MLS Player Survey Results: Messi Stays on Top, Major Changes Ahead

omidbasir- In the latest player survey, Lionel Messi remains the standout favorite, echoing the results from last year. The renowned eight-time Ballon d’Or winner garnered an impressive 70% of the player votes.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Player | Team | Percentage of Votes |
|——————-|—————–|———————|
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 70% |
| Denis Bouanga | LAFC | 15% |
| Riqui Puig | LA Galaxy | 8% |
| Son Heung-Min | LAFC | 8% |

In contrast to the previous category, players expressed varied views on the most overrated players in the league, culminating in a notable three-way tie between Charlotte’s Wilfried Zaha, Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna, and Toronto FC’s Walker Zimmerman.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Player | Team | Percentage of Votes |
|——————–|——————-|———————|
| Diego Luna | Real Salt Lake | 17% |
| Wilfried Zaha | Charlotte FC | 17% |
| Walker Zimmerman | Toronto FC | 17% |
| Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami | 8% |
| Evander | FC Cincinnati | 8% |
| Thomas Muller | Vancouver Whitecaps| 8% |
| Gabriel Pec | LA Galaxy | 8% |
| Myrto Uzuni | Austin FC | 8% |
| Dayne St. Clair | Inter Miami | 8% |

Dejan Joveljić, who lifted the MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy in 2024, was subsequently acquired by Sporting Kansas City. His peers recognized him as MLS’s most underrated player in GOAL’s annual survey.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Player | Team | Percentage of Votes |
|——————–|——————-|———————|
| Dejan Joveljić | Sporting KC | 27% |
| Cristian Espinoza | Nashville SC | 18% |
| Jack McGlynn | Houston Dynamo | 9% |
| Lawrence Ennali | Houston Dynamo | 9% |
| Mark Delgado | LAFC | 9% |
| Sean Zawadzki | Columbus | 9% |
| Sam Surridge | Nashville SC | 9% |
| Jeppe Tverskov | San Diego FC | 9% |

In a continuation of last year’s trend, Los Angeles remains the preferred city among players, receiving 42% of the total vote. However, players made it clear that LAFC is their favored side of the Angel City rivalry. New rivals, San Diego FC, ranked second.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Rank | City / Club | Share of Votes |
|——|——————–|—————-|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 26% |
| T-2 | LAFC | 16% |
| T-2 | San Diego | 16% |
| T-4 | Philadelphia | 14% |
| T-4 | Chicago | 14% |
| T-4 | Houston | 14% |

Players expressed their preferences for stadiums, identifying Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Colorado Rapids) and Gillette Stadium (New England Revolution) as their least favorite venues. The Revolution has plans for a new soccer-specific stadium in Everett, while the Rapids have not announced significant upgrades.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Stadium | Club | Share of Votes |
|——————————-|———————–|—————-|
| Dick’s Sporting Goods Park | Colorado Rapids | 17% |
| Gillette Stadium | New England Revolution | 17% |
| Audi Field | D.C. United | 8% |
| Toyota Stadium | FC Dallas | 8% |
| Shell Energy Stadium | Houston Dynamo | 8% |
| Providence Park | Portland Timbers | 8% |
| Lumen Field | Seattle Sounders | 8% |
| BMO Field | Toronto FC | 8% |
| BC Place | Vancouver Whitecaps | 8% |

LAFC, along with its vocal supporter groups at BMO Stadium, received significant recognition, narrowly leading the votes for the best-supported teams.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Rank | Club | Share of Votes |
|——|——————-|—————-|
| 1 | LAFC | 29% |
| T-2 | Portland Timbers | 20% |
| T-2 | Seattle Sounders | 20% |
| T-2 | Austin FC | 20% |
| 5 | St. Louis City SC | 11% |

When players were asked which team they believe is best run outside of their own organizations, the Seattle Sounders emerged as the top choice, a shift from last year’s results that favored LAFC.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Rank | Club | Share of Votes |
|——|——————-|—————-|
| 1 | Seattle Sounders | 24% |
| 2 | LAFC | 18% |
| T-3 | Nashville SC | 12% |
| T-3 | FC Cincinnati | 12% |
| T-3 | Chicago Fire | 12% |
| T-3 | Philadelphia Union | 12% |

Inquiring which MLS coach players would prefer to work with, former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, now at the helm of the Chicago Fire, received the most votes. His predecessor, FC Cincinnati’s Pat Noonan, also garnered notable interest.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Rank | Coach | Club | Share of Responses |
|——|———————-|——————-|——————–|
| 1 | Gregg Berhalter | Chicago Fire | 30% |
| 2 | Pat Noonan | FC Cincinnati | 20% |
| T-3 | BJ Callaghan | Nashville SC | 10% |
| T-3 | Mikey Varas | San Diego FC | 10% |
| T-3 | Marko Mitrović | New England Revolution | 10% |
| T-3 | Brian Schmetzer | Seattle Sounders | 10% |
| T-3 | N/A | N/A | 10% |

*Note: Some responses were left blank or listed as N/A.*

Written responses provided by players highlighted several positive aspects of the league. Common sentiments included:

– “The league has a very good reputation internationally, and many players and coaches want to come. It is a well-run league.”
– “Messi.”
– “The playoffs to conclude the season.”
– “Quality of players.”
– “Youth talent.”
– “The fans.”
– “Marketing.”

Interestingly, Messi was specifically mentioned by at least four players.

Players also shared suggestions for areas where the league could improve, including:

– “Higher spending (floor and cap), eliminate TAM/GAM, and simplify roster management.”
– “Adjusting the salary cap.”
– “Allow every team their own jersey brand, as not all teams wear adidas.”
– “Increase salary budgets.”
– “Modify roster rules for more spending flexibility.”
– “Continue enhancing player standards.”
– “Improve fan engagement.”
– “Transition away from single-entity structures.”
– “Revamp TV deals.”

*Note: Salary cap and roster rules were commonly identified by multiple players.*

In a landmark shift, MLS plans to implement a fall-spring schedule for the 2027-28 season to align with the European calendar. League executives believe this change will enhance competitiveness in global transfers and increase visibility in the American sports landscape.

Player responses regarding this change were overwhelmingly supportive:

**92% Yes No**

While there was broad agreement on the scheduling change, opinions differed on whether the league structure should also be modified.

**58% Yes No**

Players offered various suggestions for potential format changes, including:

– “Four geographically based conferences, with teams facing each other at least once every two years.”
– “One table format.”
– “No playoffs, or if implemented, only a single elimination game.”
– “Promotion-Relegation.”
– “Regular season without playoffs, where all teams compete against each other.”

In light of the USL’s recent promotion-relegation announcement, many players expressed interest in a similar framework for MLS:

**67% Yes No**

Las Vegas continues to be the favored location for MLS expansion, with emerging interest in cities like Baltimore and New Orleans as potential contenders.

**Voting Breakdown:**

| Rank | City / Proposal | Share of Responses |
|——|———————-|——————–|
| 1 | Las Vegas | 50% |
| 2 | Phoenix | 17% |
| T-3 | Baltimore | 8% |
| T-3 | New Orleans | 8% |
| T-3 | San Francisco | 8% |
| T-3 | Move San Jose | 8% |