MLS Best XI of 2022 revealed

The MLS Team of the Season was revealed on Wednesday 2 November. The team, chosen by media, players and technical staff, is a mixture of six different clubs and contains players from seven different countries.

MLS Cup finalists Philadelphia Union have the largest number of representatives with 4 players featuring; final rivals LAFC have only one player in the side: veteran winger Carlos Vela.

Striker Jesús Ferreira won MLS Young Player of the Year and his performances were also rewarded by his inclusion into this stellar side. The player scored 18 goals during the season and at just 21 years old the man from Santa Marta Colombia is sure to be a player on the lips of many for years to come.

A poor performance in the MLS Western Conference Final against LAFC was not enough to stop Sebastián Driussi from being included in the side. A haul of 22 goals and 7 assists is impressive in any league across the world, let alone in just his second season in the US; the Argentine is surely not far away from an international call-up now.

Dániel Gazdag astonshing numbers make him an obvious choice for the MLS Best XI. He has scored a frankly incredible 22 goals and got 10 assists across the season and many had him down as a potential Player of the Season, but that award goes to Hany Mukhtar.

The Nashville SC midfielder managed 34 goal contributions - 23 goals and 11 assists - becoming MLS’s most influential player by far. If there was a captain for this side it would be him, as nobody is moving him from top spot at this moment in time. His teammate Zimmerman is also present after a fantastic campaign at the back for Nashville.

And of course it was Andre Blake between the sticks. With 0.76 goals per game conceded this season he has been the league’s outstanding shot-stopper, with his commanding presence giving his Philadelphia side the confidence to go forwards and attack at will. In front of him in the team is the impressive Kai Wagner. The full-back is stuck in as a third centre-back here but he won’t mind; his impressive performances this season have led to his name being spoken in the corridors of clubs in Europe. If he carries on there is only one way that is going to go. The trio of Union players is completed by Jakob Glesnes, who has marshalled the back line impressively along with Wagner this season.

And finally there is the duo of Acosta and Vázquez, who have shone for Cincinnati. Vázquez managed to grab 18 goals in a fantastic breakout campaign while Acosta made headlines by getting 19 assists during the season. They are the first Cincinnati players ever to feature in the MLS Best XI and their inclusion is fully deserved.

MLS Best XI 2022/23 (1-3-4-3)