MLS saw several top talents leave the league this winter, but there is still plenty of quality hanging around heading back into 2020
Major League Soccer lost several stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, but the likes of Carlos Vela and Josef Martinez still headline a long list of talent in the league.
Despite this exodus, MLS still has plenty of stars set to be on display in 2020, such as winter signing Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and last season's big-name adiditions Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez and Nani. Additionally, the league has a series of young talents ready to be the next in line for foreign clubs to try and pry away on the transfer market.
So, who are the best players in MLS in2020? Taking into account factors such as their play in MLS in recent years, transfer value, and potential, here are the top 50 players in the league.
Getty1Mauro Manotas | Houston Dynamo
One of the breakout attacking stars of 2018, Manotas was the leading figure in Houston's run to the U.S. Open Cup title. The Colombia striker totalled a career high of 19 goals in the 2018 regular season, earning himself a new contract and has since established himself as one of the top young talents in MLS.
AdvertisementAdam Hagy/USA Today2Julian Gressel | Atlanta United
One of the unsung heroes on Atlanta United's title run, Gressel followed up his 2017 MLS Rookie of the Year campaign with an even better second season, emerging as a real attacking threat as a right wingback, with the versatility to help the Five Stripes play a variety of systems. He upped his goal tally with the Atlanta side in 2019 before securing a move to D.C. United in 2020.
Getty3Alejandro Bedoya | Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union have inherited the veteran leadership experience of Alejandro Bedoya, who exhibits influence on and off the pitch – especially when he took to the on-field microphone to take a stand against gun violence after the mass shootings that occurred in El Paso and Dayton, saying: “Congress, do something now. End gun violence.”
Getty4Albert Rusnak | Real Salt Lake
The Slovakia playmaker has been a bit of an enigma for Real Salt Lake, but there's no denying he is one of the league's most dangerous players when he's on his game. Rusnak notched 10 goals in both 2018 and 2019 seasons. After signing a new contract with RSL and seeing the team bolster its attack, Rusnak should see his numbers rise.