It’s Monday, and with another thrilling weekend of soccer behind us, it’s time for the latest installment of ESPN’s MLS Power Rankings.
Which team stands out as the most formidable after the All-Star Game? Who might struggle during the sweltering days of summer? Our writers assessed the action from Matchday 19 to compile this week’s rankings. Let’s take a closer look.
Previous ranking: 2
Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi (coming off the bench) made their first appearances since the FIFA World Cup, but it was Luis Suárez who shone with a goal and an assist in the first half for the Herons on Friday. Although Miami’s six-match winning streak came to a halt with a 2-2 draw against Columbus after an early own goal from Casemiro and a late equalizer, fans need not worry.
Previous ranking: 3
Son Heung-Min extended his scoring streak to four goals in as many games, securing a 1-1 draw in Vancouver. However, the standout performance came from LAFC’s solid defensive pairing and Hugo Lloris, whose four saves were crucial.
Previous ranking: 1
Despite dominating the match with 21 shots compared to the visitors’ 5, it required a late penalty from Thomas Müller to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw against LAFC. With Sebastian Berhalter now at Middlesbrough and Rafael injured, they’ll use this time to prepare for the Leagues Cup this week.
Previous ranking: 4
Missing key players Patrick Yazbek and Cristian Espinoza, Nashville’s post-break performance remains inconsistent after a 2-2 draw with D.C. The team will regroup for the upcoming Leagues Cup before facing Inter Miami on August 15.
Previous ranking: 5
Timo Werner contributed significantly, scoring and assisting in San Jose’s 4-2 loss to Cincinnati. However, the Quakes have yet to win since regular-season play resumed on July 22, conceding nine goals over three games despite Angus Gunn‘s impressive seven saves on Saturday.
Previous ranking: 8
On his home debut, Robert Lewandowski quickly made an impact by scoring two goals in Chicago’s 2-1 victory over Charlotte, marking the Fire’s first win in three games since the break.
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Lewandowski scores a brace on his Chicago Fire home debut
Previous ranking: 6
In a 1-1 draw with St. Louis, Sergi Solans tallied his first goal since the break, reclaiming his position as the team’s top scorer. However, an unfortunate pass from Rafael led to a preventable equalizer, leaving RSL with just a point (their first since the break) in the Midwest.
Previous ranking: 7
In an intriguing matchup contrasting possession styles, Minnesota settled for a 1-1 draw against San Diego, outshooting the Californians 8-2 on target thanks to CJ dos Santos’s seven saves.
Previous ranking: 11
This week, Cincinnati rebounded from a loss to their Ohio rivals with a standout 4-2 victory over the Quakes. As usual, Evander was the star, contributing one goal and three assists for a season total of 21 goals and assists— a league-high.
Previous ranking: 10
In the eighth minute, Nicolás Fernández scored his fourth goal in as many games—bringing his tally to a league-leading 13 goals this season, tying with Petar Musa and Hugo Cuypers. However, that was the only breakthrough in a tightly contested 1-1 draw with Toronto.
Previous ranking: 13
Despite being outshot 8-5 on target, the Revs had more significant opportunities in their 2-2 draw against Montréal and may rue the loss of points against the 14th-place Canadians. Positively, Matt Turner made six saves, approaching the league’s top save rate (77.7%).
Previous ranking: 9
Dallas has yet to win since the break but managed two draws during the three-game stretch, including a 0-0 stalemate against the Galaxy. Jonathan Sirois was instrumental in achieving a clean sheet, making nine saves.
Previous ranking: 15
Charlotte’s four-game unbeaten run, which dated back to May, ended this weekend with a loss to Chicago, featuring Lewandowski’s brace. This overshadowed Pep Biel‘s ninth goal of the season in a 2-1 defeat.
Previous ranking: 12
A dramatic 0-0 draw against Colorado saw JT Marcinkowski making four saves to prevent Dallas from finding the net. Meanwhile, Jonathan Sirois made nine saves to keep the score level, giving the Galaxy some time to recuperate before seeking their first win since May.
Previous ranking: 17
The Dynamo secured back-to-back wins and have remained unbeaten in three games since the break, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Kansas City. Houston’s performing well, but they face a challenge ahead in New England, where the Revs have only lost once during the regular season this year.
Previous ranking: 16
With CJ dos Santos delivering a stellar performance, San Diego has had a mixed bag of results since the resumption of play, showcasing a reduced number of goals conceded compared to before the hiatus.
Previous ranking: 18
St. Louis remains undefeated since the league resumed, securing three wins and a draw after a 1-1 tie with Salt Lake. Some key saves from Roman Bürki and a last-minute equalizer from Marcel Hartel helped them achieve this result.
Previous ranking: 14
The Sounders suffered their sixth consecutive loss, now failing to win both rivalry matches this season after falling 2-1 to Portland. However, the margin of defeat this time was less severe, losing by two goals instead of five.
Previous ranking: 20
After securing the match-winning goal against Toronto last week, Tai Baribo has continued his scoring streak, helping his team secure a 2-2 draw against Nashville. United is currently on a five-game unbeaten streak, comprising four draws and one win, with a promising match against Montréal on the horizon.
Previous ranking: 19
After two losses, RBNY bounced back with a 3-2 victory over Orlando, featuring two goals from 19-year-old Mijahir Ameth Jiménez Murillo in his first start and second appearance for the team. However, despite Ethan Horvath‘s five saves, the Red Bulls have conceded seven goals in their last three matches.
Previous ranking: 21
In their match at Nu Stadium for the first appearance of Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul since the World Cup, the Crew managed to escape with a 2-2 draw in Miami, benefiting from an own goal and a late equalizer. They will focus on the upcoming Leagues Cup.
Previous ranking: 22
Portland has remained in the playoff contention, defeating the Sounders 2-1 this weekend, thereby sweeping the rivalry series after securing victory in July. Since returning to play, the Timbers have gone undefeated, recording three wins and one draw.
Previous ranking: 23
Orlando’s two-game winning streak against top-five teams came to an abrupt end with a 3-2 loss to the Red Bulls, following the addition of Antoine Griezmann. The team will face another challenge in the Leagues Cup against Cincinnati.
Previous ranking: 24
After trailing 0-2 at home with a one-man advantage, the Union mounted a formidable comeback, scoring two goals in two minutes during stoppage time to secure a 3-2 victory over Atlanta. While not a flawless performance, it showcased a level of resilience that was previously lacking.
Previous ranking: 25
Despite outshooting Austin 23-9 and 8-3 on target, the Rapids needed a last-minute penalty from Rafael Navarro to break the deadlock and secure a 1-0 victory.
Previous ranking: 28
Making his first start since March, Djordje Mihailovic made a significant impact in midfield, scoring off a rebound to help secure a 1-1 draw with NYCFC. This is a positive sign for a team that has struggled with injuries to key players.
Previous ranking: 26
Montreal’s match ended in a 2-2 draw against the Revs, overshadowed by allegations of discriminatory chanting. Despite not having a victory in their last four games, the team is starting to find some stability.
Previous ranking: 27
In a desperate search for points, Brad Stuver made an admirable seven saves in a 1-0 loss to Colorado, only to lose to a late penalty in the match.
Previous ranking: 29
In their recent match against Houston, despite registering the same number of shots on goal (four), Kansas City seemed outmatched, ultimately suffering a 2-0 defeat. After a brief respite, their next opponent will be Colorado.
Previous ranking: 30
Atlanta was on the verge of their first victory since May 2, but a last-minute collapse saw them concede two goals, resulting in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia. It seems that some aspects, like Atlanta’s success this season, remain elusive.