The 2025 MLS Best XI has been revealed with many of the league’s top stars earning spots on the list.
Lionel Messi, Denis Bouanga, and Evander headlined the Best XI selections with six players being named to the list for the first time. U.S. men’s national team players Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan, Alex Freeman, and Tristan Blackmon were also among the players named.
Messi led MLS for the second-straight season with 49 goal contributions for Inter Miami. His 29 goals scored earned him the Golden Boot this year while he missed Carlos Vela’s league record for goal contributions in a single season.
Bouanga made the Best XI for the third-straight season, becoming the first MLS forward to do so since Josef Martinez did from 2017-19. The Gabon international has scored 26 league goals between the regular season and playoffs so far in 2025.
Dreyer made quite the splash in his first MLS season, totaling 38 goals contributions (19 goals, 19 assists). The Danish international helped San Diego FC register a first place finish in the Western Conference during the regular season, an above average achievement for the expansion side.
Berhalter has totaled four goals and 12 assists in MLS play this season, helping the Vancouver Whitecaps register a club-record 63 points during the regular season. His impactful 2025 also earned him multiple call-ups to the USMNT.
Evander registered 18 goals and 15 assists for FC Cincinnati, earning Best XI honors for the second-straight year. The versatile midfielder also became one of three MLS players all-time to register back-to-back years with 15 or more goals and assists.
Veteran midfielder Roldan led the Seattle Sounders in minutes played during the regular season (2,633). He’s totaled one goal and 11 assists between the regular season and playoffs, helping the Sounders remain as one of the league’s consistent sides.
Blackmon won the MLS Defender of the Year award this year and now adds Best XI honors to his list. He helped anchor a Whitecaps backline that conceded the second-fewest goals in MLS (38) and kept the joint-second-most clean sheets (13).
Freeman enjoyed another stellar season for Orlando City, totaling six goals and three assists. The versatile right back has boosted his stock with the USMNT throughout the year and remains an option for next summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Glesnes earned his second Best XI honors and first since he also won the 2022 MLS Defender of the Year award. The 31-year-old Norwegian center back recorded the second-most minutes for the Philadelphia Union (2,626) as Bradley Carnell’s men lifted the Supporters’ Shield.
Wagner remained one of the league’s best fullbacks, also playing a large role for the Union backline. He scored two goals and added 11 assists while registering 2,769 minutes played.
St. Clair was named to the Best XI after winning the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. He notched a career-best 10 clean sheets and was the only goalkeeper in the league to total a goals-against-average lower than 1.00
Here is the MLS Best XI for 2025:
Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United).
Defenders: Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union, Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union, Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC).
Midfielders: Evander (Portland Timbers), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders).
Forwards: Andres Dreyer (San Diego FC), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami).