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 38-year-old 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 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 a red-hot Eastern Conference.
No. 1 Philadelphia Union
On the attack, forward Tai Baribo has been one of the best finishers in the league, particularly in the air. He’s a two-time MLS Player of the Month and was even chasing the Golden Boot during the midseason, before his goal production slowed. Still, Baribo is fun to watch and should be on your list to keep an eye on in the playoffs.
No. 2 FC Cincinnati
Evander goes by one name and that’s all he needs as he’s etched who he is on the field this season to the tune of 18 goals, leading Cincinnati to a 20 win season and just a game shy of finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference behind Philadelphia.
No. 3 Inter Miami
OK, it should be obvious who all eyes will be watching, but we’ll give you another name. Keep an eye on young American talent Benjamin Cremaschi. The youngster might be battling for time with Argentine Rodrigo De Paul, but he’s been electric in his minutes, cementing his abilities just this month with the U.S. under-20 men’s national team, which he led to the quarterfinal of the FIFA U20 World Cup.
No. 4 Charlotte FC
Wilfried Zaha has been one of the most electric players in world soccer, and even as he starts his trajectory towards the end of his career, he’s still creating awe-inspiring moments. He’ll be relied on this playoff series, when Charlotte faces a familiar foe in New York City FC, in the Round One, Best-of-3 series.
No. 5 New York City FC
For the last few years, it’s been the play of diminutive midfielder Maxi Rodriguez that has stole the show, but this year Alonso Martinez has been taking the credit behind a 17 goal campaign that squeezed an inconsistent NYCFC side into the playoffs.
No. 6 Nashville SC
If it wasn’t for a slow end to the season, fans would most likely be watching Nashville forward Sam Surridge lifting MLS’ Golden Boot. Surridge finished tied for second with 24 goals on the season, just five behind Lionel Messi, who coincidentally scored three of his final tallies of the regular season against Nashville earlier this month.
No. 7 Columbus Crew
Diego Rossi has been one of the most fun players to watch in MLS and this season he’s been on a tear — despite Columbus struggling at times to find its own footing. Rossi has 16 goals on the season and four assists, the best mark of any player on a team with real talent.
No. 8 Chicago Fire
Philip Zinckernagel (say that five times fast) is that guy in Chicago and one of the most complete players in MLS. He leads the team with 15 goals on the season, but it’s not just his abilities to finish in front of goal, but his propensity to be a playmaker as well, adding 15 assists to his mark this year too, helping to lead the Fire to its first playoff appearance in eight years.
No. 9 Orlando City
Martin Ojeda isn’t just a goalscorer – OK, perhaps his 16 goals on the year suggest otherwise — he’s also one of the best talents in MLS and a key cog for just how far this Lions team will go. First, they have to get past Zinckernagel and the Fire on Wednesday night and the play of Ojeda will dictate much of how that goes.
