Major League Soccer (MLS) has revealed the finalists for its prestigious 2025 year-end awards, spotlighting remarkable performances across the league. One of the key highlights of the announcement made on Thursday was the recognition of Inter Miami’s superstar Lionel Messi, who is a finalist for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. This follows his previous win in 2024 and coincides with the news of his three-year contract extension with the club, keeping him in Miami through 2028.
Messi has had an outstanding season, leading MLS with 29 goals and 19 assists, placing him at the forefront of the league’s standout performances. He is joined by four other impressive players in the MVP race: Denis Bouanga from Los Angeles FC, Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC, Evander of FC Cincinnati, and Sam Surridge from Nashville SC. Among these finalists, Dreyer also earned accolades for his performance as the top scorer for San Diego, marking a successful debut season that has seen him contribute significantly to his team’s success.
In the mix for other prestigious awards, the finalists for the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year include Bradley Carnell from Philadelphia Union, Jesper Sorensen from Vancouver Whitecaps, and Mikey Varas from San Diego FC. The finalists for MLS Newcomer of the Year feature Dreyer along with Son Heung-Min from LAFC and Philip Zinckernagel of Chicago Fire.
The competition is heated in several other categories as well. The finalists for MLS Young Player of the Year are Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), and Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders). Notably, the MLS Defender of the Year nominees include Philadelphia teammates Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner alongside Vancouver’s Tristan Blackmon.
In the goalkeeping arena, Matt Freese (New York City FC), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United), and Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver), who led the league with 13 clean sheets, are all in contention for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. The finalists for MLS Comeback Player of the Year are Lawrence Ennali (Houston Dynamo), Nick Hagglund (Cincinnati), and Richie Laryea (Toronto FC).
Moreover, the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, aimed at honoring players dedicated to charitable efforts during the season, features Ryan Hollingshead (LAFC), Luna (RSL), and Brad Stuver (Austin FC) as finalists.
As the excitement builds, the winners of these awards will be revealed during the ongoing Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, which commenced earlier this week. This includes the announcement of the MLS Goal of the Year and Save of the Year, set to be decided by an online vote on October 27. Also, the MLS Best XI will be published at a later date.
In addition to the anticipated awards, the buzz around Messi couldn’t be higher, especially following his significant contributions in recent matches, including a key performance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Fans now have high hopes for his impact on both Inter Miami’s campaign and the future growth of soccer in the United States, further underscoring the importance of his presence in the league. Throughout this dynamic season, the drive and talent showcased by players across the MLS contribute not only to fierce competition but also to the rich development of soccer in North America.