Team of the Season has arrived in FIFA 23, so we thought we'd make some predictions for who we expect to see in each of the major league Team of the Season squads coming during the promo this year.
Through the words of Patric, and the graphics of Helmar Designs, we'll show you who's expected to star in each team, explain the reasons for their inclusion, and give you a glimpse of what their Team of the Season Items could look like.
Previously, we've looked at who could be in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, LaLiga and Eredivisie TOTS squads, but today we'll be taking a look at potential players from MLS.
MLS Team of the Season Prediction
MLS TOTS Starting XI
GK: Andre Blake (Philadelphia)
Another position that can be hard to praise through numbers is the goalkeeper. Jamaican shot-stopper Andre Blake does his best to buck that trend. Putting in outrageously good performances between the sticks for Philadelphia Union. Playing all of the 34 regular season games last season, he only conceded 26 goals, picking up 15 clean sheets along the way. This of course led to him becoming the goalkeeper of the year and being named in the Best XI, putting him among the top MLS players right now.
CB: Walker Zimmerman (Nashville)
A two-time MLS Defender of the Year, Zimmerman became the fifth player in MLS history to be named to the Best XI in four consecutive seasons, joining Chris Armas (1998-2001), Landon Donovan (2008-12), Marco Etcheverry (1996-99), and Robbie Keane (2012-15). Zimmerman is the only defender to do so after leading a Nashville back line that conceded the fourth-fewest goals (41) in 2022. His four Best XI selections are tied for the fifth most in MLS history and are the most among active players.
CB: Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia)
Philadelphia Union centre-back Jakob Glesnes has been named the 2022 MLS Defender of the Year, becoming the club's first-ever player to receive the honour. Glesnes has also ended the two-year reign of Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman in this category. The 28-year-old Norwegian was a vital piece of MLS's most dominant defence, as the Union allowed a league-low 26 goals (for an astounding +46 goal difference) en route to clinching the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.
LB: Kai Wagner (Philadelphia)
The left-back was linked with a move away to Premier League side Leeds United under then-manager Jesse Marsch, but things never materialized and that was probably for the better, as it meant Wagner could continue to maraud down the left side of the pitch in MLS. The 26-year-old got 8 assists in 33 games from the left side and was a major attacking threat for Philadelphia all year. Sadly he’s out for half a year now with an injury.
CAM: Hany Mukhtar (Nashville)
Sometimes the stats do the work for you. Hany Mukhtar isn’t just a football analyst’s dream but a steely character too. His goal tally for 2022 stood at 23 last season, making him the top-scorer in the league. Six of which might have been from the penalty spot, however, that goes to vindicate he’s able to step up in the big moments. In all, this accounted for over 40% of all Nashville’s goals in 2022. His goals weren’t the only factor contributing to him being named the Landon Donovan MVP for 2022 but also his assists, with 11 throughout the campaign, meaning he had at least one direct goal contribution across the regular 34-game season. There’s no reason to think he won’t be one of the best MLS players in 2023 as with his goal tally he’ll top multiple power rankings charts.
CAM: Dániel Gazdag (Philadelphia)
The Hungarian came to prominence when he famously scored the fourth against England at Molineux, in a game which sealed the Three Lions’ fate of relegation in the UEFA Nations League with a 4-0 loss. Hungary by comparison was elated at a marquee win against one of the most highly rated footballing nations. Dániel Gazdag has been doing this all season with Philadelphia Union, becoming one of the primary reasons why the club did so well in 2022. Nobody scored 22 goals without having obvious talent. What is remarkable, however, is his accuracy, as over 60% of his shots were on target. Subsequently, he scored many goals, only behind Hany Mukhtar in the entire division.
CAM: Sebastián Driussi (Austin FC)
Sebastián Driussi was a clear-cut MVP candidate in 2022, playing like a player worth building an entire roster around. The 27-year-old scored 22 goals in MLS last season, making it three countries in which he's reached double-digit goals (Argentina, Russia, United States). He was rewarded with a new contract until 2025 that has an option for an additional year - and he accepted it despite interest from Leeds in the Premier League.
CAM: Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)
Luciano Acosta was once linked with Paris Saint-Germain and with a 2022 like his, there’s no reason to think he couldn’t have flourished in Europe. Now aged 28, he might be firmly planted on this side of the Atlantic but he’s going to crop up in various best MLS players 2023 accolades for sure. This is largely due to his attacking versatility. While usually deployed at the attacking end of midfield, Luciano Acosta has shown the capability to play as a forward as well as in the centre. His tactical awareness is among the best in the division as he releases the ball in the best way, seemingly every time. That coupled with his through ball and key pass skill makes him an exceptional teammate to have. If there’s no good pass on, he’s also got a great shot on him, amassing 12 assists and 10 goals in the league.
RW: Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Talking about the MLS Team of the Season, you can't ignore Mexican forward Carlos Vela. It's no question, Carlos Vela is the biggest star of LAFC. He’s El Rey — the king — he’s the captain, he’s the undisputed face of the franchise. In 2022, he featured in 32 regular season matches — the most since arriving at LAFC — with 28 starts. After leading LAFC to the 2022 MLS Supporters’ Shield, Carlos Vela has earned his third Best XI selection in the past five years. Carlos Vela produced 12 goals and 12 assists in 2022, which was his third season with at least double-digit goals and assists. Additionally, his 12 helpers and 68 key passes were both team highs for an LAFC squad that tied for the third-most wins (21) in a season since 2000. Vela is one of just five active MLS players to earn three Best XI selections and is the only Mexican in MLS history to accomplish this feat.
ST: Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati)
Before the 2023 MLS campaign kicked off, Brandon Vazquez admitted to refusing a transfer to Liga MX team Chivas de Guadalajara. Though he felt honoured by the interest, he wasn't ready to give up on FC Cincinnati quite yet. After a slow start to MLS life, Vazquez has seen his stock rise meteorically in the last year. He scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in the league for Cincy - his previous goals high was four - and marked his national team debut in January with a goal vs. Serbia. Vazquez is particularly admired by Gladbach and their sporting director, Roland Virkus, travelled to the U.S. last month to watch Vazquez score in the 1-0 win over Nashville SC and it's unlikely he'll stay at Cinci beyond this season.
ST: Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas)
There might not be a better embodiment of the American dream in Major League Soccer. The 22-year-old striker moved to Dallas, Texas at the tender age of 10. Since emerging as a soccer talent, Jesus Ferreira has been on the books at FC Dallas and has since gone on to represent the USMNT despite having been born in Colombia. It’s not just heart-warming prose, however. He’s got the goals to back it up, scoring 18 in 2022 – as FC Dallas made it to the Western Conference semifinals. Ferreira made one appearance at the World Cup in Qatar, starting the knockout game against the Netherlands. To keep his place in the national team, he’ll have to keep his form up – having not featured in the January friendly against Serbia. He also was named the 2022 MLS Young Player of the Year.
MLS TOTS Substitutes
CAM: Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada has been named the 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year, an honour recognizing the year’s most impactful new MLS player who has prior professional experience. Almada is the second Atlanta player to earn this award after now-Newcastle United midfielder Miguel Almirón was recognized in 2017 during the club’s inaugural MLS season and the Argentinian midfielder continued his form in the 2022/23 season.
ST: Gonzalo Higuaín (Inter Miami)
In his final season, Inter Miami forward Gonzalo Higuaín has added one last individual accolade to the list, as MLS named the legendary Argentine the 2022 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. The honour comes on the heels of a resurgent 2022 campaign that saw Higuaín at one point kept out of the starting lineup for 14 consecutive games, only to make a triumphant return. After rejoining the regular starting XI down the stretch, Higuaín went on a vintage goal-scoring tear, eventually totalling 16 goals and three assists in 1,750 minutes. His 0.82 goals per 90 minutes average was the best in MLS among players to log at least 1,500 minutes.
ST: Brenner (FC Cincinnati)
Over parts of three seasons, Brenner has scored 27 goals and eight assists in 72 appearances across all competitions for FC Cincinnati. The Brazilian’s six career game-winning goals are the most in club history. Brenner’s career in Major League Soccer started with a bang, when on April 17, 2021, in his first game with FC Cincinnati, the then-21-year-old scored with his first career shot from the penalty spot against Nashville SC. Later in the summer on July 17 at CF Montréal, he scored the first brace in club history. Last season, Brenner and teammate Brandon Vazquez became the first pair of teammates in MLS history to record at least 18 goals each in a single season. As a result Cincinnati just agreed to terms with Serie A side Udinese for the transfer of Brenner in July.
LM: Diego Fagundez (Austin FC)
After 10 years at New England Revolution, it was a long shot that Diego Fagundez was going to ever reach the higher echelons of the game. After sliding down the ranks, he jumped at the chance to join Austin FC where he could secure a starting spot. The Uruguayan attacking midfielder has been praised for his chance-creation as well as a penchant for free-kick accuracy.
CAM: Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew)
Columbus Crew midfielder Lucas Zelarayán, since his arrival from Liga MX's Tigres UANL two years ago, has lived up to the billing as the MLS club’s crown jewel. Look no further than the two trophies the club-record signing has brought Columbus, winning MLS Cup 2020 with an MVP performance and Campeones Cup 2021. Zelarayan’s hunger is also the byproduct of a new DP contract, signed through 2024 with an option for 2025. It keeps him with Columbus through his early 30s, a building block for his nascent Armenia national team career after the Argentine-born playmaker’s switch last year. He’s since earned four caps in European World Cup qualifying.
When is the MLS TOTS released for FIFA 23?
The MLS TOTS is expected to be released on May 26th.
Do you agree with our MLS Team of the Season? Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments!
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