Rising USMNT Star and Mexican Talent Lead MLS 22 Under 22 List

The highly anticipated MLS 22 Under 22 list, spotlighting the league`s brightest young talents, has been officially unveiled. Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas secured the prestigious top spot, marking him as the first Mexican player to achieve this honor. Vargas, who debuted for the Mexican national team (`El Tri`) in October 2024 against the United States (a country he was also eligible to represent, having spent part of his youth career there), has been a standout performer. At just 20 years old, he has already made 26 starts for the Sounders, contributing three goals and five assists in MLS play. This achievement builds upon a breakthrough 2024 season that saw him firmly establish himself as a regular starter for the club.

Initiated in 2010, this prestigious annual list is compiled through votes cast by a panel comprising MLS coaches, general managers, broadcast personalities, and media members. Historically, players who earn a spot on this list often go on to achieve significant success, both within MLS and in top leagues globally. This career trajectory adds considerable excitement for talents like Vargas and Alex Freeman, an Orlando City SC defender widely considered a strong contender for the United States World Cup squad, highlighting the list`s predictive power for future stars.

MLS 22 Under 22 for 2025: The Complete Ranking

The variety in player backgrounds on this year`s list is particularly striking. While 14 players are products of MLS academies, their routes to professional clubs vary considerably, indicating an expansion of scouting efforts to include smaller academies and promising young talents from overseas. The league`s U-22 initiative, designed to strategically integrate promising young players, has visibly made an impact, exemplified by Olwethu Makhanya, who was skillfully signed within salary cap limits before playing a pivotal role in a Supporters` Shield triumph for his club.

The Philadelphia Union boasts the highest representation on the list with three players, a testament to Head Coach Bradley Carnell`s successful integration and trust in his youth prospects. The MLS Next Pro league has proven invaluable, offering these young athletes crucial match experience and allowing clubs, such as Charlotte FC with Idan Toklomati, to facilitate a smoother transition into the main MLS league. To fully grasp the potential career trajectories of these promising individuals, it`s highly insightful to review past winners of this prestigious accolade.

All-Time MLS 22 Under 22 Winners

Vargas now joins an esteemed group of alumni, many of whom have forged stellar MLS careers, become national team mainstays, and even gained Champions League experience. The Seattle Sounders` strong tradition of talent development is affirmed by Vargas` victory, placing them just two wins behind FC Dallas for the most top spots in the list`s history. As MLS continues to evolve into a recognized selling league, the pathways for young talents to rise to the top of lists like this have significantly expanded, offering more opportunities for global recognition.

The rapid ascent of Diego Gomez into Brighton`s first team shortly after his move from Inter Miami underscores how international clubs are increasingly recognizing MLS as a formidable platform for preparing players for elite European leagues. While talents like Miguel Almiron and Alphonso Davies were pioneers in their groundbreaking moves to Newcastle United and Bayern Munich, respectively, it`s clear that a growing number of young MLS stars will continue to leverage their early success in the league into prosperous careers abroad, solidifying MLS`s role as a developer of world-class talent.