GOAL takes a look at MLS's best XI with the 2025 season looming
The 2025 MLS season begins Saturday afternoon when Lionel Messi's Inter Miami takes on New York City FC in an Eastern Conference clash. The match arrives less than three months after the LA Galaxy claimed the 2024 MLS Cup, defeating the New York Red Bulls for their first title in 10 years. The and Messi themselves set the MLS regular season points record en route to claiming the Supporters' Shield, while the Argentine himself was named MLS MVP, too.
The 2025 season is shaping up to be potentially the league's most exciting campaign, especially with the addition of its 30th team in San Diego FC.
With the MLS kicking off its 30th season, who really are the best players in MLS? Ahead of the 2025 season, GOAL presents the MLS Best XI, crafted from strict criteria to ensure the top players from each position would be considered in a 4-3-3 formation with two central midfielders and one attacking midfielder.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportGoalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina, Charlotte FC
The Charlotte FC shot-stopper was absolutely brilliant in 2024, finishing with a career-high 12 shutouts across the regular season. The Croatian goalkeeper was instrumental to conceding just 37 goals last season; the second-fewest across all of MLS.
Named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024, the 32-year-old recorded 121 saves while averaging a save percentage of 75.63 — the best in MLS last season.
Per American Soccer Analysis, Kahlina's -10.47 G-xG ranks as the second-best individual goalkeeping season in MLS since 2013, only behind former New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic’s -10.75 in 2022.
AdvertisementUSA Today Sports Left Back: Jordi Alba, Inter Miami
In his first full season with the , Alba led all MLS defenders in assists with 14 as Miami lifted the Supporters’ Shield and set the MLS regular season points record with 74 points. He averaged a passing completion percentage of 83.8 as well, highlighting how crucial he was to their success of building out of the back. He scored four goals as well.
The former Barcelona and Spain ace has settled into life in MLS phenomenally, with strict defensive performances when needed, while providing brilliant overlapping play into their attack as well.
After his 2024 season, the 35-year-old ranks third all-time in assists for the South Beach club.
IMGANCenter Back: Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Seattle Sounders
The Seattle Sounders 32-year-old defender was remarkable in 2024, putting on a defending clinic throughout the regular season and postseason.
Last campaign, he started 28 matches, making 30 regular season appearances as the Sounders boasted the least amount of goals scored across the entire league, with just 35 being allowed in.
The Sounders led the league in clean sheets with 13 of them, 11 of which Yeimar started. The Colombian was named to MLS ' Best XI in 2024 for the second time in his career.
IMGANCenter Back: Adilson Malanda, Charlotte FC
Malanda's rise to stardom in MLS has been brilliant, and what makes it even better, is he's still a relatively unknown quantity to a lot of fans around the league. He's quiet, but composed, and just a fantastic central defender.
In 2024, he led Charlotte FC's back line to the second-best defense in the league, with the conceding just 37 goals across the regular season. He himself started 32 regular season games for the club, playing 2,880 minutes while keeping 13 clean sheets. He scored his first MLS goal in 2024, as well.
Linked with a move abroad in summer 2024, the Frenchman signed a new contract last summer, and is one of MLS' brightest prospects at just 23-years-old.
