MLS announces 2025 Year-End Awards finalists

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Major League Soccer

·23 October 2025

MLS announces 2025 Year-End Awards finalists

By MLSsoccer staff

Major League Soccer has announced finalists for the 2025 MLS Year-End Awards, which honor the league’s top performers during the regular season.

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The finalists represent 16 MLS clubs, with the winners set to be announced throughout the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Four different clubs lead MLS with three finalists each – LAFC, Philadelphia Union, San Diego FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Philadelphia won the Supporters' Shield, while San Diego have enjoyed a historic expansion season.

The below finalists (in alphabetical order) earned the highest average votes from the following groups:

MLS club technical staff
MLS players
Select media members

Landon Donovan MLS MVP

Given to the Most Valuable Player during the 2025 MLS regular season.

Denis Bouanga (LAFC)
Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC)
Evander (FC Cincinnati)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
Sam Surridge (Nashville SC)

Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year

Given to the top head coach during the 2025 MLS regular season

Bradley Carnell (Philadelphia Union)
Jesper Sørensen (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Mikey Varas (San Diego FC)

MLS Newcomer of the Year

"Newcomer" is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2025.

Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC)
Son Heung-Min (LAFC)
Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire FC)

MLS Young Player of the Year

Given to the best young player during the 2025 MLS regular season. Eligible players must be born on or after Jan. 1, 2003.

Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC)
Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)
Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC)

MLS Defender of the Year

Given to the best defender during the 2025 MLS regular season.

Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union)
Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)

MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Given to the best goalkeeper during the 2025 MLS regular season.

Matt Freese (New York City FC)
Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC)
Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

MLS Comeback Player of the Year

Honors an MLS player who has overcome a severe injury and/or adversity, and as a result missed a significant portion of the 2024 season, and shown improved performance to achieve success during the 2025 MLS regular season.