Thiago Almada, John Tolkin and 11 players using the MLS Playoffs to earn big-money transfers to Europe

This is the big one, so we'll get him out of the way early. Thiago Almada is only 22 and already owns a World Cup winner's medal. He's learned from Lionel Messi and established himself as one of the next stars of the Argentina national team. All of that points to one fact: he isn't long for MLS.

It was rumored that he would leave Atlanta this past winter after tasting glory in Qatar. The rumors continued into the summer, although they never turned into anything concrete. But after a season that saw him score 11 goals while assisting 16 more, can Atlanta keep hold of him any longer?

Almada may already have gotten everything he could need out of MLS, and it does feel like a miracle that the league helped him develop into a World Cup-winner so soon. The next step, though, is to become an Argentina starter, and that leap will likely have to come with a move to a bigger league overseas.

John Tolkin has already written his name into Red Bull lore with his heroics in the final week of the season. The club's fan-voted Player of the Season stepped up and fired his hometown team to the postseason, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time penalty against Nashville SC to pull off the impossible.

He followed that up with a stunning free-kick in the Wild Card win over Charlotte, furthering his legacy at a club that has built itself on Homegrown stars in recent years.

Tolkin clearly has the clutch gene. He also has the confidence and mentality to take him far. The young leftback is a player that is seemingly destined for a big move, and it seems like this winter will be when that happens.

As things stand, he's right on the fringes of the U.S. men's national team, and with the Copa America looming, a move to Europe seems like it'll be what Tolkin needs to further his career at both club and international level.

Arsenal were keeping tabs on Facundo Torres last January, and Ajax were linked with him earlier this year, too. When teams like that are in the picture, it feels like its only a matter of time.

Torres took something of a step forward this season as a goalscorer, netting 14 times in 30 games after scoring nine in 33 in 2022. He's also continued his development with Uruguay, earning four more caps to take his total to 14 after earning a call-up for the World Cup last year.

As with Almada, Torres has everything in his favor: a good pedigree, senior experience with a top South American country and proven development in MLS. And, as with Almada, it's a matter of when he leaves, not if.

The question now is how far he can lead Orlando City before that time comes, having already helped carry the club to a U.S. Open Cup title last season.

Miles Robinson's contract at Atlanta expires at the end of the season, and it appears he'll have some choices to make. He had been linked with PSV during the summer, where he could've joined fellow USMNT stars Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman. However, many teams in Europe will look at Robinson and see a major asset. USMNT experience, MLS dominance and just 26 years old... What else could teams want?

He's shaken off any concerns that were lingering after his horrible Achilles injury, which robbed him of a World Cup place. If not for that injury, he may be in Europe already, but instead, Robinson remains a key figure at the heart of the Atlanta defense.

He seems ready for the next step, though, as he looks to lock down a starting place for the USMNT on the road to 2026.

We already know that England is watching Noel Buck. The New England Revolution starlet has featured for England's youth teams in recent months, turning down interest from the USMNT in the process. For the moment, his heart is in England, and at some point, his club future probably will be, too. A quick glance at England's Under-19 roster proves this. Buck, along with Utrecht's Adrian Blake, were the only call-ups from outside of the country.

In MLS this season, Buck has taken a massive leap forward. After featuring seven times in 2022, the 18-year-old midfielder played 31 times in all competitions this campaign. He's a key starter for the Revs, who look like they'll get a big, big fee for him at some point.

Does he need one more season of MLS development? Maybe. However, the allure of England will be there, particularly with the national team keeping a close eye on his development.

FC Cincinnati were able to withstand the sale of one striker this summer, as Brenner made a massive move to Udinese. Now, BrandonVazquez's big move is almost certainly coming soon.

He's drawn interest from the Bundesliga, with Borussia Monchengladbach among those linked with him. It's easy to see why, too. He has 35 goals in all competitions over these last two years, as well as four goals in his first eight USMNT caps.

Vazquez is a natural goalscorer, and even if he didn't quite reach the heights of 2022 this time around, he remains a key part of Cincy's Supporters' Shield-winning group. They're the favorites to win MLS Cup for several reasons, and Vazquez's partnership with superstar midfielder Luciano Acosta is probably the biggest one.

Could a potential MLS Cup run shift Vazquez's thinking? Who knows? But he will probably need to head to Europe sooner rather than later if he wants a USMNT future, which means he's one to watch this winter.

Alvaro Barreal is the other potential Cincy sale, and he's already made his mark on this postseason after scoring twice in the Game 1 win over the Red Bulls, helping his side seal a massive advantage.

It was a performance that felt just about right, as Barreal has been one of the league's most dynamic wingbacks since his arrival. It's why he earned an MLS All-Star selection this summer to go with a Puskas Award nomination for a stunning goal in the U.S. Open Cup.

The 23-year-old Argentine has been scouted by his national team, and Europe is surely watching, too. This has been his second full season in MLS, and if the right offer comes in, it may just be his last.

If Jesus Ferreira wants to stay in the USMNT picture, this may just be a big winter for him. He's already been linked with clubs such as Cadiz and Napoli, but it'll be tough for any team to pull off a move. Ferreira is on good money thanks to his DP deal in Dallas, and teams in Europe may not be able to make the money work in terms of transfer fee and salary.

Ferreira took a slight step back this season, scoring 12 goals after netting 18 last season. And as things stand, he's at best third on the USMNT striker depth chart, despite playing at the World Cup.

He may have peaked in terms of MLS development, but is Ferreira willing to trade hometown comfort for the risk of a big European move?

Panamanian star Coco Carrasquilla gave Europe an intitial shot prior to joining the Houston Dynamo in 2021, but he may not be long for MLS.

Carrasquilla joined the Dynamo from Cartagena in 2021, but he's a much different player now than the one that arrived two years ago. He balled out in the Playoff opener against Real Salt Lake, and more performances like that as these playoffs go on will only boost his case going forward.

He's a menace on the wing, one that creates all sorts of problems, and he'll be a key figure for the Dynamo for as long as they can keep him.

Another player that already has the seal of approval from Lionel Messi and Argentina is Alan Velasco. Shortly after balling out against Messi and Inter Miami, Velasco earned his first call-up to Argentina's senior team. At 21, he's more one for the U23s right now, but it's clear he's on the right path at the international level.

Meanwhile at club level, Dallas paid a big fee for him, reportedly around $7 million, and therefore prying him away would be difficult. In the short-term, Dallas will be left sweating over his fitness after he had to exit their playoff-opening loss to the Seattle Sounders in the 18th minute due to injury.

It would be a shame if that was how this season ended for Velasco, who has the potential to play at the very top level someday.

If you're looking for the best pure striker in MLS, put on the Columbus Crew. That title almost certainly falls to Cucho Hernandez, who has been utterly dominant since arriving from Watford. Twenty-five goals in just over a season-and-a-half is a ridiculous return.

He's due for a breakout with Colombia, and if that happens, Europe will definitely come calling. Hernandez has plenty of experience in both the Premier League and La Liga despite being just 24, so if he keeps lighting it up for the Crew, he'll have proven himself more than ready for a second run at Europe.