Kai Wagner is the only German to make it into the MLS Team of the Season – which is missing not only Thomas Müller, but also other prominent names. Others are at the top in other categories, but champions Miami are nowhere to be found.
The MLS has not yet officially announced who will be named MVP of the season, but it has been an open secret since Saturday. Lionel Messi will become the first player in league history to be named “Most Valuable Player” of the season in two consecutive seasons. Other trophies have already been awarded in connection with Inter Miami’s championship triumph over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Team of the Year
Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United) – Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union) – Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) – Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Of course, Messi is also an integral part of the Team of the Year, but he is the only Inter representative. While two of the league’s superstars, Thomas Müller and Heung-Min Son, are missing, certainly because they only joined midway through the season, Kai Wagner is also included as a German representative. The 28-year-old left-back won the Supporters’ Shield with Philadelphia Union as the highest-scoring team in the regular season, but surprisingly lost to New York City FC (0-1) in the Conference Semifinals. With eleven assists, Wagner, who had already been named to the Team of the Season in 2022, topped all MLS defenders.
Coach of the Year: Bradley Carnell
It was not the finalists Javier Mascherano (Inter Miami) and Jesper Sörensen (Vancouver Whitecaps) who won this trophy, but the former Stuttgart player. Carnell took over Philadelphia Union, who finished twelfth in the Eastern Conference last year, in January and finished the regular season in first place with a franchise record of 20 wins.
Newcomer of the Year: Anders Dreyer
The 27-year-old Danish international moved to the US from RSC Anderlecht and made a big impact at MLS newcomers San Diego FC, scoring 19 goals and providing 19 assists. San Diego narrowly missed out on a place in the MLS final against the Whitecaps.
Youngster of the Year: Alex Freeman
The MLS honored the 21-year-old American right-back, who impressed with nine points (6/3) for Orlando City, but also with his attacking play. Freeman has an excellent chance of playing in the 2026 World Cup on home soil. He only made his debut for Mauricio Pochettino in June, but has already racked up 13 international caps and recently scored twice against Uruguay (5-1).
Goal of the Year: Heung-Min Son
While Müller came away empty-handed in all categories, Son at least picked up this award. The South Korean scored a dream free kick into the corner on his debut for Los Angeles FC in August, but still missed out on victory against FC Dallas (1-1).