GOAL takes a look at five early frontrunners for the 2025 MLS MVP, including reigning award-winner Lionel Messi
After a tremendous 2024 regular season campaign, Lionel Messi claimed his first MLS MVP award in an Inter Miami shirt. The Argentine scored 20 goals and recorded 16 assists in 19 regular season matches, 15 of which were starts, while leading the to the MLS Supporters' Shield.
However, his start to 2025 has not quite gone as planned – he's played in less than 50 percent of Miami's regular-season matches, allowing other players around the league to stack up early-season numbers against his – with some impressive displays across the board.
MLS' record transfer and Atlanta United star Emmanuel Latte Lath has been on fire, while Philadelphia Union striker Tai Baribo has emerged as the best scorer to start the season. Chicago Fire forward Hugo Cuypers has been unlocked by Gregg Berhalter, and is on track for a career season.
And in what may be the least surprising development around the league, Evander is skyrocketing – despite switching clubs in the offseason. The Brazilian midfielder's $12M transfer from Portland to Cincinnati didn't change a thing with his attacking output, as one of the league's finest No. 10s continues to excel.
But who sits atop the throne? GOAL presents the latest edition of MLS MVP rankings.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAFP1Lionel Messi, Inter Miami
Although he's only started two out of three matches in which he played in, the Argentine has two goals and two assists with four total goal-contributions. In those three games, he's scored one game-winning goal and, on opening day, recorded both assists in a 2-2 draw with NYCFC, helping Miami to a crucial point.
When healthy, he's not taken a step back from 2024 – his lovely skill on the ball, vision for the game and lethal left foot are all still tools when on the attack.
In 12 shot attempts, he registered nine on target – which comes on top of an average passing percentage of 82.1. In the final-third, he's completed seven key passes, leading to multiple scoring opportunities for the outside of his own goal-contributions.
Despite not logging a ton of minutes to begin the 2025 campaign, the Argentine's performances are likely to evolve – and should emerge as a clear frontrunner in the conversation as the season goes on. He's still the most likely candidate to win the award, with the potential to become MLS' first back-to-back MVP.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport2Tai Baribo, Philadelphia Union
The Israeli international began the 2025 campaign as the league's hottest scorer, with six goals in five games. The 27-year-old has Philly cruising, and he's on track for a record year in MLS after scoring just nine goals in 21 appearances in 2024.
He's out-performed his xG (expected goals) by a decent margin, with a 4.74 xG off of eight on-target shot attempts.
In the first two games, he bagged a brace and a hat-trick in consecutive showings, helping lead the Union to a 3-0 start. Although he's missed one game due to international duty, he's shown zero signs of not moving forward with his current form.
A true out-and-out striker, Baribo excels in transition on the counter-attack, but also in tight spaces in and around the box. Union manager Bradley Carnell has shown his brilliance on the touchline, catering his attack to getting the most out of Baribo.
Baribo isn't the flashiest or most skillful player in the league – or even on the Philly Roster – but he's an absolutely lethal poacher in front of net with a fantastic vision for navigating the 18-yard-box.
Getty Images Sport3Hugo Cuypers, Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire talisman is a man, well, on fire. Cuypers looks reinvented under Berhalter to start 2025. Through six matches, the Belgian forward has five goals and one assist – already half of his 2024 G+A total in 31 regular-season starts last year.
He's been tremendous in the final-third, whether that's on the counter-attack, on set-pieces or in possession – it's become increasingly evident that he is the glue to their reinvented attack.
A big part of his success has been new DP Jonathan Bamba feeding him in the attack, but Cuypers is coming into his own – and finally living up to the club-record price tag that Chicago paid o bring him over from Gent in 2024.
What's really impressive, though, is his versatility in the attack. He's registered 14-total scoring attempts through six matches this season, and four of them have been left-footed attempts, six have been right-footed and three have been headed attempts – while the other was a penalty kick that resulted in a goal.
If Cuypers can continue to be surprise in the attack for Chicago this season, there's really no saying what heights the club could achieve with him up top and Berhalter on the sideline.
IMAGN4Emmanuel Latte Lath, Atlanta United
Latte Lath has been a shot of espresso in Atlanta's attack since arriving from Middlesbrough in February.
The Ivory Coast international has five goals and one assist in six appearances, averaging a goal-contribution per match, and has been a stupendous addition to the Eastern Conference side. Despite Atlanta's rocky start, he has been one of the best additions to the league.
His MLS debut began with a brace, and he's scored in three straight matches heading into Matchday 7, including the game-winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory over New York City FC last weekend. Similar to Cuypers, he's been a versatile threat in the final-third of the pitch, with five of his 14 scoring attempts coming off his right boot, six off his left and three on headers. He's immensely outperformed his xG of 3.3 as well.
An early frontrunner for the Golden Boot, Latte Lath's price tag was a hefty one, but early returns are showing that he was worth it.
