Major League Soccer

27 August 2026

By Sacha Kljestan

Nashville SC are pulling clear in the race for the Supporters' Shield, while Vancouver Whitecaps FC have looked like the benchmark side in the Western Conference. Even so, neither club currently has a Landon Donovan MLS MVP contender in my top five.

How is that possible? Nashville are an outstanding side, with quality performers right across the squad, but no one player has separated himself enough on an individual level.

Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar have both been excellent, while Andy Najar and Cristian Espinoza have been outstanding down the right flank. Still, I do not believe any of them has built a strong enough MVP case. And I doubt head coach B.J. Callaghan will be bothered by that in the slightest.

As for Vancouver, their leading MVP candidate from the opening half of the campaign, Sebastian Berhalter, completed a move to English club Middlesbrough last month. The USMNT midfielder had been in tremendous form.

With August nearing its end, here is my top five.

Midfielder · New York City Football Club

Nico has been among the very best and most reliable performers in MLS ever since arriving from LaLiga last summer.

The Argentine has impressed with New York City FC through his consistency in a number of roles. We have seen him used as a winger, an attacking midfielder and a striker. He has been just as influential in each of those positions, recording 13 goals and six assists this season.

But will he go back to Europe or move somewhere else? There is plenty of speculation surrounding his future at NYCFC.

Forward · FC Dallas

Petar Musa has put together a long list of achievements since signing for FC Dallas.

He now has three consecutive seasons with 15+ goals, started and scored for Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and currently leads MLS with 16 goals this season.

Musa is the top striker in MLS, and if he can secure the Golden Boot presented by Audi and lift FC Dallas further up the table, he could well end up taking the MVP award.

Forward · Houston Dynamo FC

I will be honest: I did not know much about Guilherme before he came to MLS this past winter. Since then, though, the Brazilian has completely impressed me.

Houston are a strong, balanced side that puts in the hard work. But any team that rises to the top of its conference also needs one or two match-winners in attack.

Guilherme has been exactly that player for Houston from the very first kick. He has contributed 12 goals and seven assists, usually working from the left wing, and is putting together a compelling case for Newcomer of the Year.

Midfielder · FC Cincinnati

We are watching another MVP-level season from FC Cincinnati's No. 10.

He looks increasingly at ease in the final third with every season that passes. Evander is pure box office, and whenever he lets fly from distance, I find myself holding my breath waiting for a golazo. The Brazilian's brilliant finishes against Charlotte and San Jose are especially memorable.

His 13 goals and 11 assists already make him worthy of Best XI consideration, and he still has 13 more matches to add to those numbers and chase his first MVP honour.

Forward · Inter Miami CF

And although it feels almost impossible to split the two at the moment, I am giving Messi the narrow edge. He has more goals (14) than his fellow No. 10, and he has helped his side move further up the standings.

Despite a few struggles at the moment, Inter Miami remain contenders to win MLS Cup once again. And Messi appears to be the front-runner to claim his third straight MVP award.