Best MLS Players Under 22: Full List, Teams, Positions

Mexico and USMNT talents Obed Vargas and Alex Freeman headline the best players under 22.

Alex Freeman is the highest ranked USMNT player on the list. / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Major League Soccer revealed their annual 22 Under 22 list, shining a light on the best young gems in the league currently.

The list ranks the top 22 players aged 22 or younger across MLS. Only players that will be younger than 22 when the 2025 regular season ends were eligible for the recognition. The voting was made up of 64 ballots which included representation from 23 MLS team managers, soccer officers and directors as well as lead scouts, per MLS.

In total, 103 players received votes, but only 22 made the final cut. It’s yet more significant evidence that as the league continues to grow in notoriety and prestige, quality players have been the driving force.

Here’s the full MLS 22 Under 22 list.

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MLS 22 Under 22: Full List

Seattle’s Obed Vargas topped the 2025 MLS 22 Under 22 List. / Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Age
1.	Obed Vargas	Seattle Sounders	Midfielder	20
2.	Alex Freeman	Orlando City	Defender	21
3.	Idan Toklomati	Charlotte FC	Forward	21
4.	Owen Wolff	Austin FC	Midfielder	20
5.	David Martínez	LAFC	Forward	19
6.	Quinn Sullivan	Philadelphia Union	Midfielder	21
7.	Peyton Miller	New England Revolution	Defender	17
8.	Nathan Ordáz	LAFC	Forward	21
9.	Luca Bombino	San Diego FC	Defender	19
10.	Zavier Gozo	Real Salt Lake	Forward	18
11.	Christopher Brady	Chicago Fire	Goalkeeper	21
12.	Noah Allen	Inter Miami	Defender	21
13.	Olwethu Makhanya	Philadelphia Union	Defender	21
14.	Kevin Kelsey	Portland Timbers	Forward	21
15.	Manu Duah	San Diego FC	Defender	20
16.	Julián Fernández	New York City FC	Forward	21
17.	Ilay Feingold	New England Revolution	Defender	21
18.	Frankie Westfield	Philadelphia Union	Defender	19
19.	Nicolas Romero	Minnesota United	Defender	21
20.	Darren Yapi	Colorado Rapids	Forward	20
21.	Brooklyn Raines	Houston Dynamo FC	Midfielder	20
22.	Taha Habroune	Columbus Crew	Midfielder	19

2025 MLS 22 Under 22: Positional Breakdown

• Forwards: 7
• Midfielders: 5
• Defenders: 9
• Goalkeepers: 1

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Obed Vargas is already one of the best midfielders in all of MLS, with over 100 appearances for Seattle Sounders under his belt. He recently helped Seattle conquer the 2025 Leagues Cup and he became the first Mexico international in MLS history to top the 22 Under 22 list.

Alex Freeman was voted second on the list. A stellar season for Orlando City resulted in Mauricio Pochettino giving him a first ever call-up to the USMNT for the 2025 Gold Cup. He’ll now aim to make the 2026 World Cup roster.

The podium is completed by Charlotte FC’s Idan Toklomati, who has been magnificent for the Crowns since taking over the starting duties following Patrick Agyemang’s move to Derby County.

Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff and LAFC forward David Martínez round out the top five.

Philadelphia Union is the most represented team on the list with three players. Quinn Sullivan, Olwethu Makhanya and Frankie Westfield all played a role in Philadelphia conquering their second ever Supporters’ Shield title.

The honor of being the youngest player on the list belongs to Peyton Miller. At only 17-years-old, Miller has locked up the starting left back role for New England Revolution. It’s his second appearance on the list, having taken the final spot in 2024.

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MLS 22 Under 22: Last 10 Winners

Alphonso Davies earned the top spot on the 2018 MLS 22 Under 22 list before joining Bayern Munich. / Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images

Year	Player	MLS Club	Current Club
2025	Obed Vargas	Seattle Sounders	Seattle Sounders
2024	Diego Gómez	Inter Miami	Brighton & Hove Albion
2023	Alan Velasco	FC Dallas	Boca Juniors
2022	Jesús Ferreira	FC Dallas	Seattle Sounders
2021	Ricardo Pepi	FC Dallas	PSV Eindhoven
2020	Brenden Aaronson	Philadelphia Union	Leeds United
2019	Diego Rossi	LAFC	Columbus Crew
2018	Alphonso Davies	Vancouver Whitecaps	Bayern Munich
2017	Miguel Almirón	Atlanta United	Atlanta United
2016	Cyle Larin	Orlando City	Feyenoord

Of the previous nine winners, seven of them migrated to European soccer soon after receiving the recognition. Vargas might be bound for Europe sooner rather than later.

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