As the 2026 season winds down and year-end awards ballots open, it’s time to select my Best XI.
Before I dive into my selections, way more players deserve Best XI status than we're allotted. The quality is so exceptional that it feels harsh to leave players out! I've got a bunch of honorable mentions – or players who would make my Second Team All-MLS, if you will – at the bottom of this story.
That said, let’s dive in. We’ll go from back to front in a standard 4-3-3 formation.
It’s been a breakout year for Brian Schwake, who went from backing up Joe Willis to MLS All-Star, USMNT player and potential Goalkeeper of the Year all in one season.
He’s tied for the league lead in clean sheets (13) and has only made Nashville’s defense stronger since taking over the starting role. He makes big saves when called upon and is excellent with the ball at his feet. It’s no wonder Nashville are cruising to the Supporters’ Shield title and potentially the MLS single-season points record.
Andy Nájar has had another excellent season and, in my opinion, is the league’s most creative, dynamic attacking fullback (3g/9a is nothing to scoff at!). Not to mention, he’s no slouch defensively.
Nájar's technical ability is a huge weapon for Nashville; he’s always an outlet. And his combination play on the right side with Cristian Espinoza and others has overwhelmed so many of the league’s defenses.
I know, it’s a lot of Nashville SC to start my 2026 MLS Best XI. But it’s hard not to include these guys! They’ve been so dominant.Â
Maxwell Woledzi is extremely consistent and lets Nashville play a really aggressive high line because of his athletic range and one-on-one defending. For my money, Woledzi is the best one-v-one defender in space in MLS.
It’s not just Woledzi’s defending that brings his teammates confidence. He’s a great line-breaking passer and can carry the ball forward as well as any other center back in the league.
I feel like Osaze Urhoghide doesn’t get enough credit, and I truly think he’s one of the most underrated defenders in MLS. He’s anchoring a solid backline with a strong physical presence and excellent leadership. FC Dallas are having one of the best seasons in recent memory, and he plays a key role in that.
It doesn’t matter who plays on either side of Urhoghide in a back three; he’s transformed FCD’s defense with his quality and offered a threat on attacking set pieces. He’s a really well-rounded defender.
He’s obviously played more as a wingback in head coach Yoann Damet’s system, but Tomas Totland’s two-way play is critical to St. Louis CITY’s excellent season. He’s creative and clever, good in possession and effective in the final third (3g/7a).
Totland is relied upon in a variety of different ways tactically, and he’s answered the call every time. St. Louis CITY’s success largely depends on their fullbacks’ ability to cause problems out wide, and Totland is one of the best in MLS in that department.
This was a really tough position for me to choose, especially as a former holding midfielder myself. There have been a ton of quality players, especially in a double pivot, making it hard to pick just one.
I ended up going with Andrés Cubas. He’s the best ball-winner and tackler in MLS, and he showcased those talents with Paraguay at the World Cup earlier this summer. He contributes massively to Vancouver’s elite defensive record and has carried more of the burden since Sebastian Berhalter’s midseason departure.
Hany Mukhtar is a club legend at Nashville SC who continues to produce season after season.
He’s once again squarely in the Landon Donovan MLS MVP conversation with 16g/8a, and picked up the slack when Sam Surridge has gone through dry spells or been out injured. That’s all while captaining the best team in the league and potentially the best regular-season team of all time!
No player in MLS can wow you on any given day more than Evander. No one has a better strike from outside the box. No one has a crazier catalogue of golazos (besides maybe Leo Messi).
When you face FC Cincinnati, it’s pretty likely to be a goal-fest. They’ve conceded the second-most goals in the league this season (70), but have also scored the fifth-most (60).
Evander’s creativity and relentlessness in the final third are an enormous reason why they’re still in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs race.
Well, this pick is pretty self-explanatory.
I believe Leo Messi is well on his way to becoming the first player in league history to win three consecutive Landon Donovan MLS MVP awards. There’s no one even close to his level. He leads MLS in goals (25) and assists (15). This is a no-brainer.
Petar Musa is the best No. 9 in MLS, full stop.
He scores goals, creates opportunities for his teammates and can do it all up top. He’s bagged an incredible array of goals and can beat you with his right foot, left foot, headers, one-touch finishes… You name it, he’s got it in his locker.
There are plenty of great strikers across MLS, but no one is matching Musa this season.
You could argue no player is more crucial to their team than Guilherme is for Houston Dynamo FC. He’s having one of the best seasons of his career, being directly involved in 26 of Houston’s 41 goals this year. He’s the main reason they're still in the hunt for a top-four spot in the Western Conference.
Guilherme’s got pace, is an extremely effective one-v-one player and has been Houston’s only consistent threat. In fact, up until a 2-2 draw at Minnesota earlier this month, where Lyle Foster and Duncan McGuire scored, no Dynamo striker had scored this year. That illustrates just how critical the Brazilian newcomer has been.
Goalkeeper: Yohei Takaoka has been his steady, reliable self between the posts for Vancouver. He is tied for the league lead in clean sheets and is a key reason why the Whitecaps are still atop the West.
Right back: Even when the Philadelphia Union were not at their best before the World Cup, Frankie Westfield was one of the few bright spots. Now that they’ve righted the ship, he’s only gotten better. He’s strong on both ends of the pitch and was deservedly called into his first USMNT camp.
Center back: Nashville’s Jeisson Palacios deserves an honorable mention. It was a coin flip between him and Woledzi; both are extremely worthy of Best XI consideration. I just felt guilty putting both of Nashville’s center backs in the Best XI.
Also deserving shouts are St. Louis CITY’s Timo Baumgartl and Vancouver’s MathÃas Laborda, as well as Chicago’s Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who likely would’ve made my Best XI if he had been healthy for the full season.
Left back: I want to give love to Chicago’s Andrew Gutman. He was leading the way at left back about halfway through the season. Although his minutes have dwindled in recent weeks, I still believe he’s one of the top left backs in MLS and had a very strong year.
Defensive midfielder: In a long list of options, Ashley Westwood gets my honorable mention shout. He’s been borderline irreplaceable for Charlotte FC this season, bringing consistent impact on both ends of the pitch. He reads the game so well and has such a high soccer IQ.
Attacking midfielders: Charlotte’s Pep Biel and New England’s Carles Gil have both had strong seasons at the No. 10. They certainly have a case for Best XI.
Wingers: We all know how capable and consistent LAFC legend Denis Bouanga is. I’d also love to shout out Philly’s Cavan Sullivan. His second half of the 2026 season has been better than almost anyone in the league. But for me, the wingers in my Best XI were still a tier above him across the full campaign, so he barely misses out.
Striker: I’d be remiss not to highlight guys like Cincy’s Kévin Denkey, Vancouver’s Brian White, Nashville’s Sam Surridge and Philadelphia’s Milan Iloski, who have all been scoring at a sensational clip this season and kept pace in the Golden Boot presented by Audi race.
