The Official Unoffical Toros Talk MLS Awards Ballot

As the MLS regular season draws to a close, so too does the window for media folks to submit their season award votes. The deadline is the Monday following Decision Day, though after 33 games it's hard to imagine what a single performance by any coach or player in game 34 could swing.

One of the people that isn't submitting their ballot: me, because I do not have an official one. Maybe one day I will, but this is not that day. That doesn't mean I can't make my voice heard. With that said, the following is how I would vote if given the chance.

Note: This won't feature votes for Referee and Assistant Referee of the year because I don't have enough knowledge to intelligently vote on it. There also won't be a vote on Humanitarian of the Year, because I don't feel comfortable judging such an award if I don't have to. It feels weird to gamify doing good for your community to the point of saying one person is better at it than others. Just do the good.

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player

Petar Musa, FC Dallas

There's two true contenders for this award: Musa and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi. If this was just "Pick the best player in MLS" then Messi would be my selection. Even under what the MVP should represent, I imagine Messi will once again win this award as he has the last two seasons.

There's no fault in voting for Messi, he's incredible. He leads the Golden Boot and has his side in second place behind a best of all time contending team in Nashville. Denying his quality is impossible, which means he's the favorite and it's probably not close.

All that said, in my opinion the correct answer is Musa. Yes this is an FC Dallas publication, the bias is well disclosed, but you don't have to wear Burn colored glasses to see that Musa better fits the award's intent.

Take Lionel Messi off Miami and you've still got the following players: Luis Suarez (16 goals/12 assists), German Berterame (10 goals/10 assists), Rodrigo De Paul (16 assists), Talles Segovia (12 assists) and Dayne St. Clair (46 goals allowed). That's a formidable group that is force multiplied by having the sport's greatest player ever around them. Even without Messi this is a high level playoff team.

Now take Musa away from Dallas. That leaves them with just one double digit scorer in Logan Farrington and one double digit assist man in Joaquin Valiente. It also takes away Dallas' only real Designated Player, despite Santi Moreno being listed as such on the team's roster profile. Within the context of the two teams, Musa is more valuable to Dallas than Messi is to Miami.

That's why Musa gets my vote. It's not some slight at Messi, it's understanding that the margins between Dallas and Miami are in different realms right now. All the pieces matter, and Musa is Dallas' most important piece by far in addition to being the league's best striker. I doubt Messi will miss this one, considering he can fill a mansion with his various other trophies.

Runner up: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

Sigi Schmid MLS Coach Of The Year

BJ Callahan, Nashville SC

This one meanwhile is much easier. Nashville is the Supporters Shield winner, the top team in all MLS, and the favorite to take home MLS Cup this season. While players like Hany Muhtkar, Sam Surridge, and Cristian Espinoza are huge parts of why, Callahan deserves credit as well.

His system has gotten strong campaigns out of 33 year old Andy Najar and 35 year old Dan Lovitz on one end of the spectrum along with 20 year old Matthew Corcoran and 21 year old Reed Baker-Whiting on the other. Nashville didn't lose a game at home in MLS play, with all three of their losses coming on the road.

MLS has a cadre of strong candidates for this award: St Louis' Yoann Damet, Vancouver's Jesper Sorensen, FC Dallas' Eric Quill, and New England's Marko Mitrovic all deserve serious consideration. It's one of the most competitive years for this award, but Callahan's status as top coach feels undisputed.

Runner up: Yoann Damet, St. Louis City

MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Matt Turner, New England Revolution

Turner is the runaway winner of this award. He leads in every major goalkeeping stat category by a sizeable margin. The most dominant: Turner's Goals Prevented number is +16.05, meaning he saved 16 goals over expected. The next best keeper? Nashville's Brian Schwake at +12.20.

What makes his numbers even more impressive is doing so while facing the 3rd most shots on targets in the league; Schwake faced the 25th most. Turner snagged 136 against all those shots, that's 2nd in MLS. Schwake meanwhile grabbed 82 saves on 107 shots on target. While the Nashville keeper corralled a higher percentage (76.6 to 74.7) the sheer volume gives Turner the edge.

Runner up: Brian Schwake, Nashville SC

MLS Defender of the Year

Nathan Harriel, Philadelphia Union

In my opinion the hardest award to adjudicate. With the variety of different profiles defenders can possess these days in a myriad of different system, there's no real way to universally define best. You've got to do your best with the information out there and make the best call.

For me Harriel ends up being the best fit. The Union central defender is second in all MLS in goals above replacement at +3.90 per Pitch Perception. He's only surpassed by Miessi, who is at +6.71. He also is 2nd among MLS defenders in aeriel duels per match, 4th in duels per match, 14th in fouls drawn per match, and 1st in interceptions per match.

The Union's defense is full of strong performers like Neil Pierre, Frankie Westfield, and Kai Wagner. It's fair to argue that because of Harriel's quality, all those other players are made better. That's just as important as the individual stats.

Runner up: Kye Rowles, DC United

MLS Comeback Player Of The Year

Ryan Gauld, Vancouver Whitecaps

For context, here's who MLS nominated for this award:

• Aaron Long – Los Angeles Football Club
• Alejandro Alvarado Jr. – San Diego FC
• Brandon Vazquez – Austin FC
• Cameron Harper – Red Bull New York
• Eduard Löwen – San Jose Earthquakes
• Jay Fortune – Atlanta United
• Keaton Parks – New York City FC
• Nick Hagglund – FC Cincinnati
• Paul Arriola – Seattle Sounders FC
• Quinn Sullivan – Philadelphia Union
• Richie Laryea – Toronto FC
• Ryan Gauld – Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Of these 12, only six played 900 minutes or more this season. Of those six Gauld had the highest goals above replacement at +2.43, ranking 23rd among all 418 players with 900+ minutes in MLS. The next closest player? A tie between Parks and Hagglund who both registered +0.31 but are ranked 221st and 222nd respectively.

Boiling awards down to one stat can seem a bit simple, but when the gap is this drastic it feels fair. Gauld wins this one with ease.

Runner up: Keaton Parks, NYCFC

MLS Newcomer of the Year

Guilherme, Houston Dynamo

Speaking of winning with ease, Houston's big DP signing from this winter runs away with this honor. The Brazilian has 16 goals and 10 assists in MLS play with one game left to go, helping power Ben Olsen's squad to a playoff spot.

With just 500 minutes and debuting in 2026 the qualifications, there's a decent crop of candidates for this award. Orlando's Antoine Griezmann, Columbus' Brais Mendez, San Jose's Timo Werner, Real Salt Lake's Morgan Guilavogui, and Sporting Kansas City's Andre Luiz will all compete for medal stand spots.

Runner up: Morgan Guilavogui, Real Salt Lake

MLS Young Player Of The Year

Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union

Does this one require explanation? No? I didn't think so

Runner up: Peyton Miller, New England

MLS Best XI

Selected formation: 4-3-3

Most of this is self explanatory. Five of the eleven are players who either won or finished second on my ballot for various awards. Midfield was the hardest group to figure out, with players like Ronald Donkor and and Jeppe Tverskov barely missing out. MLS only lists five formations on their voting standards for this award (5-3-2, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, 3-4-3), otherwise I would have chosen 4-2-3-1 in order to find a strong #10.