From Lionel Messi to Diego Luna, Rating MLS Clubs & Players As the Leagues Cup Resumes

Inter Miami: A+

Current standing: First, Eastern Conference

Season so far: The Herons have had an outstanding season so far, sitting atop the East with a five-point lead. Averaging 2.12 points per game with 56 total goals scored, Miami has been dominant in the final third all season. Messi has led the way with 12 goals and 13 assists in just 12 matches while Luis Suarez has been clinical, adding another 12 goals. The club is currently on track to lift the MLS Supporters’ Shield at 53 points. The LA Galaxy is second in the race at 49 points with an extra match played.
Major moves:

• Loaned in David Martinez from River Plate
• Signed Matias Rojas on free transfer

LA Galaxy: A+

Current standing: First, Western Conference
Season so far: What a stunning turnaround 2024 has been for the franchise; they find themselves atop the West and have completely turned their fortunes around after hitting a club-low in 2023.

They have the most passes completed of any MLS club this season with 15,102, while midfield Maestro leads the league in touches with 2,401. Offseason additions Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec are frontrunners for Newcomer of the Year, and Greg Vanney is looking like an ideal candidate for Coach of the Year. This team will be even scarier with the addition of Dortmund legend Reus.

Major moves:

• Signed Reus as a free agent

LAFC: A

Current standing: Second, Western Conference
Season so far: LAFC have done nearly everything right so far this campaign. They had one major hiccup, a thumping at the hands of the Crew prior to the start of the Leagues Cup, but they’ve nearly been perfect otherwise. Denis Bouanga has the most shots (124) and shots-on-target (47) of any player this season, and they’ve only bolstered their attack by adding Giroud this summer transfer window to build on that.

The 2023 MLS Cup runners-up, LAFC look like contenders once again.
Major moves:

• Signed Giroud from AC Milan on free transfer
• Loaned in Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest

Real Salt Lake: A

Current standing: Third, Western Conference
Season so far: RSL have been MLS’s most surprising team this campaign. They’re playing electric attacking soccer, with Chicho Arango looking like MLS MVP candidate material with 17 goals and five goals. USMNT prospect Diego Luna additionally has fully come into his own, dropping five goals and 12 assists so far.

Ahead of the final stretch run, they’re a real contender for both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.
Major moves:

• Transferred in Diogo Goncalves from FC Copenhagen
• Transferred in Dominik Marczuk from Jagiellonia Bialystok
• Brought in Javain Brown on a free transfer

FC Cincinnati: A

Current standing: Second, Eastern Conference
Season so far: It’s been nearly perfect this season. They’ve been neck and neck with Miami all season long, and trail them by just five points as the final stretch of the season arrives.

The highlight of their campaign so far was their 6-1 thumping of Inter, but three-straight losses heading into the Leagues Cup had them hitting a roadblock. Reigning league MVP Lucho Acosta is still thriving, though, leading the league in assists with 18, and key passes with 82.
Major moves:

• Transferred in Chidozie Awaziem from Boavista
• Loaned in Nicholas Gioacchini from Como

Columbus Crew: A

Current standing: Third, Eastern Conference
Season so far: The reigning champs began the campaign with a brilliant run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, where they fell just short, but still managed to balance their league form at the same time. Their only flaw so far this campaign is they have fallen to both of their primary Eastern Conference contenders in Miami and FCC in regular season play. However, Wilfried Nancy’s squad are now onto the Leagues Cup final — another trophy could be added to the cabinet as soon as this weekend.
Major moves:

• Traded for DeJuan Jones from New England Revolution
• Transferred in Dylan Chambost from AS Saint-Etienne
• Traded for Aziel Jackson from St. Louis CITY SC
• Loaned in Marcelo Herrera from River Plate

Colorado Rapids: A-

Current standing: Fourth, Western Conference
Season so far: Watching the Rapids makes you want to scream “hell yeah” out loud every time. Things are either spectacular, or disastrous, and there’s no real middle ground.

They’re averaging 1.48 points-per-game and have won five of their last eight, including a big victory over Real Salt Lake. During that stretch, though, they fell to both the LA Galaxy and LAFC. They also had an impressive run in the Leagues Cup, where they ousted three Liga MX sides before bowing out in the semis. Rafael Navarro (15 goals, five assists) and Djordje Mihailovic (10 goals and nine assists) have played a big role.

To establish themselves as Western Conference contenders, they can’t afford to fall against those around them in the table as they round out the campaign.
Major moves:

• Signed Navarro on a permanent deal from Palmeiras after a loan spell

Vancouver Whitecaps: B+

Current standing: Fifth, Western Conference
Season so far: Vancouver play fun soccer, and are one of MLS’ most exciting teams at the moment. They’ve won five of their last six regular season matches. However, they have yet to claim a “big win” on their resume, with three of the four teams ahead of them in the West all besting them so far this campaign.

If the Whitecaps can start earning results against big opponents to close out the season, a playoff run could be on the horizon.
Major moves:

• Transferred in Edier Ocampo from Atletico Nacional

Charlotte FC: B

Current standing: Sixth, Eastern Conference
Season so far: Charlotte FC are ambitious, and in the long-term, it’s what may make them successful. Currently, though, they need to start finding consistent results while competing with the best in the East.

There is a clear hierarchy at the top of the East, Charlotte will hope the additions of Tim Ream and Pep Biel will help it contend and potentially move up the standings.
Major moves:

• Signed Ream on a free transfer
• Loaned in Biel on a DP deal from Olympiakos

New York Red Bulls: B

Current standing: Fourth, Eastern Conference
Season so far: The Red Bulls have had a rollercoaster season, fluctuating between all five of the top spots in the Eastern Conference.

Lewis Morgan has been clinical in front of net with 12 goals, while offseason signing Emil Forsberg has lived up to expectations with nine goal contributions, too.

Although they’re 12 points out from leaders Miami, they’re in pole position to contend come the postseason, and they have to be thrilled about that.
Major moves:

• Felipe Carballo on loan from Gremio

New York City FC: B

Current standing: Fifth, Eastern Conference
Season so far: NYCFC began things on a bleak note, with just one win in their first seven matches, but then momentum arrived. They won eight of their next 10 matches, establishing themselves as a contender in the East.

They’re one of the fastest rising teams in the league, and their young core, led by Alonso Martinez (10 goals in 17 appearances), may surprise some of the top teams in the league.
Major moves:

• N/A

Houston Dynamo: B-

Current standing: Sixth, Western Conference
Season so far: The Dynamo have been inconsistent in the West. They’ve shown glimpses of brilliance, but have faltered in surprising moments, with losses to teams outside of the playoff picture like FC Dallas, Austin FC and the Chicago Fire. At the moment, though, they’re riding a high with a 10-match unbeaten streak in the regular season.

They have form and confidence on their side as they look for a late season push.
Major moves:

• Brought in Ezequiel Ponce from AEK Athens
• Transferred in Lawrence Ennali from Gornik Zabrze

Orlando City: B-

Current standing: Seventh, Eastern Conference
Season so far: Oscar Pareja’s side have won six of their last seven matches in regular season play, finding form over the summer. They had a rough start to the season, winless in four, but slowly found their footing and really hit their groove this summer. They currently sit with the sixth-most goals (39) scored in the East.

Now, they have form and momentum on their side ahead of this final stretch.
Major moves:

• Re-signed Duncan McGuire to long-term deal

Toronto FC: C+

Current standing: Eighth, Eastern Conference
Season so far: Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne have looked world-class at points this season, but inconsistency has haunted John Herdman’s side all campaign.

At one point they went from six wins in eight matches to winless in nine in another stretch. They need to find their identity if they want to make a postseason run.
Major moves:

• Brought in Henry Wingo on a free transfer

Philadelphia Union: C+

Current standing: 10th, Eastern Conference
Season so far: The Union have faced significant challenges in 2024, but there have been some bright spots. Quinn Sullivan and Jack McGlynn have emerged in the midfield, and Daniel Gazdag continues to find the back of the net up top. The Hungary international sits third in the race for the Golden Boot, with 14 goals.

Overall, the Union haven’t looked like themselves this season. With just six wins in 25 matches, things are far from ideal, and a playoff spot seems unlikely unless they can start closing out games and securing results both at home and away.

Major moves:

• Traded for Samuel Adeniran from St. Louis CITY SC
• Signed Danley Jean Jacques from METZ in France

Minnesota United: C+

Current standing: Ninth, Western Conference
Season so far: The Loons had a phenomenal start to the campaign, with the league’s youngest-ever manager in Eric Ramsay beginning on an unbelievable hot streak. At one point, they were third in the West with a record of 7-2-4 with 25 points after 13 matches played.

Since, they’ve earned just eight total points in their last 12 matches, and are winless in eight-straight. It’s been a disastrous summer for Minnesota, but summer reinforcements arrived, and a fall push may wait.
Major moves:

• Signed Joaquin Pereyra from Atletico Tucuman
• Signed Matus Kmet from AS Trencin
• Signed Kelvin Yeboah from Genoa in Serie A

Portland Timbers: C+

Current standing: Eighth, Western Conference
Season so far: Phil Neville’s crew have turned their fortunes around after a rough start to the campaign that saw them go winless in nine-straight matches at one point. They now occupy a playoff position and came into the Leagues Cup with only two losses in their final 10 matches leading up to it.
Major moves:

• Traded for Mason Toye from CF MTL
• Brought in Finn Surman from Wellington Phoenix FC

D.C. United: C

Current standing: 13th, Eastern Conference
Season so far: The only thing that has gone to plan for D.C. this season has been Christian Benteke scoring goals. The ex-Liverpool man sits second in the Golden Boot race with 16, and has been one of the league’s best players.

Everywhere else on the pitch, though: disaster. They have the third-worst goal-differential in the league, and without Benteke, it would be worse.

On the upside, though, there are worse performing teams in the East and United still have a slim chance of making the postseason.
Major moves:

• Brought in Boris Enow Takang from Maccabi Netanya
• Signed David Schnegg from SK Sturm Graz
• Added MLS veteran Dominique Badji on a free transfer

Atlanta United: C

Current standing: Ninth, Eastern Conference
Season so far: The Five Stripes have had an up and down campaign so far. They’ve struggled on all ends of the pitch, and have not competed as strongly as they could considering their squad. Head coach Gonzalo Pineda was fired in early June, and they’ve yet to name a full-time replacement. However, they’ve net “north of $50 million” in outgoing transfers this year; an MLS record.
Major moves:

• Sold Thiago Almada to Botafogo
• Sold Giorgos Giakoumakis to Cruz Azul
• Sold Caleb Wiley to Chelsea FC
• Transferred in Alexey Miranchuk from Atalanta

CF Montreal: C-

Current standing: 11th, Eastern Conference
Season so far: CF Montreal have had an up and down season, struggling under rookie head coach Laurent Courtois. However, there have seemingly been more issues off the pitch and with their front-office, than on the pitch this season.

With just two wins in their last 10 regular season matches, things are looking bleak for the Canadian club.
Major moves:

• Traded for Caden Clark from Minnesota
• Traded for Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty from Toronto FC
• Brought in Tom Pearce on a free from Wigan Athletic

Austin FC: C-

Current standing: 10th, Western Conference
Season so far: Josh Wolff likely has the hottest seat in MLS right now, but he has a fairly long leash it appears, too. Despite missing out on a 2023 playoff spot and tumbling down the table this season, he remains at the helm.

They have just two wins in their last 10 matches, and have had a rather uninspiring campaign. They need a miracle during this final stretch to find themselves in playoff contention. In good news, though, they brought in what appear to be some positive summer reinforcements to bolster their push.
Major moves:

• Signed Mikkel Desler from Toulouse FC
• Brought in Oleksandr Svatok from SC Dnipro-1 on a permanent
• Transferred in Osman Bukari from Red Star Belgrade

Seattle Sounders: C-

Current standing: Seventh, Western Conference
Season so far: The Sounders, a regular Western Conference contender, have had a very up and down season so far. They started slowly, managing just two wins in their first 10 matches, and while they’ve gradually found their footing, there’s still a noticeable gap between Brian Schmetzer’s club and the West’s elite teams this season.

The fact they haven’t made any summer moves mean their playoff hopes hang by thread. Schmetzer has to rely on what he has and that’s namely Jordan Morris at the moment, who has spearheaded the attack with nine goals on the season.
Major moves:

• N/A

FC Dallas: D+

Current standing: 11th, Western Conference
Season so far: FCD fired head coach Nico Estevez in early June after an abysmal start to the season, and things have slowly started to improve. Averaging 1.2 points-per-game, FCD sit outside the playoff picture, but, they have five wins in their 10 matches since his departure.

Now, they’re searching for some late-season form to salvage their campaign in hopes of securing a playoff spot in the West. Club-record signing Petar Musa is finally finding his feet, too, with 13 goals and two assists to his resume this campaign.
Major moves:

• Traded for Ruan from CF MTL

Sporting Kansas City: D

Current standing: 12th, Western Conference
Season so far: It’s been one of Sporting’s worst campaigns yet to date, but they appear to be backing manager Peter Vermes regardless of their woeful form. Averaging .92 points-per-game, they’ve won just six of their 24 matches this season, and the playoffs now look like a stretch for a team struggling of late.

Their defense has been a major concern, with 52 goals conceded so far, averaging more than two goals allowed per-match. Their attack, meanwhile, has been just as bleak with no double-digit scorers yet this season.
Major moves:

• Signed defender Joaquin Fernandez on a free transfer from Trabzonspor.

Nashville SC: D

Current standing: 12th, Eastern Conference
Season so far: It’s been a rather disastrous season for Nashville. They sacked Gary Smith midway through and brought in U.S. men’s national team assistant BJ Callaghan as their new manager, but it will take time for him to imprint his ideas.

Right now, their focus has to be preparing for 2025, and if they sneak into a playoff spot someway, somehow, that’s a net positive.

Star attacker Hany Mukhtar hasn’t looked himself this season, with just five goals and seven assists. That’s a steep decline from his MVP campaign in 2022, where he had 23 goals and 11 assists. If they salvage their campaign, they’ll need him to step up.
Major moves:

• Transferred in Patrick Yazbek from Viking FK
• Loaned in Jonathan Perez from the LA Galaxy

Chicago Fire: D-

Current standing: 14th, Eastern Conference
Season so far: Not much has gone right for Chicago this season, with just six wins in 25 matches. Club-record signing Hugo Cuypers is up to nine goals, but that’s about the only positive takeaway for them. Sporting Director Georg Heitz has already announced he’s departing at the end of the season, while star attacker Xherdan Shaqiri departed, as well.

For the Fire, it’s at the point of the season where they start looking ahead to 2025.
Major moves:

• Terminated Xherdan Shaqiri’s contract
• Brought in Ariel Lassiter from CF Montreal

New England Revolution: F

Current standing: 15th, Eastern Conference
Season so far: It’s been a woeful campaign on all ends of the pitch for the Revolution, with little to no positives. At 7-14-2, they’re technically only five points out of a play-in spot for the postseason, but it seems far-fetched based on their form of late.

From touchline bust-ups between players and manager Caleb Porter, to sporting the worst goal-differential in the Eastern Conference, it’s been messy.
Major moves:

• Traded for Tim Parker from St. Louis CITY SC
• Transferred in Luca Langoni from Boca Juniors
• Traded for Will Sands from Columbus Crew

San Jose Earthquakes: F

Current standing: 14th in the Western Conference
Season so far: It’s been a rough season in San Jose. They have just four wins, and head coach Luchi Gonzalez was removed from his role in June. They’ve been shutout in four of their last six matches, and their top scorer, Amahl Pellegrino, has just five goals to his name so far.

The team is averaging 0.56 points per game, which means playoffs are a distant reality. The Quakes have just one win in their last 13 matches in regular season play and will hope to quickly turn the page on a nightmare season.
Major moves:

• N/A

St. Louis CITY SC: F

Current standing: 13th, Western Conference
Season so far: Genuinely, it’s baffling. From one of MLS’ best last season to a train wreck in 2024, CITY have been shocking. They removed MLS Coach of the year finalist Bradley Carnell earlier this season, and have yet to name a full-time heir.
They have just four wins in 25 matches played, and there’s little positivity around the club at the moment. Their sophomore campaign has fallen way short of expectation and the St. Louis faithful will hope see a return to form in the club’s third season in 2025.
Major moves:

• Signed Marcel Hartel from FC St. Pauli
• Traded for Henry Kessler from New England Revolution
• Transferred in Jannes Horn from FC Nurnberg