In 2025, the competition in Major League Soccer has heated up—and in the heart of the pitch, midfielders are making or breaking matches. If you’re asking “who are the top 5 best midfielders MLS 2025,” 2hanBall has you covered. These are the names lighting up stats sheets, shifting momentum, and demanding defenders’ respect.
Here’s my breakdown of the top five midfield maestros in MLS this season—why they stand out, what they bring, and what their numbers tell us.
What makes a top midfielder in MLS 2025
To pick the elite:
- Goals + assists combined
- Influence: do they control tempo, make key passes, track back, shape games?
- Consistency & durability
- Whether they’re creating chances + finishing them
- Leadership / clutch moments in big games
The top 5 best midfielders in MLS 2025
Here are the five midfielders in MLS 2025 who have impressed the most, in no particular defensive/attacking order—they all bring different strengths.
1. Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC)
Dreyer has emerged as the attacking engine for San Diego FC. Over ~29–30 matches, he’s piled up 14 goals and 17 assists—numbers that put him near or at the top for goal contributions among midfield/attacking players.
What makes him dangerous: excellent spatial awareness, clever finishing, and ability to drift between lines. Opponents often lose track of him. If San Diego want to get results, Dreyer is central.
2. Martín Ojeda (Orlando City SC)
Ojeda is Orlando’s creative spark. He has 12 assists so far, leading his team in setups, and has consistently offered key passes and vision in tight spaces.
More than that, he’s not just a creator—he can score, arrives late into the box, and adds variety (set pieces, long balls). He has momentum, and in 2025 he’s playing at a level that makes many regard him as one of the top playmakers.
3. Hany Mukhtar
Mukhtar is more established, and for good reason. He blends goal-scoring, creativity, and experience like few others in MLS midfield.
- He consistently shows up in the+ assists ranking.
- He has been among the league’s most dangerous attacking mids—creating chances and converting when needed.
- His veteran composure helps Nashville in high-pressure moments.
4. Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
Gil isn’t the flashiest but his influence can’t be understated. When you look at his passing accuracy, chance-creation, and assists, he is always among the up. A midfield conductor: he dictates tempo, links play, and helps balance attack and defense for his side.
Also, his work ethic off the ball makes New England’s transitions smoother, and opponents often find it hard to bypass his control in central midfield.
5. Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls)
Forsberg came into MLS bringing European pedigree, and he’s shown flashes that justify high expectations. What sets him apart:
- Variety: assists, free kicks, scoring.
- Ability to step up in tight games.
- Consistency in producing offensive returns even when under pressure.
He may not always have the highest goal totals, but his presence stretches defenses and creates space for teammates in ways that show mature intelligence.
Honorable mentions & what could shake the rankings
These midfielders are very close, and depending on form, matchups, or injuries, they could easily break into a top-5:
- Miguel Almirón – still dangerous, though his goal/assist numbers in 2025 are more modest compared to his peak; his work rate and chance creation keep him in the conversation.
- Cristian Espinoza – excellent at using wings but impacts midfield play.
- Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami) – mix of experience, vision, and big-match temperament make him one to watch.
- Jack McGlynn – young, rising; his contributions are growing and people are taking notice.
Comparison: what separates the top from the rest
Here’s what these top 5 share that many others don’t:
- Balanced output: not just assists OR goals, but both.
- Consistency over many matches (not just bursts).
- Versatility: ability to adapt to opponent’s tactics, play different midfield roles.
- Big gameact: contributing when stakes are high.
Where some mids fail is consistency (too many quiet games), or being one-dimensional.
Challenge: what to watch for rest of the season
- Injuries or fatigue could shift who stays at the top.
- Tactical changes (coaches changing formation) may either elevate or diminish certain mids (e.g. pushing them higher up vs having defensive responsibilities).
- New signings or breakout rookies might crash the party.
Conclusion
The top 5 best midfielders MLS 2025—Anders Dreyer, Martín Ojeda, Hany Mukhtar, Carles Gil, Emil Forsberg—are distinguished by their goal contributions, creativity, consistency, and match-winning moments. They’re the kinds of players that 2hanBall believes define what makes MLS exciting this season.
If you want to dig deeper, check match-by-match data, compare expected assists (xA), distance covered, key passes per game—for now, keep these five in mind when thinking who’ll be MVP or Best XI by season’s end.
If you enjoyed this rundown, 2hanBall can also pull together:
- Top 5 defensive midfielders MLS 2025
- Best young midfielders under 23
- A head-to-head comparison of these top mids (stats, heat maps, strengths & weaknesses)
Want me to put one of those together?
