Top 10 best players in MLS 2024: Ranked

MLS 2024 will be Lionel Messi’s first full season

The Major League Soccer 2024 season will get underway from 22 February with the first game between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake. The 2023 season saw the phenom Lionel Messi move to the United States. A lot changed in the year 2023 apart from the move. Now Apple TV has an MLS Season Pass option that allows users worldwide to watch any MLS game from their comfort, without any blackouts.

With “the Messi effect” a lot has improved off the field as well. Now the club with whom Messi is tied up, Inter Miami, is worth a whopping $1.03 billion. Also as per Forbes, an average worth of an MLS club is up by 14 per cent since Messi’s arrival. That equates to about $658 million on average worth per MLS team.

Although everything seemed to revolve around the 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning captain, his side didn’t end up winning the title. The 2023 MLS winner was Columbus Crew. There are many more metrics that drive enthusiasm regarding the league’s growth. But talking about the season that is around the corner, these stars just might be the top 10 best MLS players for the 2024 season.

10. Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami)

The midfield maestro was only able to play 11 odd games last season. Sergio Busquets is expected to do more of what he has done throughout his career. It is worth watching probably the best defensive midfielder while one can. Reminder Busquets will be turning 36 this July.

9. Hugo Lloris (Los Angeles FC)

The 2018 FIFA World Cup-winning goalkeeper with France’s national team will now call Los Angeles his home. The name Hugo Lloris is finally detached from Tottenham Hotspur after calling it home since 2012. The 37-year-old keeper will bring his colossal experience to the 2024 MLS season.

8. Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders)

Talking about goalkeepers, Stefan Frei was the standout last year. Frei who is now 37 years old ended up winning the MLS Golden Glove in the 2023 campaign. The veteran keeper enjoyed keeping a total of 16 clean sheets in the regular season.

7. Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)

This upcoming season will be Hany Mukhtar’s fifth in both MLS and for his side Nashville SC. The 2022 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner is still just 28 and shouldn’t be stopping anytime soon. Mukhtar wears the number 10 jersey and delivered 15 goals along with 9 assists last year.

6. Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls)

A new character in New York. After enjoying a nine-year spell with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, Emil Forsberg was on the move to one of the many Red Bull-owned football clubs. The 32-year-old Swedish player comes to New York Red Bulls after a Leipzig career of 324 games. Almost forgot, the attacking midfielder produced 69 assists along with 71 goals in that period.

5. Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)

Inter Miami went a step further in reuniting old mates from their days back in the FC Barcelona team. After having already made moves for Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, the Herons even went a step ahead and brought in a mercurial forward. Luis Suarez, the name is enough.

4. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC)

Following an MLS Golden Boot-winning campaign, a lot of defences will likely be sweating when they face Denis Bouanga. Although the 29-year-old Gabon international had other intentions: “My objective is clear and stated: I would like to come back and play in France or in a European club,” back in January, he is still on the books of LAFC. Bouanga scored 25 goals to win the Golden Boot in the 2023 MLS.

3. Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)

Another Argentine that grabbed attention last season. A spectacular 2023 season resulted in Luciano Acosta being crowned the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP. That’s the biggest individual honour right now in the Major League Soccer. Acosta is still 29 and probably has many more great seasons under his belt.

2. Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew)

Cucho Hernández was signed midway through the 2022 MLS season from Premier League side Watford. And in just his first full season with Columbus Crew, the Colombian proved his worth. Without Hernández’s 21 goals and 8 assists, Crew wouldn’t have lifted the 2023 title.

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Lionel Messi provided quite a boost as Inter Miami quickly grabbed hold of the Leagues Cup. Messi will be entering the first full MLS season in 2024. And with the likes of Busquets, Alba and Suarez – all around him from the get-go, the eight-time Ballons d’Or winner could just end up taking away the title from defending champions Columbus Crew.

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