GOAL looks at early frontrunners for the 2025 MLS MVP, including reigning award winner Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi's brilliant 2024 deservedly resulted in his winning Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. The Argentine led Inter Miami to the Supporters' Shield title, with the club setting a regular season points record. It was a remarkable display capped off by earning the most coveted individual award in MLS.
Things haven't quite followed suit in 2025. Inter Miami have fallen seven points back from first in the Eastern Conference, and are winless in six of their last seven across all competitions. And as a result, it's allowed other teams around the league to fill the void – and other individuals to find the spotlight.
Tai Baribo and the Philadelphia Union are flying, with the Israel international being the breakout star of 2025. Evander's $12M move to FC Cincinnati is working wonders, too, as the Brazilian continues to shine with his new team. And then, there's the Columbus Crew, who remain one of the elite sides in MLS – with Diego Rossi emerging as potential superstar.
Who sits atop the throne at this point in the season? GOAL presents the latest edition of MLS MVP Rankings.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now1Tai Baribo: Philadelphia Union
What a brilliant start to the 2025 campaign for Baribo and the Union. This is a performance that has come out of nowhere, and one that is starting to turn heads around the league – and potentially – abroad.
Leading the league in scoring, Baribo has 11 goals this season, and is coming off a matchweek where he scored not one, but two game-winners in the span of four days. He's led the Union to the top of the Eastern Conference and the Supporters' Shield, and is MLS' most electric forward at the moment.
The Israel international has already surpassed his goal tally from 2024, with the 27-year-old bagging nine times last season. Of his 11 goals, just one has been a penalty kick, while he''s surpassed his xG by a large margin.
His expected goals tally is just 7.82, and with 11, he's proven to be one of the most clinical finishers in the league, scoring from incredibly tight angles that have razor-thin margins.
If he keeps scoring at this pace, there's no telling what heights he could reach in 2025.
AdvertisementImagn2Evander: FC Cincinnati
Evander could have won the trophy last year. His numbers were emphatic, and across the of the regular season, he was the most consistent performer in the league.
Maybe it was because he played for a team, Portland Timbers, that had a tragic defense last season. Maybe it was because it's just not possible to escape the shadow of Messi. Regardless, Evander is now on FC Cincinnati, and he's playing at an even higher level.
Cincy are tied for first in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters' Shield standings with the Union, and only trail by criteria points. A big reason for that has been the Brazilian attacking midfielder, who has replaced Lucho Acosta with ease, while offering an upgrade centrally and in the final-third.
The 26-year-old has seven goals, along with three assists, in just 11 starts and 12 appearances. He missed a brief stretch due to injury, but is nearly averaging a goal-contribution per game. He's consistently produced in the midfield as well, boasting an 81 percent passing completion percentage rate. His goals have come from brilliant moments, too, with the seven strikes coming off an xG of just 2.89.
Trailing only Messi in that category, Evander is a set-piece genius, and has become one of the most deadly free-kick takers in the league. He's shining right now, and this could be his year.
MLS Media3Diego Rossi: Columbus Crew
Rossi has become the centerpiece for Wilfried Nancy's side to begin 2025, taking a huge role in the attack following the offseason departure of star forward Cucho Hernandez. The Uruguayan winger has become their biggest threat in and around the box, with seven goals and two assists in 13 starts.
The 27-year-old has been one of the most clinical forwards in the league, garnering an xG of 7.29 that he's lived up to with his seven strikes. Across the 13 appearances, he's registered 19 shots on target. Of his 42 total attempts, 32 have come off his right foot, primarily when he cuts inside off the wing, or when he's fed in the box while playing as a center-forward.
He's developed a ruthlessness in the final-third that we did not see in 2024 and he's already on track to nearly double his goalscoring tally from last season. In 2024, he had 12 goals and 11 assists, and through Matchday 14, he's just five short of his marke from last year.
The Crew, meanwhile, are third in the Eastern Conference, just two points out from first place Philadelphia.
Getty Images Sport4Lionel Messi: Inter Miami
It's safe to say his 2025 season has not gone to plan. He's appeared in just 10 of Miami's 13 games, dealing with an injury early on, with only nine starts in MLS play. During that stretch, he's scored just five goals and recorded two assists – and although those are relatively good numbers, they're beneath the Messi standard.
The reigning league MVP, Messi is a magician on the pitch – there is no denying that he is the most talented player in the league and that on his best day, he is miles ahead of the individual behind him. However, he's slumped to begin the season. He's growing increasingly frustrated with what's happening around him on the pitch.
Messi will be in MVP contention all season, of course. He won eight Ballon d'Or trophies for a reason. At this point, though, he's not leading the race, and not where he'd expect to be nearly halfway into the 2025 season.