A way-too-early prediction of who will win MLS year-end awards in 2026

At the time of this writing, we’re eight days away from MLS kicking off its 31st season. There’s also a little tournament being staged for about a month in the summer, too. I’ll leave the “can the league meet the World Cup moment” discussion to those who are much smarter than me.  (Also, to be fair, that topic’s already been discussed numerous times.)

Instead, I’ve decided to take us to the end of the season, when the league’s year-end rewards are announced. If you’ll recall, Lionel Messi ran away with the MVP vote in 2025 as he became the first back-to-back winner in MLS history, receiving just over 70% of the overall vote to Anders Dreyer’s 11.15%. Can he make it three straight? Or will another name be waiting in the wings?

For this, I’m focusing on the major league awards — Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and the big one: MVP. I’ve also thrown in the Golden Boot, even though that’s a purely performance-based award and not voted on.

Let’s go:

Golden Boot: Sam Surridge, Nashville SC

It took Sam Surridge until his second full season in MLS to finally become the player Nashville SC hoped he’d become. Twenty-four goals is not a small number and, in fact, would have won him the Golden Boot in most any other year. But…Lionel Messi had other plans.

With Father Time maybe (possibly? perhaps?) knocking on Messi’s door and Denis Bouanga maybe (possibly? perhaps?) getting a move outside MLS, the door’s open for Surridge to lead the way in goals. He’ll also have Cristian Espinoza, who’s had double-digit assists in four of his seven seasons in MLS, feeding him on the wing. And that Hany Mukhtar guy is still pretty good, too.

Defender of the Year – Jakob Glesnes, LA Galaxy

The LA Galaxy landing Jakob Glesnes from the Philadelphia Union in the offseason was a blockbuster deal for a team that allowed 66 goals in 2025. There’s zero chance that they aren’t at least marginally better defensively in 2026 with him in the room.

Will they win MLS Cup with Riqui Puig out for a second straight season? I’m not sure, even with the major additions of Justin Haak and João Klauss. But Glesnes at least elevates a part of that roster that sorely needed it.

Goalkeeper of the Year – Kristijan Kahlina, Charlotte FC

After winning Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024, Kahlina wasn’t on the list in 2025. He probably should have been: his 3.9 saves/90 was second in MLS for a Charlotte team that gave up just 44 goals. And, despite facing 159 shots, Kahlina posted a 77.4 save percentage.

With all respect to Dayne St. Clair and what he did at Minnesota, I don’t know if he’ll have quite the same success at Inter Miami, where he’ll potentially be called into action more often. That should open the door for Kahlina to add a second GotY to his ledger unless Yohei Takaoka and Matt Freese maintain their 2025 form.

Newcomer of the Year – Timo Werner, San Jose Earthquakes

Granted, Timo Werner hasn’t been nearly half the player he was since he scoring with ease at RB Leipzig seven years ago (or even a fourth). That’s the risk Bruce Arena is taking by bringing in the 29-year-old. But perhaps a new beginning in the Bay Area — and Arena’s hard-nosed approach — is what the German needs to find some of the form that’s escaped him much of this decade.

After an offseason where he **checks notes** let Josef Martinez walk, loaned Chicho Arango to Nacional, and forgot (!) to trigger Cristian Espinoza’s option for 2026 — losing a combined 31 goals and 21 assists — Arena had better hope Werner does pan out.

Young Player of the Year – Idan Toklomati, Charlotte FC

In his first full season with Charlotte FC, Idan Toklomati showed he was good value for the reported $3.5 million the club paid to acquire him from Maccabi Petah Tikva. He’s only set the bar higher for himself after combining for 12g/4a in the regular season and playoffs in 2025.

The question is whether the Israeli international is able to meet those expectations with his comfort level in MLS much higher and as The Crown continues to navigate life without Patrick Agyemang.

MVP – Sam Surridge, Nashville SC

I’m going to be honest: I was fully prepared to put Anders Dreyer here, given the season he had in 2025. But after thinking about the service Sam Surridge will enjoy in Nashville in 2026 from both Mukhtar and Espinoza, I decided to change my mind.

Granted, No. 10 down in South Florida could have a lot to say about the matter, but with the hamstring and, well, the fact that he’ll be 39 years old in June — note: I fully realize Messi at 39 is better than a massive chunk of the league — I’m not convinced that he can three-peat. Dreyer, as talented as he is, will have a lot to live up to.

I’m going with my gut and saying that Surridge is your Golden Boot and MVP winner in 2026. Clip it for posterity’s sake.