MLS Power Rankings: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami climb the ladder, Vancouver Whitecaps excel, LAFC and LA Galaxy continue to underperform

It just keeps getting worse for manager Caleb Porter. A 2-1 loss to NYCFC is just the latest shortcoming from the Revs manager as they move to 0-3-1 on the season.

The good news?

They finally scored a goal - their first of the campaign. Shoutout to own-goal for bagging New England's first of the season.

Woof.

Their third-straight loss after earning a point on opening day, TFC are really, really struggling. Their defense is far from adequate to compete in this league.

A Matchday 4 loss to the Chicago Fire was just the latest domino falling.

A point is a point in the grand scheme of things. CF MTL are officially on the board after a 0-0 draw with D.C. United - but it was as bland as it sounds - there's not much else to say.

Another week, another loss. Houston is now 0-3-1 (WLD) after a 2-1 defeat to Real Salt Lake. The club's inability to replace outgoing stars Adalberto Carrasquilla and Hector Herrera has really damaged their core. Despite a move for Jack McGlynn, the front office, overall, continues to let Ben Olsen and the fans down.

In resilient fashion, Sporting came from 3-0 down vs. MNUFC to come back and earn an impressive point. They used the support of the SKC faithful who were still in attendance by the end of the match to spearhead their three-goal run over the final 22 minutes and change.

Daniel Salloi changed the match off the bench, and manager Peter Vermes played his cards right to precision. Job well done.

Ahead of the 2025 season, if you drew the LA Galaxy 1-1, it would be a really good result. Right now, though, not so much.

The Timbers squandered a lead late, and it was two points lost for Phil Neville's side rather than one gained. Once again, their defense was not good enough, and their rise in the rankings is simply due to others performing even worse at the weekend.

Listen, beating LAFC is a big deal, and Verde did it by a 1-0 scoreline at the weekend. That is no easy task.

However, there's nothing about this team that screams competitive, consistent and clinical.

Through four weeks, their $20 million-plus duo of Brandon Vazquez and Myrto Uzuni do not have a single goal contribution. It's not good enough.

Blanked by the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 at home, FCD's early-season struggles continued. Their star duo of Lucho Acosta and Peatar Musa could never really get things going, and now they're winless in three with two-straight losses.

Earned their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw with Portland, but it's still nowhere near good enough for the defending champions.

Drew the Red Bulls 2-2, giving up two different leads during the match. However, manager Oscar Pareja will absolutely take a point on the road against last year's MLS Cup runners-up.

A scoreless draw vs. Montreal is not a good result, but they'll take the point. If you would have told D.C. United, they'd be undefeated four weeks into the season, they'd be ecstatic. Sure, the club is 1-0-3, but this is a good foundation to build on in 2025.

Handed their second-straight loss in as many weeks, the Earthquakes were defeated 2-1 by the Colorado Rapids. Bruce Arena won't be thrilled by losing to a Western Conference contender at home.

The positive? Chicho Arango appears to be gathering himself well in San Jose. The Colombian has two goals in his opening four matches for the Quakes.

Conceded an 89th-minute winner to Fafa Picault as Inter Miami defeated them 2-1 Sunday evening. What will be really frustrating for the Five Stripes is that they had the game in hand on multiple occasions, and were arguably the better team.

Emmanuel Latte Lath scored again, but MLS' record signing is still showing that he's not quite adapted to the tempo of MLS yet - notably, one big moment against the Herons on Matchday 4 loomed large.

In the 54th minute, the Ivorian collided with Saba Lobzhanidze on a golden opportunity to go ahead, with miscommunication between the two being a cause for concern.

Drew Orlando City 2-2 in a contentious performance. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored his first MLS goal, bagging from the penalty spot, but it felt like a missed opportunity while at home in front of their own fans.

They really look like they're in a funk at the moment. Three-straight losses across all competitions, LAFC were beaten by a rather poor Austin FC side 1-0 on Saturday, with Steve Cherundolo's attack really struggling. It could just be a hiccup, but their roster looks nothing like the side that had the best regular season record in the West last season.

Diego Luna, that was an outrageous performance.

The U.S. international scored and assisted as RSL defeated the Dynamo 2-1 on the road. Perfect form for the 21-year-old heading into the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals this week.

Gregg Berhalter, we are watching. The Fire defeated TFC 2-1 for their second-straight victory, and they're now unbeaten in three matches, too.

Striker Hugo Cuypers was brilliant in front of net again, with the Belgian now up to four goals and one assist through the first four matches of the season.

Two-straight wins for Nashville now after a 3-1 smacking of the previously undefeated Philadelphia Union. It was an impressive road showing from them, and they finally showed their teeth.

Manager B.J. Callaghan will have to be thrilled.

No other way to say it beyond unlucky. Both Jordan Morris and Pedro De La Vega are out 4-6 weeks with respective injuries, and Paul Arriola tore his ACL, thus ending his 2025 season - all within the span of one week. Brutal.

Defeated 1-0 by CITY on Matchday 4, Seattle just couldn't click in the final third, but with the cards they've been dealt, it was hard to expect them to.

A big 2-1 victory over the Revolution at home, NYCFC are really finding themselves under new manager Pascal Jansen. Alonso Martinez is now up to three goals on the year as well, with the Costa Rican forward excelling in the attack.

Really frustrating result for the Loons, tying Sporting 3-3. They were cruising to victory up 3-0, and manager Eric Ramsay opted to change formations with a substitution midway through the second half, sparking their collapse.

The positive spin is forward Tani Oluwaseyi bagged a brace, with the Canadian finding a bit of form before heading off to international duty with Jesse Marsch's Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals this week.

Handily beaten by Charlotte 2-0 in a rather lifeless showing.

Their new-look attack of Kevin Denkey, Evander, Yuya Kubo, and Luca Orellano is still learning to click - but they'll need to get up to speed fast if they don't want to fall behind the rest of MLS' elite.

Zack Steffen, stand up!

The U.S. international made a heroic 12 saves to help the Colorado Rapids to an impressive 2-1 road victory over the Earthquakes.

Called into USMNT camp for the CONCACAF Nations League, it will be interesting to see where he rests in the pecking order for Pochettino.

Four straight games without conceding a goal now - it's really impressive. A 1-0 win over the Sounders is just the latest installment in what is becoming a fantastic start to life under Olof Mellberg on the touchline.

Their defense can only do so much, though. They'll need more from their attack, particularly their striker core of Cedric Teuchert, Simon Becher, and Joao Klauss.

SDFC are really turning into something special. In another striking performance, they drew the Crew 1-1 to keep their undefeated season alive. Onni Valakari scored their first home goal in the match, with U.S. international Luca De La Torre providing a stupendous assist.

Defeated Cincy 2-0 and Patrick Agyemang finally found the back of the net in the impressive showing. It was exactly the bounceback they needed after falling to Miami on Matchday 3, and the perfect performance for the U.S. international ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals this week.

Their undefeated season ended at home against Nashville SC, falling 3-1 to their opposition. It wasn't a positive performance in many ways, but it wasn't an alarm bell, either. Put it in the past, forget it, and move on to next week.

Their second-straight draw in as many weeks, the Crew battled it out to a stalemate against a very good San Diego FC side. Wilfried Nancy will want more from his attack, particularly Jacen Russell-Rowe, but they featured midweek in the Champions Cup - so all things considered, he will be happy with the point.

Miami's undefeated season continued on Matchday 4 when they defeated Atlanta United 2-1. Lionel Messi returned to the starting XI, bagging a goal himself, but the winner came off the head of Fafa Picault.

There are still questions around Javier Mascherano and the tactics he deploys, but so far, so good, as they're top of the Eastern Conference.

Four-straight wins. So, so impressive from a first-year head coach in Jesper Sorensen.

They went on the road to Dallas, came out on top 1-0, and are atop the Supporters' Shield and the Western Conference standings. Brian White and Jayden Nelson continue to light up the attack while their core of MLS veterans show no weakness.