolas Lodeiro, Mike Magee, Brian McBride, Peter Nowak, Ignacio Piatti, Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
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