Whether you have a casual or vested interest in the upcoming MLS Playoffs, it’s good to know the players to keep an eye on as 18 teams vie to become MLS Cup champion on Dec. 6.
There’s obvious names like Lionel Messi in the East, the league’s Golden Boot winner and players like Thomas Müller in the West, who at 36 is one of the best players in Major League Soccer, but who are some of the other names to keep an eye on? Ahead of Wednesday’s wild card games which will find four teams looking to take on the top seeds in each conference, here’s a look at the players to know on each club.
As far as those aforementioned wild card games? They begin tonight, with No. 9 Orlando City looking to knock off No. 8 Chicago (8:30 p.m., Apple TV+) and in the West, No. 9 Portland is ready to move on, but they have to get past No. 9 Real Salt Lake (10:30 p.m., Apple TV+), which features one of best young Americans in midfielder Diego Luna.
Here are the names to keep an eye-on in the race to emerge out of the Western Conference.
Andres Dreyer is just fun. Not even his 19 goal season, coupled with the same number in assists, but he’s made San Diego one of the most exciting expansion franchises in recent memory. He’s played in every match this season for the club and when you watch him against either No. 9 Portland or No. 9 Real Salt Lake in a few days time, you’ll understand.
No. 2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
In his first season in MLS, legendary German striker Thomas Müller has proved he’s got plenty left in the tank. He’s got eight goals on the season, highlighted by a hat trick against Supporters’ Shield winners in the Philadelphia Union and spearheads a pretty good attack corps for the Whitecaps.
Heung-Min Son would be easy to say, and yes the former Tottenham Hotspur star is a must watch, but we have to give the edge to French striker Denis Bouanga, who finished second in the league in goals this season and was fueling LAFC’s run to the playoffs long before Son arrived on the scene. The duo has been electric, but Bouanga has been the spark.
With Canadian international Tani Oluwaseyi heading to Spain’s Villareal during the summer transfer window, Minnesota has been a club by committee. With that said, they’ve found production in defender Anthony Markanich, who leads the club with nine goals on the year following Oluwaseyi’s departure.
No. 5 Seattle Sounders FC
Cristian Roldan isn’t going anywhere off this list. He’s been the one constant of a Sounders club set to surprise in this year’s playoff run. But, let’s talk about forward Danny Musovski, who has a knack for finding the back of the net to the tune of 14 goals this season.
Austin is looking to rebound from what started off as a promising campaign and fell flat, losing four of their final six matches of the season. Owen Wolff has been the team’s best contributor with seven goals and eight assists on the year. Also, forward Osman Bukari. While he lacks goals, his seven assists proves he’s got creativity.
Since the departure of fan favorite Lucho Acosta in Dallas, Petar Musa has stepped up, delivering 18 goals on the season and six assists, with just 36 shots on target all season. That’s production and one Dallas will need if it hopes to move out of the first round against a high powered Vancouver collective.
It’s tough to say, but the Timbers would definitely like to see more production for the likes of Venezuelan international Kevin Kelsy. Kelsy is among the league leaders in goals with seven on the year, but hasn’t found the back of the net since a two-goal effort against FC Cincinnati in August. Now’s the time to turn it on, we’d think.
It’s surprising to see Salt Lake this low given many of the names on their roster. But the one to keep an eye on during their playoff run, which begins Wednesday night is Diego Luna, who’s had a breakout year for club and country, as a U.S. men’s national team midfielder and a hopeful for next year’s FIFA World Cup. Luna leads the club with nine goals and seven assists playing in 27 matches this season.
