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Goal ranks Messi top of MLS top 25 ahead of 2026 season

By Febspot • 1 min read
Goal ranks Messi top of MLS top 25 ahead of 2026 season — assets.goal.com
Image source: assets.goal.com

Goal ranks the top 25 players in MLS ahead of the 2026 season, placing Lionel Messi at No. 1. The list also features Son Heung-Min and Thomas Muller among its highest-ranked players.

Goal says the rankings draw on statistics, the eye test and what players mean to their teams. The piece notes exclusions such as players signed this offseason (e.g. Timo Werner), deals not fully announced (Minnesota and James Rodríguez) and newcomers whose seasons were cut short by injury (Wessam Abou Ali).

Among other top-10 mentions in Goal's list were Anders Dreyer at No. 4, Rodrigo De Paul at No. 5, Denis Bouanga at No. 6, Evander at No. 7 and Cristian Roldan at No. 8, with Son at No. 3 and Thomas Muller at No. 2.