Sports Illustrated’s awards voters have revealed their final selections for the 2025 MLS season, highlighting a fiercely contested Most Valuable Player race and recognizing standout defensive and youth talents.
While Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi won the Golden Boot and tied for the league lead in assists, the vote for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player saw a split, with one voter selecting San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer.
Dreyer was recognized for his immense success during San Diego’s record-setting expansion campaign, which saw him lead the league in total goal contributions for a significant portion of the season.
“Messi was a close second, but I had to go with the Dane in this one, San Diego wouldn’t have been the team it was without him,” one voter commented on the close decision, acknowledging Dreyer’s ability to succeed without the same cast of superstars.
In the defensive categories, Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Yohei Takaoka was selected as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, having posted the most clean sheets over the 34-game schedule. Takaoka’s teammate, Tristan Blackmon, was the joint selection for MLS Defender of the Year. Voters noted: ”
It’s a shame Tristan Blackmon’s season was cut short due to a knee injury in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal. If it weren’t for that, he’d have been a near lock for the Defender of the Year award.”
The Young Player of the Year award was given to Orlando City SC’s Alex Freeman, who secured his selection after a breakthrough campaign for his club and with the U.S. men’s national team.