# MLS Best XI

The MLS Best XI is an annual acknowledgment of the best eleven players in Major League Soccer. The selection is determined by a collection of media, players, and MLS club technical staffs.

## Winners

| Year | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| 1996 | Mark Dodd, Dallas | Leonel Álvarez, Dallas John Doyle, San Jose Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy | Mauricio Cienfuegos, LA Galaxy Roberto Donadoni, MetroStars Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United Preki, Kansas City Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay | Eduardo Hurtado, LA Galaxy Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay |
| 1997 | Brad Friedel, Columbus | Jeff Agoos, D.C. United Thomas Dooley, Columbus Richard Gough, Kansas City Eddie Pope, D.C. United | Mark Chung, Kansas City Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United (2) Preki, Kansas City (2) Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay (2) | Ronald Cerritos, San Jose Jaime Moreno, D.C. United |
| 1998 | Zach Thornton, Chicago | Thomas Dooley, Columbus (2) Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy (2) Luboš Kubík, Chicago Eddie Pope, D.C. United (2) | Chris Armas, Chicago Mauricio Cienfuegos, LA Galaxy (2) Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United (3) Piotr Nowak, Chicago | Stern John, Columbus Cobi Jones, LA Galaxy |
| 1999 | Kevin Hartman, LA Galaxy | Jeff Agoos, D.C. United (2) Luboš Kubík, Chicago (2) Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy (3) | Chris Armas, Chicago (2) Mauricio Cienfuegos, LA Galaxy (3) Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United (4) Eddie Lewis, San Jose Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay | Jason Kreis, Dallas Jaime Moreno, D.C. United (2) |
| 2000 | Tony Meola, Kansas City | Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy (4) Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy Peter Vermes, Kansas City | Chris Armas, Chicago (3) Piotr Nowak, Chicago (2) Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay (2) Hristo Stoichkov, Chicago Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay (3) | Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay Clint Mathis, MetroStars |
| 2001 | Tim Howard, MetroStars | Jeff Agoos, San Jose (3) Carlos Llamosa, Miami Pablo Mastroeni, Miami Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy (2) | Chris Armas, Chicago (4) Piotr Nowak, Chicago (3) Preki, Miami (3) | Alex Pineda Chacón, Miami Diego Serna, Miami John Spencer, Colorado |
| 2002 | Tim Howard, MetroStars (2) | Wade Barrett, San Jose Carlos Bocanegra, Chicago Alexi Lalas, LA Galaxy | Mark Chung, Colorado (2) Ronnie Ekelund, San Jose Óscar Pareja, Dallas Steve Ralston, New England (3) | Jeff Cunningham, Columbus Carlos Ruiz, LA Galaxy Taylor Twellman, New England |
| 2003 | Pat Onstad, San Jose | Carlos Bocanegra, Chicago (2) Ryan Nelsen, D.C. United Eddie Pope, MetroStars (3) | Chris Armas, Chicago (5) DaMarcus Beasley, Chicago Mark Chung, Colorado (3) Landon Donovan, San Jose Preki, Kansas City (4) | Ante Razov, Chicago John Spencer, Colorado (2) |
| 2004 | Joe Cannon, Colorado | Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City Robin Fraser, Columbus (5) Ryan Nelsen, D.C. United (2) Eddie Pope, MetroStars (4) | Eddie Gaven, MetroStars Amado Guevara, MetroStars Ronnie O'Brien, Dallas Kerry Zavagnin, Kansas City | Brian Ching, San Jose Jaime Moreno, D.C. United (3) |
| 2005 | Pat Onstad, San Jose (2) | Chris Albright, LA Galaxy Danny Califf, San Jose Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City (2) | Clint Dempsey, New England Dwayne De Rosario, San Jose Christian Gómez, D.C. United Shalrie Joseph, New England Ronnie O'Brien, Dallas (2) | Jaime Moreno, D.C. United (4) Taylor Twellman, New England (2) |
| 2006 | Troy Perkins, D.C. United | Bobby Boswell, D.C. United José Burciaga Jr., Kansas City Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City (3) | Ricardo Clark, Houston Clint Dempsey, New England (2) Dwayne De Rosario, Houston (2) Christian Gómez, D.C. United (2) Justin Mapp, Chicago | Jeff Cunningham, Salt Lake (2) Jaime Moreno, D.C. United (5) |
| 2007 | Brad Guzan, Chivas USA | Jonathan Bornstein, Chivas USA Michael Parkhurst, New England Eddie Robinson, Houston | Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus Dwayne De Rosario, Houston (3) Christian Gómez, D.C. United (3) Shalrie Joseph, New England (2) Ben Olsen, D.C. United | Juan Pablo Angel, Red Bulls Luciano Emílio, D.C. United |
| 2008 | Jon Busch, Chicago | Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City (4) Chad Marshall, Columbus Bakary Soumaré, Chicago | Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Chicago Shalrie Joseph, New England (3) Sacha Kljestan, Chivas USA Robbie Rogers, Columbus Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus (2) | Kenny Cooper, Dallas Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy (2) |
| 2009 | Zach Thornton, Chivas USA (2) | Geoff Cameron, Houston Wilman Conde, Chicago Chad Marshall, Columbus (2) | Dwayne De Rosario, Toronto (4) Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy (3) Stuart Holden, Houston Shalrie Joseph, New England (4) Freddie Ljungberg, Seattle | Conor Casey, Colorado Jeff Cunningham, Dallas (3) |
| 2010 | Donovan Ricketts, LA Galaxy | Nat Borchers, Salt Lake Omar Gonzalez, LA Galaxy Jámison Olave, Salt Lake | Dwayne De Rosario, Toronto (5) Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy (4) David Ferreira, Dallas Sébastien Le Toux, Philadelphia Javier Morales, Salt Lake | Edson Buddle, LA Galaxy Chris Wondolowski, San Jose |
| 2011 | Kasey Keller, Seattle | Todd Dunivant, LA Galaxy Omar Gonzalez, LA Galaxy (2) Jámison Olave, Salt Lake (2) | David Beckham, LA Galaxy Brad Davis, Houston Dwayne De Rosario, D.C. United (6) Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy (5) Brek Shea, Dallas | Thierry Henry, Red Bulls Chris Wondolowski, San Jose (2) |
| 2012 | Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting KC | Víctor Bernárdez, San Jose Matt Besler, Sporting KC Aurélien Collin, Sporting KC | Osvaldo Alonso, Seattle Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy (6) Chris Pontius, D.C. United Graham Zusi, Sporting KC | Thierry Henry, Red Bulls (2) Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy Chris Wondolowski, San Jose (3) |
| 2013 | Donovan Ricketts, Portland (2) | Matt Besler, Sporting KC (2) José Gonçalves, New England Omar Gonzalez, LA Galaxy (3) | Tim Cahill, Red Bulls Will Johnson, Portland Diego Valeri, Portland Graham Zusi, Sporting KC (2) | Marco Di Vaio, Montreal Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy (2) Mike Magee, Chicago |
| 2014 | Bill Hamid, D.C. United | Bobby Boswell, D.C. United (2) Omar Gonzalez, LA Galaxy (4) Chad Marshall, Seattle (3) | Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy (7) Thierry Henry, Red Bulls (3) Lee Nguyen, New England Diego Valeri, Portland (2) | Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy (3) Obafemi Martins, Seattle Bradley Wright-Phillips, Red Bulls |
| 2015 | Luis Robles, Red Bulls | Laurent Ciman, Montreal Matt Hedges, Dallas Kendall Waston, Vancouver | Fabián Castillo, Dallas Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC Ethan Finlay, Columbus Dax McCarty, Red Bulls | Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto Kei Kamara, Columbus Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy (4) |
| 2016 | Andre Blake, Philadelphia | Matt Hedges, Dallas (2) Axel Sjöberg, Colorado Jelle Van Damme, LA Galaxy | Mauro Díaz, Dallas Giovani dos Santos, LA Galaxy Sacha Kljestan, Red Bulls (2) Ignacio Piatti, Montreal | Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto (2) David Villa, New York City Bradley Wright-Phillips, Red Bulls (2) |
| 2017 | Tim Melia, Sporting KC | Justin Morrow, Toronto Ike Opara, Sporting KC Kendall Waston, Vancouver (2) | Miguel Almirón, Atlanta Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto (3) Diego Valeri, Portland (3) Víctor Vázquez, Toronto | Josef Martínez, Atlanta Nemanja Nikolić, Chicago David Villa, New York City (2) |
| 2018 | Zack Steffen, Columbus | Kemar Lawrence, Red Bulls Aaron Long, Red Bulls Chad Marshall, Seattle (4) | Luciano Acosta, D.C. United Miguel Almirón, Atlanta (2) Ignacio Piatti, Montreal (2) Carlos Vela, LAFC | Zlatan Ibrahimović, LA Galaxy Josef Martínez, Atlanta (2) Wayne Rooney, D.C. United |
| 2019 | Vito Mannone, Minnesota | Ike Opara, Minnesota (2) Miles Robinson, Atlanta Walker Zimmerman, LAFC | Eduard Atuesta, LAFC Carles Gil, New England Maximiliano Moralez, New York City Alejandro Pozuelo, Toronto | Zlatan Ibrahimović, LA Galaxy (2) Josef Martínez, Atlanta (3) Carlos Vela, LAFC (2) |
| 2020 | Andre Blake, Philadelphia (2) | Mark McKenzie, Philadelphia Jonathan Mensah, Columbus Walker Zimmerman, Nashville (2) | Brenden Aaronson, Philadelphia Diego Chará, Portland Nicolás Lodeiro, Seattle Alejandro Pozuelo, Toronto (2) | Jordan Morris, Seattle Diego Rossi, LAFC Raúl Ruidíaz, Seattle |
| 2021 | Matt Turner, New England | Yeimar Gómez, Seattle Miles Robinson, Atlanta (2) Walker Zimmerman, Nashville (3) | Tajon Buchanan, New England Carles Gil, New England (2) Hany Mukhtar, Nashville João Paulo, Seattle | Gustavo Bou, New England Taty Castellanos, New York City Raúl Ruidíaz, Seattle (2) |
| 2022 | Andre Blake, Philadelphia (3) | Jakob Glesnes, Philadelphia Kai Wagner, Philadelphia Walker Zimmerman, Nashville (4) | Luciano Acosta, Cincinnati (2) Sebastián Driussi, Austin Dániel Gazdag, Philadelphia Hany Mukhtar, Nashville (2) | Jesús Ferreira, Dallas Brandon Vázquez, Cincinnati Carlos Vela, LAFC (3) |
| 2023 | Roman Bürki, St. Louis | Matt Miazga, Cincinnati Tim Parker, St. Louis Walker Zimmerman, Nashville (5) | Luciano Acosta, Cincinnati (3) Thiago Almada, Atlanta Héctor Herrera, Houston Hany Mukhtar, Nashville (3) | Denis Bouanga, LAFC Giorgos Giakoumakis, Atlanta Cucho Hernández, Columbus |
| 2024 | Kristijan Kahlina, Charlotte | Jordi Alba, Miami Yeimar Gómez, Seattle (2) Steven Moreira, Columbus | Luciano Acosta, Cincinnati (4) Evander, Portland Riqui Puig, LA Galaxy | Christian Benteke, D.C. Denis Bouanga, LAFC (2) Cucho Hernández, Columbus (2) Lionel Messi, Miami |

## Appearances by player

The following players have appeared in the MLS Best XI two or more times.
Updated as of the conclusion of the 2023 MLS season.
| ^ | Denotes players who are still active in Major League Soccer |
| * | Denotes players who are still active outside of Major League Soccer |
| † | Inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a player |
| Year (bold text) | Indicates the player won the MVP Award |
| Year (italicized text) | Indicates the player won the MLS Defender of the Year Award |
MLS Best XI appearances :
| Player | Apps | Pos | Years | Club(s) |
| Landon Donovan$^†$ | 7 | M/F | 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 | San Jose Earthquakes (1), LA Galaxy (6) |
| Dwayne De Rosario | 6 | M | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 | San Jose Earthquakes (1), Houston Dynamo (2), Toronto FC (2), D.C. United (1) |
| Chris Armas | 5 | M | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 | Chicago Fire (5) |
| Robin Fraser | 5 | D | 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004 | LA Galaxy (4), Columbus Crew (1) |
| Jaime Moreno$^†$ | 5 | F | 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006 | D.C. United (5) |
| Walker Zimmerman$^^$ | 5 | D | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | LAFC (1), Nashville SC (4) |
| Jimmy Conrad | 4 | D | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 | Kansas City Wizards (4) |
| Marco Etcheverry$^†$ | 4 | M | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 | D.C. United (4) |
| Omar Gonzalez$^^$ | 4 | D | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 | LA Galaxy (4) |
| Shalrie Joseph | 4 | M | 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 | New England Revolution (4) |
| Robbie Keane | 4 | F | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 | LA Galaxy (4) |
| Chad Marshall | 4 | D | 2008, 2009, 2014, 2018 | Columbus Crew (2), Seattle Sounders FC (2) |
| Eddie Pope$^†$ | 4 | D | 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004 | D.C. United (2), MetroStars (2) |
| Preki$^†$ | 4 | M | 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003 | Kansas City Wizards (3), Miami Fusion (1) |
| Luciano Acosta$^^$ | 4 | M | 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024 | D.C. United (1) FC Cincinnati (3) |
| Jeff Agoos$^†$ | 3 | D | 1997, 1999, 2001 | D.C. United (2), San Jose Earthquakes (1) |
| Andre Blake$^^$ | 3 | GK | 2016, 2020, 2022 | Philadelphia Union (3) |
| Mark Chung | 3 | M | 1997, 2002, 2003 | Colorado Rapids (3) |
| Mauricio Cienfuegos | 3 | M | 1996, 1998, 1999 | LA Galaxy (3) |
| Jeff Cunningham | 3 | F | 2002, 2006, 2009 | Columbus Crew (1), Real Salt Lake (1), FC Dallas (1) |
| Sebastian Giovinco | 3 | F | 2015, 2016, 2017 | Toronto FC (3) |
| Christian Gómez | 3 | M | 2005, 2006, 2007 | D.C. United (3) |
| Thierry Henry | 3 | F | 2011, 2012, 2014 | N.Y. Red Bulls (3) |
| Josef Martínez$^^$ | 3 | F | 2017, 2018, 2019 | Atlanta United FC (3) |
| Hany Mukhtar$^^$ | 3 | M | 2021, 2022, 2023 | Nashville SC (3) |
| Piotr Nowak | 3 | M | 1998, 2000, 2001 | Chicago Fire (3) |
| Steve Ralston | 3 | M | 1999, 2000, 2002 | Tampa Bay Mutiny (2), New England Revolution (1) |
| Carlos Valderrama | 3 | M | 1996, 1997, 2000 | Tampa Bay Mutiny (3) |
| Diego Valeri | 3 | M | 2013, 2014, 2017 | Portland Timbers (3) |
| Carlos Vela$^^$ | 3 | M/F | 2018, 2019, 2022 | LAFC (3) |
| Chris Wondolowski | 3 | M | 2010, 2011, 2012 | San Jose Earthquakes (3) |
| Miguel Almirón$^*$ | 2 | M | 2017, 2018 | Atlanta United FC (2) |
| Guillermo Barros Schelotto | 2 | M | 2007, 2008 | Columbus Crew (2) |
| Matt Besler | 2 | D | 2012, 2013 | Sporting Kansas City (2) |
| Carlos Bocanegra$^†$ | 2 | D | 2002, 2003 | Chicago Fires SC (2) |
| Bobby Boswell | 2 | D | 2006, 2014 | D.C. United (2) |
| Clint Dempsey$^†$ | 2 | M | 2005, 2006 | New England Revolution (2) |
| Thomas Dooley$^†$ | 2 | D | 1997, 1998 | Columbus Crew (2) |
| Carles Gil$^^$ | 2 | M | 2019, 2022 | New England Revolution (2) |
| Matt Hedges$^^$ | 2 | D | 2015, 2016 | FC Dallas (2) |
| Tim Howard | 2 | GK | 2001, 2002 | MetroStars (2) |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | 2 | F | 2018, 2019 | LA Galaxy (2) |
| Sacha Kljestan | 2 | M | 2008, 2016 | Chivas USA (1), New York Red Bulls (1) |
| Luboš Kubík | 2 | D | 1998, 1999 | Chicago Fire SC (2) |
| Ryan Nelsen | 2 | D | 2003, 2004 | D.C. United (2) |
| Ronnie O'Brien | 2 | M | 2004, 2005 | Dallas Burn\FC Dallas (2) |
| Jámison Olave | 2 | D | 2010, 2011 | Real Salt Lake (2) |
| Pat Onstad | 2 | GK | 2003, 2005 | San Jose Earthquakes (2) |
| Ike Opara | 2 | D | 2017, 2019 | Sporting Kansas City (1), Minnesota United FC (1) |
| Ignacio Piatti | 2 | M | 2016, 2018 | Montréal Impact (2) |
| Alejandro Pozuelo$^*$ | 2 | M | 2019, 2020 | Toronto FC (2) |
| Donovan Ricketts | 2 | GK | 2010, 2013 | LA Galaxy (1), Portland Timbers (1) |
| Miles Robinson$^^$ | 2 | D | 2019, 2021 | Atlanta United FC (2) |
| Raúl Ruidíaz$^^$ | 2 | F | 2020, 2021 | Seattle Sounders FC (2) |
| John Spencer | 2 | F | 2001, 2003 | Colorado Rapids (2) |
| Zach Thornton | 2 | GK | 1998, 2009 | Chicago Fire SC (1), Chivas USA (1) |
| Taylor Twellman | 2 | F | 2002, 2005 | New England Revolution (2) |
| Greg Vanney | 2 | D | 2000, 2001 | LA Galaxy (2) |
| David Villa | 2 | F | 2016, 2017 | New York City FC (2) |
| Kendall Waston$^*$ | 2 | D | 2015, 2017 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2) |
| Bradley Wright-Phillips | 2 | F | 2014, 2016 | New York Red Bulls (2) |
| Graham Zusi$^^$ | 2 | M | 2012, 2013 | Sporting Kansas City (2) |
| Dénis Bouanga$^^$ | 2 | F | 2023, 2024 | Los Angeles FC |
| Cucho Hernández$^^$ | 2 | F | 2023, 2024 | Columbus Crew |
| Yeimar Gómez$^^$ | 2 | D | 2021, 2024 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Thiago Almada$^^$ | 1 | M | 2023 | Atlanta United FC |
| Roman Bürki$^^$ | 1 | GK | 2023 | St. Louis City SC |
| Giorgos Giakoumakis$^^$ | 1 | F | 2023 | Atlanta United FC |
| Héctor Herrera$^^$ | 1 | M | 2023 | Houston Dynamo |
| Matt Miazga$^^$ | 1 | D | 2023 | FC Cincinnati |
| Tim Parker$^^$ | 1 | D | 2023 | St. Louis City SC |
| Kristijan Kahlina$^^$ | 1 | GK | 2024 | Charlotte FC |
| Jordi Alba$^^$ | 1 | D | 2024 | Inter Miami CF |
| Steven Moreira$^^$ | 1 | D | 2024 | Columbus Crew |
| Evander$^^$ | 1 | M | 2024 | Portland Timbers |
| Riqui Puig$^^$ | 1 | M | 2024 | LA Galaxy |
| Christian Benteke$^^$ | 1 | F | 2024 | D.C. United |
| Lionel Messi$^^$ | 1 | F | 2024 | Inter Miami CF |

## Appearances by team

Updated as of the conclusion of the 2024 MLS season.
| Club | Apps |
| LA Galaxy | 38 |
| D.C. United | 29 |
| Chicago Fire | 23 |
| Kansas City Wiz/Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City | 22 |
| NY/NJ MetroStars/MetroStars/New York Red Bulls | 20 |
| Columbus Crew | 18 |
| New England Revolution | 17 |
| San Jose Clash/Earthquakes | 16 |
| Dallas Burn/FC Dallas | 15 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 13 |
| Philadelphia Union | 9 |
| Toronto FC | 9 |
| Atlanta United FC | 8 |
| Houston Dynamo | 8 |
| Los Angeles FC | 8 |
| Colorado Rapids | 7 |
| Nashville SC | 7 |
| Portland Timbers | 7 |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | 7 |
| FC Cincinnati | 5 |
| Miami Fusion | 5 |
| Real Salt Lake | 5 |
| Chivas USA | 4 |
| Montreal Impact/CF Montréal | 4 |
| New York City FC | 4 |
| Minnesota United FC | 2 |
| St. Louis City SC | 2 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2 |
| Inter Miami CF | 2 |
| Charlotte FC | 1 |

## Appearances by nationality

Updated as of the conclusion of the 2024 MLS season.
| Nationality | Apps |
| United States | 149 |
| Argentina | 22 |
| Colombia | 18 |
| Canada | 10 |
| Bolivia | 9 |
| Spain | 9 |
| Ireland | 6 |
| Italy | 6 |
| Jamaica | 6 |
| Mexico | 6 |
| France | 5 |
| El Salvador | 4 |
| England | 4 |
| Germany | 4 |
| Grenada | 4 |
| Sweden | 4 |
| Belgium | 3 |
| Brazil | 3 |
| Honduras | 3 |
| Poland | 3 |
| Scotland | 3 |
| Venezuela | 3 |
| Czech Republic | 2 |
| Costa Rica | 2 |
| Denmark | 2 |
| Gabon | 2 |
| Hungary | 2 |
| New Zealand | 2 |
| Paraguay | 2 |
| Peru | 2 |
| Uruguay | 2 |
| Australia | 1 |
| Bulgaria | 1 |
| Cape Verde | 1 |
| Croatia | 1 |
| Cuba | 1 |
| Ecuador | 1 |
| Ghana | 1 |
| Greece | 1 |
| Guatemala | 1 |
| Mali | 1 |
| Nigeria | 1 |
| Norway | 1 |
| Portugal | 1 |
| Senegal | 1 |
| Sierra Leone | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1 |