Every current MLS franchise’s best-ever soccer player

Major League Soccer has seen a rapid rise in talent in recent years, from a league full of American players to some of the biggest global superstars playing week in and week out. All statistics per Transfermarkt and club affiliated websites.

Josef Martinez never stopped scoring goals for Atlanta United, bagging 111 in 158 games. Martinez led Atlanta to the MLS Cup in 2018 and subsequently won the MLS MVP, MLS Golden Boot, and was named in the MLS Best XI.

Sebastian Driussi is Austin FC's leading scorer, providing 41 goals and 17 assists in 82 MLS games. He led Austin to the Western Conference Final in 2022 and was named in the MLS Best XI in the same season.

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Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina has been a fan favourite and the cornerstone of the team since its inception in 2022. He was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024.

A Ballon d'Or winner and named in the FIFA Best 100, Hristo Stoichkov had a legendary football career and moved to the States with a giant reputation. He scored 17 goals in 51 games for the Chicago Fire and helped them win the US Open Cup in 2000.

Former defensive midfielder Pablo Mastroeni played for the Colorado Rapids for over ten years, playing the most games in the club's history (225) and helping the club win the 2010 MLS Cup and Western Conference titles.

Premier League fans might remember Brian McBride from his underwhelming times at Everton and Fulham, but for the Columbus Crew, he was sensational, netting 62 goals in 161 games, cementing his status as a club legend.

Manchester United legend had a short but impactful time with DC United, scoring 23 goals in 48 games, and was named in the MLS Best XI in 2018.

Acosta is considered Cincinnati's greatest player, securing the 2023 MLS MVP and being a three-time All-Star. He is the first player to record goal contributions in nine consecutive games for Cincinnati.

Jason Kreis is Dallas' greatest-ever player. He is the club's leading scorer (91 goals) and leading assist maker (65). He was also the first American to be named MLS MVP in 1999.

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Ching played in Houston for seven years, leading the team to back-to-back MLS Cup Championships and four MLS Finals overall. He is a six-time All-Star and Houston's leading scorer (56 goals).

The GOAT of football is Inter Miami's GOAT Lionel Messi. The Argentine has taken the MLS and Miami to the next level, propelling his team to the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters' Shield. The 2024 MLS MVP has provided 34 goals and 18 assists in 39 games.

David Beckham's arrival in MLS was a game-changer in 2007, significantly rising the profile of the league and taking LA Galaxy to the next level. He scored 19 goals in 98 games for Galaxy and helped them win back-to-back MLS Cups.

LAFC acquired former Arsenal star Carlos Vela in 2018, and since then, he's taken the club to a new level, winning two Supporters' Shields and an MLS Cup. The former MLS MVP has scored 78 goals in 152 games.

Since Minnesota United joined the MLS, Argentinian winger Emanuel Reynosa is the greatest player to play for the club, scoring 22 goals in 90 games and being voted an MLS All-Star in 2022.

Bernier played in midfield for CF Montreal and earned Impact MVP in 2012. He made over 200 appearances for the club and helped them win two Canadian Championships before they joined MLS.

With three MLS Best XI and MLS All Star selections, one MLS Golden Boot, and the 2022 MLS MVP award all for Nashville SC, Hany Mukhtar is the club's greatest ever player. He has scored 66 goals in 145 games.

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Twellman helped lead the Revolution to four MLS Cups, four MLS Eastern Conference Finals, and a U.S. Open Championship. The 2005 MLS Golden Boot winner scored 112 goals for the club.

Thierry Henry was not as explosive as he was for Arsenal, but he still made an exceptional impact for the New York Red Bulls. He had three MLS Best XI selections and made four MLS All-Star appearances. He also won the Supporters' Shield and the Eastern Conference twice.

Argentine midfielder Moralez is New York City's greatest player, leading the club to the 2021 MLS Cup. He was known for his ability to dictate games and was named in the MLS Best XI in 2019.

The 2007 Ballon d'Or winner, Kaka joined Orlando City in 2014 and played for the club until he retired in 2017. The Brazilian was named an MLS All-Star in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Andre Blake has been an ever-present for the Philadelphia Union, making over 250 appearances for the club in ten years. He has been named the MLS Goalkeeper of the year and in the MLS Best XI three times. He won the Supporters' Shield with the club in 2020.

Argentine Diego Valeri is a Portland Timbers legend, making 262 appearances across three spells and scoring 86 goals. He won the 2017 MLS MVP and the 2015 MLS Cup MVP.

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Kyle Beckerman was instrumental in Real Salt Lake's success in the MLS, playing 377 games for the club, and scoring 30 goals. He was a six-time All-Star and led Salt Lake to the 2009 MLS Cup.

Saint Louis City are a new team in the MLS, but Swiss goalkeeper Roman Burki is the club's best player. The former Borussia Dortmund legend was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023 and named in the MLS Best XI in the same year.

San Diego FC are an expansion franchise for the 2025 MLS season, but their most notable player is Danish international Marcus Ingvartsen. He has played for Genk, Union Berlin and Mainz 05.

Chris Wondolowski is one of the greatest players in MLS history and holds the record for the most goals scored in the league (171). He played 14 seasons in San Jose, winning the Supporters' Shield twice and being named the MLS MVP in 2012.

After leaving the Premier League in 2013, Clint Dempsey became one of the awe-inspiring players in the MLS for the Seattle Sounders, scoring 47 goals in 115 games. He won the MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield, and US Open Cup in Seattle.

Predrag Radosavljevic, better known as 'Preki,' was unforgettable for Kansas City in the late 1990s, earning two MVP titles and two scoring titles during his career. Over two spells for the club, he netted 71 goals in 218 games.

Sebastian Giovinco left Juventus in the prime of his career to join Toronto FC and proved what an exceptional talent he was. He scored 68 goals in 114 games and led Toronto to it's first MLS Cup. In 2015, he was the MVP, top scorer, top assist provider, an All-Star, and named in the Best XI.

Domenic Mobilio is the club's all-time leading scorer, netting 170 goals for Vancouver between 1987 and 2000. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006.

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