The 2026 Major League Soccer regular season is set to conclude on Saturday, capping a 259-day campaign that featured significant unpredictability. The schedule was disrupted by the mid-year FIFA World Cup, which created a unique flow to the season and produced several surprising candidates for the league's year-end awards. While some selections are predictable, others reflect the dramatic shifts that occurred throughout the year.
Lionel Messi remains the dominant figure in the league, and he is the consensus choice for the Landon Donovan MVP Award. The Inter Miami star has recorded 26 goals and 16 assists in 30 matches, leading the league in goals, goal contributions, and expected assists. His performance has been instrumental in guiding Miami to second place in the Eastern Conference, a Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul, and qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup. Despite the team playing under three different coaches this season, Messi has been the primary constant, with analysts noting that his vision and intelligence continue to transform the squad.
In the young player of the year category, Cavan Sullivan of the Philadelphia Union is the leading candidate. The 17-year-old has transitioned from a teenage prospect to an elite player, contributing six goals and ten assists since the World Cup break. His performance was crucial in the Union's second-half revival, helping the team climb from the bottom of the standings to secure a playoff spot. Other contenders include Julian Hall of Red Bull New York, who became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick, and Justin Ellis, though Sullivan's impact and potential have drawn the most attention.
The newcomer of the year award appears to be a close race between Antoine Griezmann and Guilherme. Griezmann joined Orlando City in July after the LaLiga season ended and quickly made an impact, scoring just 48 minutes into his debut. He has since recorded 14 goals and eight assists in only 17 games, helping Orlando climb from 12th place into the postseason. Guilherme of the Houston Dynamo has been consistent all season with 16 goals and 10 assists, but Griezmann's rapid arrival and high efficiency in fewer minutes have given him the edge in many predictions.
For the coach of the year, B.J. Callaghan of Nashville SC is a strong favorite. The former United States interim manager led Nashville to the Supporters' Shield, tying the league's regular-season points record with one game remaining. While other managers like Ryan Richter of the Philadelphia Union and Yoann Damet of St. Louis City had impressive midseason turnarounds, Callaghan's achievement of winning a major trophy and elevating the club's status makes him the top pick. Marko Mitrovic of the New England Revolution is also considered a strong candidate for guiding the team to a fourth-place finish despite modest expectations.
The final matchday will determine the exact standings, but the narrative of the 2026 season has already been shaped by the exceptional performances of these individuals. As the league prepares for its year-end ceremonies, the focus remains on the players and coaches who defined this unique campaign.
