On Saturday, February 25, Nashville will play host New York City FC in the opening match of the MLS 2023 season. With some incredibly exciting new signings and what may be the best set of jerseys in league history, everything is in place for this season to be outstanding.
Below, we rank the best 7 players from the previous campaign and consider the likelihood that they will have another successful MLS season;
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7. Ryan Gauld
With an impressive 8 goals and 5 assists in 28 appearances, the 27-year-old Ryan Gauld was a creative force for the Vancouver Whitecaps last season. The side that finished in a lackluster 10th place in the final rankings makes these statistics seem even more astounding. Despite their inability to score, they were able to avoid finishing towards the bottom of the Western Conference standings because to the playmaking abilities of Gauld.
6. Jefferson Savarino
With seven goals and four assists in 19 games for Real Salt Lake, the winger is one of Venezuela’s best players, and it’s understandable why. He has scored goals in 31 appearances for the Venezuelan national team, and his lightning-quick feet combined with his deft technical skill make him a threat from both sides of the field.
5. Kai Wagner
Kai Wagner rampage down the left side of the field in MLS. The 26-year-old left winger contributed 8 assists in 33 games and was a significant offensive danger for Philadelphia the whole season. In 2023, anticipate him to maintain his excellent performance.
4. Carlos Vela
With a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Philadelphia Union, Carlos Vela became just the fifth Mexican to win the MLS Cup with a total of 12 goals and 9 assists in 32 games.
3. Hany Mukhtar
Mukhtar, a German midfielder, is well-known in MLS for being the greatest at just about everything. He has speed, power, skill, goals, and inventiveness, as seen by the 23 goals and 7 assists he scored in 33 games to help Nashville reach fourth place in the Western Conference in 2022.
2. Carles Gil
The former Valencia midfielder, who ranks second on the list, has been proving his value domestically. He finished in the top tier of the progressive statistics with 7 goals and 9 assists, demonstrating what a motivating force he is in the club.
1. Lucas Zelarayán
The Columbus Crew player Lucas Zelarayán is of Armenian and Argentine descent. He was in the 97th and 98th percentiles for successful take-ons and shot-creating actions, respectively, which makes sense when you watch him play in midfield. He started 25 times and recorded 10 goals and 7 assists.
