All stats as of Monday, September 25, 2023
Atlanta United's Thiago Almada has proven to be one of the most talented players in MLS and has propelled Atlanta to the league's joint-highest goal scoring attack. The 22-year-old Argentine international and World Cup Champion currently leads MLS in assists (16) and big chances created (21) and ranks second in goal contributions (10 goals, 16 assists) and chances created (86). Almada is the only player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday three times in 2023 and was named an MLS All-Star.
Atlanta United's Giorgos Giakoumakis has scored 15 goals in 24 matches played in his debut MLS season, currently sitting tied atop the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race. The Greek international is the leading scorer for the joint-highest scoring attack in MLS and was named an MLS All-Star.
In 2023, Mathieu Choinière went from a versatile player to an undisputed starter in central midfield. The 24-year-old homegrown player had a breakout season in his sixth MLS campaign. Choinière had career-highs in goals (4) and assists (4) as well as scoring his first MLS brace on August 20 against Toronto FC, including the game-winning goal. He became the second player from the province of Quebec to be invited to the MLS All-Star Game. He was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday three times. He is on pace to reach new personal records in terms of games played, games started, and minutes. Choinière became the homegrown player to play the most regular season games with the Club (now at 99).
In his first season with CF Montréal, Jonathan Sirois cemented himself as his team’s undisputed starting goalkeeper, playing over 2,500 minutes. Forced into the starting role early during the season opener after an injury to his teammate, the 22-year-old homegrown goalkeeper was part of the team’s second longest streak without allowing a goal (406 minutes). He also shutout the opponent for a franchise record of 618 consecutive minutes at home. On September 16, Sirois broke the franchise record with his 11th shutout of the season. Sirois is tied for first in the league with 11 shutouts and registered 84 saves so far this season.
Karol Swiderski is on pace to record his second consecutive 10+ goal season in Major League Soccer. The Polish international was instrumental in Charlotte FC's run to the Quarterfinals of Leagues Cup 2023, and his game winning goals against Columbus Crew, Atlanta United, and the Los Angeles Galaxy have secured important points for Charlotte FC in league play. The forward has featured five times for Poland during 2023 and scored one goal and added one assist in European Championship Qualifiers.
Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez has been nominated for the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player for his contributions in his first full season with the Black & Gold, who rank third in the Eastern Conference and lead the league in goals and assists. Cucho is currently the Crew’s active leading goal scorer (13) and has posted a team-best 11 assists, one of only three players in the league tallying more than 10 in each category. The Colombian native currently leads the league in shots (128) and shots on target (47) despite appearing in at least three fewer matches than all MLS competitors who currently stand in the top-10 for each statistic. Since joining the Crew midway through the 2022 season, he has appeared in 39 contests and registered 36 goal contributions (22 goals, 14 assists), the fifth-most in MLS during that time.
At CF Montréal , Cucho became one of only five MLS players in 2023 and the first Crew player since 2018 to record a hat trick, propelling the Club to a 4-2 away victory. On July 4 against Inter Miami CF, he became the 16th player in Club history to record 10 assists in a single season and the first since 2018. The forward set a new club record with a goal contribution in nine consecutive matches (14 total; five goals, nine assists), the longest such streak in MLS since 2019, from April 29 to June 17. Cucho is only the second player in club history to record 25 or more goal contributions in their first 30 matches with the club when he recorded his 26th against the New York Red Bulls on July 1. The Colombian has contributed to 14 goals in his 12 home matches this season.
Christian Benteke has been a consistent pillar in the Black-and-Red offense since signing on Aug. 5, 2022. In 2023, Benteke scored 13 goals and recorded four assists in 29 total appearances. The forward is one of the most aerially dominant players in MLS, boasting a 66.3% success rate for aerial duels. Benteke leads the league with 353 total aerial duels this season.
In 2023, Luciano 'Lucho' Acosta leads MLS with 27 goal contributions in 28 appearances. He is tied for first in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race (15), and his 12 assists this year are fourth in MLS. In July, Acosta was named captain of the 2023 MLS All-Star Team, earning the nod after beating out three other finalists in the first-ever MLS All-Star Captain Fan Vote.
Acosta’s MVP-caliber season has also seen the Argentine twice earn MLS Player of the Month honors, in August and September, to become the first player since 2019 (Josef MartÃnez) to win the award in consecutive months. The midfielder has also been recognized on the MLS Team of the Matchday on 11 separate occasions.
The FC Cincinnati Captain has been one of the most clutch players in the league this season, as Acosta is one of 11 players in the league to have six or more game-winning goal contributions. He’s led an FC Cincinnati squad which has the best home record in the league, taking 40 of a possible 45 points at home so far this season.
Acosta has recorded nine games of multiple goal contributions, three separate streaks of at least three-consecutive games with a goal, and three separate streaks of consecutive games with an assist. The Argentine has scored two game-winning goals and has added a team-high four game-winning assists.
On June 21, Acosta became the eighth active MLS player and 28th player in league history to record at least 50 goals and 50 assists. Then, on July 1, with two assists, he became the only active player with 70+ assists and 50+ goals. With two assists on August 26, he became the sixth player in MLS history to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in three or more different seasons.
Ferreira, 22, became FC Dallas’ first Homegrown Young Designated Player signing in January 2022. Ferreira was named 2022 MLS Young Player of the Year after tying FC Dallas’ single-season goal record (18) and made six assists. Ferreira also became the second player in MLS history to record at least 30 goals and 20 assists in his career before turning 22. Ferreira’s 48 FC Dallas career goals only trails Jason Kreis (91) in FC Dallas history.
In 2023, Ferreira continues to lead FC Dallas to a playoff position and is currently tied-ninth in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi standings with 12, trailing the three players tied for first by three goals. Ferreira leads MLS with seven game-winning goals.
Ferriera became the first player in USMNT history to score back-to-back hat tricks during the Gold Cup group stage matches against St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
Ferreira is the Son of FC Dallas legend David Ferreira and has two younger brothers, Mathew and Santi.
The Dynamo enter the final stretch of the season in a playoff position and will play for a trophy at the end of September when they face Inter Miami CF in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. The team also qualified for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, and captain Héctor Herrera has been at the heart of the team's resurgence this year. The midfielder is among the best distributors in the final third and has tallied 14 assists this year. He has also found the back of the net in key victories over in-state rivals like Austin FC or in the semifinal of the U.S. Open Cup against Real Salt Lake.
Herrera's fingerprints can be found throughout the team's rise in the standings and the team looks to secure their first berth in the postseason since the 2017 campaign. Héctor’s performance on the field has also led to a recent call up and cap with the Mexican National Team.
Artur is in his first season with the Dynamo and has served as the unsung hero of the team. That and he has been the lynchpin for the group both as an enforcer and the heart of a midfield that features the last two Concacaf Gold Cup players of the tournament. His ability to protect the back line has generated a team record of 12 clean sheets and has positioned the club above the playoff line with a handful of games left in the regular season. Additionally, the club will return to international competition in 2024 after earning a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup and can earn a trophy later this month when the team faces Inter Miami CF in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and recent World Cup champion Lionel Messi has been an instant success in Major League Soccer. The legendary Argentine began his Inter Miami career in July and the team hasn't lost a match since; he guided the team to the Leagues Cup title, the first official trophy in Club history, and has carried the momentum into the regular season. The Argentine has done his part in continuing to put Major League Soccer on the map in global fútbol with the historic Leagues Cup title.
In Leagues Cup, Messi hit the ground at a blazing pace, scoring a late freekick winner in his first appearance. He went on to win his first pair of individual awards for Inter Miami, claiming the 2023 Leagues Cup Top Scorer and Best Player awards. The Argentine netted 10 times in the tournament, including at least one goal in every game and three consecutive braces along the way, and added four assists for good measure. His performances elevated the team around him and positioned it to make a run in the regular season play.
Since the return to League play, Messi has helped Inter Miami turn its season around and rise the table as it pushes for a playoff spot. The MLS newcomer has played in four regular season matches thus far, helping the team to three wins and a draw in that time and accumulating two MLS Team of the Matchday awards. In his MLS debut, Messi came off the bench in the second half on the road against New York Red Bulls and instantly made his mark, pulling off a spectacular team move and capping it with his first League goal, securing the victory. Then, on the road against reigning champions LAFC, he lifted the team to a resounding 1-3 victory, registering two assists in the process.
Messi has elevated his team and changed its fortunes in unprecedented fashion, injecting a boost into Inter Miami’s 2023 season, and proving he is the Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer.
Legendary Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets has quickly made his presence felt in Major League Soccer. Since making his debut for Inter Miami in July, Busquets has played a key role in leading the team to a Club-record 12-match unbeaten streak, securing the first title in First Team history by winning Leagues Cup, and carrying the positive form into MLS regular season action. The midfielder has done his part in continuing to put Major League Soccer on the map in global fútbol with the historic Leagues Cup title.
Busquets played in every Leagues Cup match en route to the title, starting six of the seven. Since the return to MLS action, the midfielder has appeared in all four regular season matches, starting three of them and tallying two assists in the process.
The Spaniard continues to see the game in ways no other player does. His efforts in midfield have elevated his teammates and the group, helping Inter Miami reach new heights since his arrival.
Riqui Puig, a 2023 MLS All Star, has recorded seven goals and eight assists in 28 games played (28 starts) during the 2023 MLS Regular Season. Puig ranks first in the league touches (2,438), passes attempted (2,159), passes completed (1,858), successful passes entering the final third (799), second in dribbles completed (91), and fourth in chances created from open play (54). In seven games played since tallying a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over LAFC on July 4, Riqui Puig ranks tied for third in MLS with 10 goal contributions (six goals, four assists) behind only Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Ryan Gauld (six goals, six assists) and FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta (six goals, six assists) during that span.
One of the most explosive performers in MLS, Denis Bouanga has scored 27 goals in all competitions for LAFC in 2023, recording a hat trick in three different tournaments. Through Sept. 14, he has 40 goal contributions in 38 overall games. A dangerous attacker who wreaks havoc on opposing defenses, Bouanga leads LAFC with four game-winning goals this season after scoring 14 goals in his first 15 overall appearances of 2023.
The reigning MVP continued his momentum in 2023, currently leading the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race with 15 goals. In 2023, Mukhtar contributed to 25 of Nashville's 36 goals. No player has had the impact that DP Hany Mukhtar has had for Nashville SC in three consecutive seasons. With five games still to be played in 2023 and the support of newly signed DP and #9 Sam Surridge, Mukhtar's contributions will sure continue as he leads Nashville SC to the club's fourth consecutive playoffs run as an expansion team.
Revolution captain Carles Gil has produced a stellar 2023 campaign, as the 2021 Landon Donovan MLS MVP remains among the league’s elite playmakers in his fifth season in New England. The Spanish midfielder ranks among the league’s top seven with 22 goal contributions and is the catalyst of the Revolution attack, which ranks sixth in MLS with 49 goals scored. Gil’s 13 assists are third-most in MLS, just three off the pace. The league’s leading chance creator over the last two seasons, Gil has created 75 shots for his teammates through Matchday 31, third most leaguewide. The two-time MLS Best XI pick has also produced six game-winning assists, most in MLS.
This season, Gil became the first player in Revolution history to register four seasons with double-digit assists. On July 15, Gil became the third-fastest player in MLS history to reach the 60-assist mark, as his 60 assists rank second in Revolution history. The 2023 MLS All-Star has collected eight MLS Team of the Matchday selections this season.
Returning to New York City Football Club as a Designated Player, RodrÃguez has impressed with the ‘Boys in Blue’ this season as the Club’s new No. 10. Leading the team in scoring with seven goals, Santi has been the focal point in New York City’s attack, also finishing in the top-3 in assists, shots, minutes, appearances. The Uruguayan midfielder has taken home four MOTM accolades this season.
Keaton Parks has become a staple in the midfielder under Nick Cushing this season. The American is the only player to start every match this season, leading the team in minutes played. His creative play, technical ability, and knack for starting the attack from a deep position, along with his two goals and three assists this season, has made Parks one of the most dependable two-way midfielders in the League.
Facundo Torres has continued to be one of the most impactful players in the league in just his second season in MLS. The Montevideo, Uruguay, native has scored a team-high 12 goals through 30 games in MLS regular-season play, including five game-winning goals through City’s 2023 campaign so far, converting a perfect 5-for-5 from the penalty spot. Torres has added an additional four assists for a total of 16 goal contributions in MLS play, proving himself an invaluable piece of the Lions’ attack once again and a danger to any defense in the league. When Torres scores, Orlando City is a perfect 8-0-0 against all opposition.
Julián Carranza has made an immediate impact since joining the club in 2022. Thus far this season he 12 goals and is just three behind the three leaders of the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi standings. Carranza currently ranks fifth in most goals scored in club history with 26 goals since the start of the 2022 season, in addition to his cumulative 14 assists. Additionally, in 58 matches played for Philadelphia, he has recorded five multi-goal games, just one behind former Union forward Sébastien Le Toux (six), for the most in club history.
In 2022, Carranza’s goals contributed to recording numerous single-season records, including most wins (19), most goals scored (72), and greatest goal differential (46). Carranza scored his first career hat trick against D.C. United on July 8, 2022, making it the fifth hat trick in club history. His second hat trick came against D.C. United on August 20, 2022, becoming the second player in MLS history to score two hat tricks against the same team in a single season. Carranza’s efforts helped lead the team to their first ever appearance in an MLS Cup final.
Carranza has earned two MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire honors this season. His four total Player of the Matchday honors he’s been awarded since the 2022 season is the second most in MLS over that span, behind Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar. Carranza is also the first player in club history to win the award four different times.
With 237 combined MLS regular season and playoff appearances, Andre Blake remains the Union’s longest tenured player since being drafted from the University of Connecticut in 2014. On August 26, 2023, Blake set a club record for most MLS appearances, surpassing defender Ray Gaddis with 222 appearances. So far this season, Blake has racked up 54 saves and registered seven clean sheets in 22 matches. With a current 1.0 GAA, Blake holds the second-lowest average of all goalkeepers who have appeared in at least 10 matches this season and holds the second-highest win percentage of all goalkeepers who have appeared in at least 10 matches with 68.2%.
Last season, Blake helped the team advance to their first ever Audi MLS Cup final. He made five saves, keeping a clean sheet, against FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference semifinal and three saves against New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final, making the Union the 2022 Eastern Conference Champions and earning them their first appearance in the MLS Cup final. Following a standout season, Blake made history last year by winning the Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third time in his career (2016, 2020, and 2022), becoming the first goalkeeper in MLS to receive the honor three times. He was one of two Union players to play every single minute of the 2022 MLS regular season and led the league in shutouts 15, and with Blake in the net, the Union achieved the fewest goals ever conceded (26) by any MLS team during a 34-game season.
In addition to the Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, Blake was also voted an MLS All-Star for the fourth time in his career and won the 2022 John Wanamaker Athletic Award, which is presented to the athlete, team or organization which has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and the team or sport in which they excel. Blake is the first men’s soccer player to receive the award since it began in 1961.
During his Union career thus far, Blake has made 692 saves in 20,336 minutes in MLS regular season and has racked up 72 clean sheets while maintaining a 1.22 GAA. Internationally, Blake regularly features as Jamaica’s number one goalkeeper and has earned 70 caps and registered 25 clean sheets for the Reggae Boyz.
Cristian Espinoza, 28, is an Argentine winger in his fifth season with the San Jose Earthquakes. He was acquired from La Liga side Villarreal on a season-long loan on Jan. 2, 2019, before being transferred permanently on Dec. 11, 2019. This season he signed a new contract as a designated player through the 2025 season with an option for 2026.
The native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, previously represented his national team at the youth level, winning the 2015 U-20 South American Championship and playing in the U-20 World Cup that year.
Espinoza has scored a career-high of 12 goals and has tallied 11 assists, contributing to 23 of the Quakes’ 36 goals this year (over 60% of the club’s goals this season). Thanks to his attacking effort, the Earthquakes are in position to qualify for playoffs for the first time since 2020.
In his fifth season with San Jose, Espinoza tallied his 51st assist to break the club record for most assists all time. The record was set by club legend Shea Salinas, who retired last year. Espinoza has since extended the record after tallying his 55th assist of his career.
At San Jose, Espinoza leads the club in corner kicks (552) and shots (323) and is in the top three for game-winning goals (12).
Espinoza has earned five TOTM selections and was MLS player of the month for April. He led the league in scoring that month (5 goals), with two game-winning goals for San Jose. His standout performance has not gone unnoticed, as he earned his first MLS All-Star selection this year, being personally chosen by All-star coach Wayne Rooney.
Espinoza has been amongst the leading goal scorers all season and leads the league in key passes (84). It was his brace that secured the 2-1 victory over reigning MLS champions LAFC on May 6, when the Quakes hosted the LA side in front of 45,000+ fans at Levi’s Stadium.
Jordan Morris leads Sounders FC with 10 goals this season, his fourth career double-digit scoring season. Fresh off representing the U.S. Men’s National Team at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Morris burst onto the scene in 2023 with a club-record four-goal performance against Sporting Kansas City on March 25. His 63 career goals across all competitions for Seattle now rank third in club history (as of September 15, 2023).
Stefan Frei is tied atop MLS with 11 shutouts this season, two shy of his Sounders FC club record set in 2017. His 0.96 goals against average is the lowest among all goalkeepers with at least 20 starts, with the Rave Green ranking second in MLS with just 31 goals allowed this season. In addition to holding the franchise record in every goalkeeping category, Frei’s 102 career MLS regular-season shutouts rank third in MLS history (as of September 27, 2023).
After missing all the 2022 season through injury, Sporting KC forward Alan Pulido has had his most prolific season in MLS in 2023 by scoring 13 goals and adding three assists. Since his arrival to Kansas City in 2020, Pulido has amassed 29 goals and 11 assists in 64 matches for Sporting across all competitions, including 27 goals in MLS regular season play. Among players with at least 20 regular season appearances for the club, he ranks first in Sporting history in goals per match (0.47), second in goals per 90 minutes (0.56), second in goal contributions per match (0.66) and third in goal contributions per 90 minutes (0.78). His 0.47 goals per match is the seventh-best scoring rate in MLS since the start of 2020 among players with at least 50 games played.
He is tied for fifth in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race with 13 regular season goals in 2023 — two behind three players for the lead — and leads the team in both goals (14) and goal contributions (17) across all competitions, all of which are single-season highs since beginning his Sporting tenure as a club-record signing in early 2020.
Pulido has scored 12 goals in 14 league matches since the start of June, tied for most during that stretch. Voted MLS Player of the Month for June after tying a club record for most MLS goals in a single month, he has also been selected to the MLS Team of the Matchday five times this season.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy has enjoyed an extremely productive first full season with the club in 2023, tallying four goals and team-leading 10 assists from midfield in MLS regular-season play. Thommy’s 10 assists in 2023 currently put him in a tie for eighth across all of MLS. Since the resumption of the MLS regular season following the Leagues Cup break, Thommy has rounded into top form by posting five goal contributions (1g, 4a) in three matches.
Thommy, who joined Sporting midway through the 2022 campaign, has tallied 21 goal contributions (7g, 14a) for the club in just 48 appearances across all competitions. In 2023 alone, the German midfielder has four goals and 12 assists 35 appearances, while Sporting is 9-1-3 when he provides a goal contribution in 2023. His 16 goal contributions rank second on the team, behind only Alan Pulido.
- Captain of the current first place Western Conference St. Louis CITY SC. A team that was predicted to finish last or second to last.
- Leads the league in goals prevented at 8.07 (expected goals on target conceded - goals conceded). Next closest GK is Daniel at 7.99. Andre Blake sits third at 4.3, Drake Callendar sits 34th at -0.75.
- Leads the league in saves with 114.
- Tied-fifth in the league in clean sheets with 8.
- Third in the league in crosses stopped (37), ninth in crosses stopped percentage (6.7%).
- Tied for fifth in MLS in defensive actions outside the penalty area at 42.
Ryan Gauld has been the catalyst for Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s success in 2023. Overall, the attacking midfielder has started 25 of his 27 regular season appearances this year and recorded a career-high 10 goals as well as 10 assists as of September 25. His 20 goal contributions placed him eighth in the league this season. In fact, since May 31, no one in MLS play has had more goal contributions (19 - 10 goals, nine assists) than the Scotsman, and he is second in expected-goals (8.99) over that stretch. Gauld currently sits in the top 10 in MLS in assists (10), big chances created (17), chances created (70), and expected assists (7.21). In addition, Gauld has shown his ability on the other side of the ball, winning 61 per cent of his tackles and tallying 14 blocked shots.
