GOAL US debate all things MLS at the midseason mark, including Messi's MVP case and which team is likely to win it all

Who's up for a weird MLS season? All of the things that most people predicted might happen a few short months ago have been proven wrong. Inter Miami were supposed to be very good, and instead look like a middling playoff team. Atlanta United seemed poised to return to the top after spending big, but are markedly worse.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are literally on the market. No one wants them. And they are probably the best team in MLS. Meanwhile, everyone thought the dialogue around the Philadelphia Union would be about Cavan Sullivan. He's still mostly MLS Next Pro – or occasionally on the senior side's bench – while the first team dominates the Eastern Conference.

It's s been a bit of a mad first half, and no one can say, with any conviction, that they know what will happen come playoff time. It's an apt moment to check in, though, with the midseason point upon us.

Are Miami and Lionel Messi still presumptive favorites? Who's the front-runner for MVP? And, for the billionth time, what the hell is wrong with Marco Reus and the LA Galaxy?

GOAL US writers discuss answer all of those questions and more in an MLS edition of … The Rondo.

Getty Images SportWhich team is the biggest midseason surprise?

Tom Hindle: San Diego FC, by some distance. Expansion franchises stand on a knife's edge, and tend to either be really good or fairly disastrous. A peek at SD's roster didn't scream "MLS Cup contenders" but it's late June and they're in the picture. Depth is a concern, and a couple of injuries could hurt in the dog days. Still, it's been a great first half.

Jacob Schneider: It has to be San Diego. In no world did ANYONE expect the roster Mikey Varas put together to be this good. They've got Chucky Lozano, Anders Dreyer is the frontrunner for Newcomer of the Year, Anibal Godoy is competing for best XI and Luca De La Torre is firmly back in the conversation with the USMNT. Meanwhile, Paddy McNair and Christopher McVey have created a top-tier center-back partnership. They've been brilliant.

Alex Labidou: Atlanta appeared to be primed for MLS contention prior to the season, and their struggles have been confounding. They actually played their best at the end of last season, once they sold stars and were a harmonious group heading into the playoffs. The decision not to promote Rob Valentino as full-time manager appears to have backfired, as Ronny Deila isn't getting the best out of a strong MLS team. It's a bit surprising that well-respected team executive Garth Lagerwey isn't feeling more heat for the way this season has gone – 13th place isn't good enough for this group.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhich has been the most impressive team, player?

TH: Boring, but it has to be the Whitecaps, doesn't it? Sebastian Berhalter has been excellent all year, and they're a really good side. A word, too, for Quinn Sullivan and the Philadelphia Union. Tai Baribo may be grabbing the goals, and Cavan Sullivan might steal the headlines, but Quinn is a proper footballer in his own right.

JS: Brian White and the Whitecaps. That sounds like the name of an indie band. But wow, what a start to 2025. White has been a late bloomer, earning a USMNT nod in recent months while leading the Western Conference side to the top of the table – and firmly putting their feet in the race for the Supporters' Shield.The 29-year-old is having a career year, and the Whitecaps, led by first-year manager Jesper Sorensen, have been tremendous both in MLS and in CONCACAF competition.

AL: When the Union fired manager Jim Curtin, traded away Jack McGlynn in the preseason, and moved on from Daniel Gazdag early in the season, it looked as if this was a team heading for a rebuild. Yet, here they are, sitting on top of MLS at the midseason mark. New boss Bradley Carnell has maximized a young group and has, in particular, gotten Tai Baribo firing on all cylinders. The Israeli international would be a frontrunner for MVP if a certain Argentine wasn't playing in Miami.

Getty Images SportWhich has been the most disappointing team, player?

TH: Miguel Almiron and Atlanta United. Never go for the nostalgia signing, lads.

JS: It has to be Gabriel Pec and the LA Galaxy. There were rumors that the Brazilian was being looked at by some of Europe's top clubs in the offseason, with talks of the Galaxy wanting more than $20M for the winger. Now, though, the 2024 Newcomer of the Year is sitting on just three goals. He's underperformed, and the Galaxy – the defending MLS Cup champions – as a whole have been a disaster.

AL: The Galaxy rose back into prominence in 2024 – and then saw all of their good work go to waste in what has been an abysmal title defense in 2025. The Galaxy would be lucky to make the playoffs, let contend, and outside of losing MVP candidate Riqui Puig, have largely kept their top attacking pieces intact. It is puzzling how the Galaxy have just eight points in 18 matches. The Rapids, meanwhile, are a disappointing ninth despite largely having the same core of last year's surprise outfit. Part of the team's rise to third – and subsequent fall – lies with the form of star striker Rafael Navarro. Since the team purchased him outright prior to last summer, he's run hot and cold. He's on five goals in 17 overall appearances and hasn't scored since mid-April. At times he's looked like he could be a top-three striker in MLS. But he needs to deliver, or the Rapids might miss the playoffs.

Getty ImagesWho is the midseason front-runner for MVP?

TH: Lionel Andres Messi. Grow up.

JS: Has to be Messi, even if he isn't in the lead at the moment. However, a few others – such as FCC's Evander, San Diego's Dreyer, and Philly's Tai Baribo – not far behind. The Argentine had a slow start to the season, but his May stretch was second to none in the league. He's on track to become the first to win back-to-back MLS MVPs.

AL: Until Messi either leaves MLS or completely falls off a cliff production-wise, there's only one answer.