Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, LA Galaxy's Riqui Puig, D.C. United's Christian Benteke highlight Best XI in MLS ahead of 2025

The Charlotte FC shot-stopper was absolutely brilliant in 2024, finishing with a career-high 12 shutouts across the regular season. The Croatian goalkeeper was instrumental to the Crown conceding just 37 goals last season; the second-fewest across all of MLS.

Named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024, the 32-year-old recorded 121 saves while averaging a save percentage of 75.63 -- the best in MLS last season.

Per American Soccer Analysis, Kahlina's -10.47 G-xG ranks as the second-best individual goalkeeping season in MLS since 2013, only behind former New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic’s -10.75 in 2022.

In his first full season with the Herons, Alba led all MLS defenders in assists with 14 as Miami lifted the Supporters’ Shield and set the MLS regular season points record with 74 points. He averaged a passing completion percentage of 83.8 as well, highlighting how crucial he was to their success of building out of the back. He scored four goals as well.

The former Barcelona and Spain ace has settled into life in MLS phenomenally, with strict defensive performances when needed, while providing brilliant overlapping play into their attack as well.

After his 2024 season, the 35-year-old ranks third all-time in assists for the South Beach club.

The Seattle Sounders 32-year-old defender was remarkable in 2024, putting on a defending clinic throughout the regular season and postseason.

Last campaign, he started 28 matches, making 30 regular season appearances as the Sounders boasted the least amount of goals scored across the entire league, with just 35 being allowed in.

The Sounders led the league in clean sheets with 13 of them, 11 of which Yeimar started. The Colombian was named to MLS ' Best XI in 2024 for the second time in his career.

Malanda's rise to stardom in MLS has been brilliant, and what makes it even better, is he's still a relatively unknown quantity to a lot of fans around the league. He's quiet, but composed, and just a fantastic central defender.

In 2024, he led Charlotte FC's back line to the second-best defense in the league, with the crown conceding just 37 goals across the regular season. He himself started 32 regular season games for the club, playing 2,880 minutes while keeping 13 clean sheets. He scored his first MLS goal in 2024, as well.

Linked with a move abroad in summer 2024, the Frenchman signed a new contract last summer, and is one of MLS' brightest prospects at just 23-years-old.

2024 MLS Defender of the Year, Moreira made 27 regular season appearances for the Columbus Crew, featuring in six of their 10 shutouts as the Cape Verde international helped lead his side to a club record of the fewest goals conceded across a regular season with 40.

In matches that he started, the Crew conceded just 29 goals. He played an integral part of their CONCACAF Champions Cup run to the tournament championship match, and then the Crew;s historic run to claiming the 2024 Leagues Cup title.

During the regular season, with Moreiera in their XI, the Crew kept seven of the club’s 12 shutouts and conceded just 1.03 goals per game.

A 2024 MLS Cup winner with the LA Galaxy and MLS MVP finalist, Puig had one of the best domestic seasons of any player in the league last season. The Spaniard ran the center of the pitch for the Galaxy as they became one of the best teams in the Western Conference, recording a team-high and career-record 15-assist regular season for LA.

He scored 13 goals as well, making it 28 goal contributions in 29 regular season matches.

Come the postseason, he scored four more goals and added three more assists as LA made their way to MLS Cup, clinching their first title in 10 years. However, after their semifinal victory over the Seattle Sounders, it was announced that Puig had suffered a torn ACL in the match -- and that he would miss a large chunk, if not all, of the 2025 season.

Still, due to his performances last season and the fact he's expected to return this season, he makes this list.

Year after year, Nagbe has been one of MLS' most consistent players. He rarely commits errors, and is constantly the leader of the team he represents.

In 2024, he led the Columbus Crew to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and helped them secure their first Leagues Cup title followed by the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference come the postseason.

The former U.S. international was an integral part of Wilfried Nancy's midfield across all competitions, playing in 29 regular season matches for the club, seven in the Champions Cup and five in the Leagues Cup. The rock of their midfield, Nagbe was the controlling presence in the middle of the park, providing an attacking and defensive option for Nancy's scheme. Arguably the most well-rounded midfielder in the league, he shined bright once again in 2024 in his unspoken role.

Acosta, 2023 MLS MVP, was once again phenomenal for FC Cincinnati in 2024 across the regular season and in domestic competitions.

The 30-year-old attacking midfielder registered 33 total goal-contribtuions in 2024, including 19 assists and 14 goals. He earned a third-straight MLS Best XI honors, and moved up to ninth in the league's all-time assist rankings at the end of 2024, as well. He took FCC to a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference, proving to be one of the most valuable attacking midfielders in the entire league.

This offseason, he parted ways with the Queen City though, moving to Western Conference side FC Dallas in a massive $5M transfer.

The LAFC winger was one of MLS' best players overall in 2024, helping lead the Black and Gold to a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and the regular season Western Conference title, which handed them the No. 1 seed on their side of the bracket for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

In 2024, he bagged 20 goals and 11 assists across 32 appearances during the regular season, while scoring once more during the postseason.

With electrifying pace and a terrific first touch of the ball, he's proved to be MLS' most dynamic winger across the past two full seasons.

MLS' top scorer in 2024, Benteke was the biggest, baddest, and most proficient scorer in the league.

A menace on set-pieces, on the break, and in providing hold-up play, the Belgium international scored 23 goals and added another seven assists in 31 matches played in 2024, nearly averaging a goal contribution per game for D.C. United; who missed the playoffs, fielding one of the league's worst teams last campaign.

That's a testament to Benteke's brilliance, a player who starred at Crystal Palace and played one season at Liverpool.

Maestro. String-puller. The best of the best.

Lionel Messi, your 2024 MLS MVP, delivered a spectacular campaign for Inter Miami despite battling injuries. In just 19 regular-season appearances, he tallied 20 goals and 16 assists, posting the highest goals + assists per 90 minutes (G+A/90) in the league. His brilliance propelled the Herons to their first-ever Supporters' Shield title.

In the postseason, Messi added two more goal contributions, finishing the year with an astounding 38 combined goals and assists in just 22 appearances.