With the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season approaching its climax, the race for the Landon Donovan MVP award has reached a critical stage. While several standouts have maintained high levels of consistency, two-time reigning MVP Leo Messi remains the clear frontrunner. The Landon Donovan MLS MVP race is taking full shape, as we approach the final weeks of the 2026 regular season. Every player on this list has either had a great run of form lasting a few months or has been very consistent throughout the entire season. Especially when teams try to game plan around how to stop you, it’s not easy to maintain consistency as an attacking player in any league. And Anders Dreyer has produced a second straight standout year with San Diego FC, brian White is quietly having another fantastic season for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The same goes for Guilherme in Houston. The most complete striker in MLS has consistently scored goals while leading a surging FC Dallas side up to second place in the Western Conference.
2026 MVP Power Rankings
- 1. Leo Messi: The Inter Miami CF icon continues to dominate, recording 21 goals and 13 assists to lead the league in both categories.
- 2. Hany Mukhtar: The Nashville SC playmaker has been a vital force, tallying 13 goals and 7 assists as his club competes for the Supporters’ Shield.
- 3. Carles Gil: The 2021 MVP remains the engine for the New England Revolution, contributing 12 goals and 9 assists to keep the team second in the Eastern Conference.
- 4. Evander: Despite a recent dip in form that mirrors FC Cincinnati’s slide outside the playoff line, the Brazilian has posted a notable 13 goals and 13 assists.
- 5. Petar Musa: A consistent threat for FC Dallas, the striker has recorded 18 goals and 5 assists this season.
Beyond the top five, other talents have made significant impacts, such as Philadelphia Union’s rising star Cavan Sullivan, who has shown exceptional form since the 2026 FIFA World Cup break. Meanwhile, New York City FC’s Nico Fernández Mercau continues to impress but has fallen slightly out of the primary rankings. Who’s been essential for Charlotte FC once again, likewise for Pep Biel. Let’s get to the top five, with October right around the corner.
Upcoming Match Schedule
- Bayer Leverkusen Women vs. Werder Bremen Women: 02/10/2026, 22:00
- Stuttgarter Kickers vs. Kickers Offenbach: 02/10/2026, 22:30
- SV Sandhausen vs. 1. FC K’Lautern II: 02/10/2026, 22:30
- Veres Rivne vs. Kudrivka: 03/10/2026, 15:30
- H.-Freiberg vs. TSV Steinbach: 03/10/2026, 17:30
- Homburg vs. Barockstadt Fulda-Lehnerz: 03/10/2026, 17:30
- Hessen Kassel vs. SSV Ulm: 03/10/2026, 17:30
- Mainz 05 II vs. Freiburg II: 03/10/2026, 17:30
- Eintracht Trier vs. Astoria Walldorf: 03/10/2026, 17:30
- Aalen vs. FSV Frankfurt: 03/10/2026, 17:30
- Eintracht Frankfurt Women vs. Bayern Munich Women: 03/10/2026, 21:25
- Wolfsburg Women vs. Hamburg Women: 04/10/2026, 17:15
- VfB Stuttgart Women vs. Union Berlin Women: 04/10/2026, 19:30
- Gnistan vs. Inter Turku: 07/10/2026, 21:30
- HJK vs. VPS: 08/10/2026, 20:30
- KuPS vs. Oulu: 08/10/2026, 21:30
- Veres Rivne vs. Shakhtar Donetsk: 09/10/2026, 18:00
- SJK vs. Lahti: 09/10/2026, 20:30
- SKU Amstetten vs. BW Linz: 09/10/2026, 22:00
- Kapfenberger SV vs. Austria II: 09/10/2026, 22:00
