Lionel Messi is headlining the MLS Best XI for 2025 after a spectacular season with Inter Miami. The announcement, made by MLS on Wednesday, features players from nine different clubs and seven countries. This is Messi's second time being named to the MLS Best XI since joining Inter Miami.
Messi captured the MLS Golden Boot with a league-leading 29 goals and 19 assists. His 48 goal contributions were just one shy of Carlos Vela's record of 49 set in 2019. He is also a favorite to win his second consecutive MVP award. If he wins, Messi would be the first back-to-back MVP in league history.
The Best XI is determined annually through voting by media members, MLS players, and MLS club technical staff members. The Philadelphia Union and the Vancouver Whitecaps are the only teams with multiple players selected.
The complete 2025 MLS Best XI is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC)
- Defenders: Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)
- Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
- Forwards: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
Several players are receiving their first Best XI honors, including Anders Dreyer, Sebastian Berhalter, Tristan Blackmon, and Alex Freeman. Dreyer, who also won MLS Newcomer of the Year, tied the league record for goal contributions by a first-year player with 19 goals and 19 assists. He helped San Diego FC clinch the Western Conference's number one seed. Alex Freeman was also named MLS Young Player of the Year.
Four players in the Best XI have represented the U.S. Men's National Team this year: Freeman, Blackmon, Berhalter, and Roldan. St. Clair is the second Canadian player in the last decade to make the list.
Evander, a Best XI honoree last year with Portland Timbers, continued his elite play in his debut season with FC Cincinnati, recording 18 goals and 15 assists. He joins Messi and Sebastian Giovinco as the only players with back-to-back 15-goal, 15-assist seasons. Denis Bouanga is the first player since Josef Martinez to make the team three consecutive times.
