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Central midfielders with the Best Potential in USL Championship 2026

The highest-potential central midfielders in USL Championship in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Best goalkeepers in USL ChampionshipBest defenders in USL ChampionshipBest midfielders in USL ChampionshipBest attackers in USL ChampionshipMost in-form central midfielders in USL ChampionshipTop-scoring central midfielders in USL Championship

At a glance

N. Scardina of Rhode Island is the standout for raw talent across central midfielders in USL Championship, with a Field Insider Rating of 39.7, and Rafael Mentzingen has been the form player this season, grading 22.6.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: J. Gurr has improved his Season rating most, up +17 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, N. Benalcazar of Orange County SC is the most valuable name in this group at 7.1.

Best talent
N. Scardina39.7RTG
Rhode Island
In form
Rafael Mentzingen22.6SsN
Detroit City
Rising potential
M. Palomino-1.4RTG
Orange County SC · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
J. Gurr+17SsN
Sacramento Republic · 21/22→25/26
Top scorer
Rafael Mentzingen3goals
Detroit City
Most valuable
N. Benalcazar7.1val
Orange County SC
50 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1N. ScardinaCentral midfielderRhode Island2584014.7%
2B. WilleyCentral midfielderSacramento Republic191334
3N. BenalcazarCentral midfielderOrange County SC25227133.3%332.7%
4A. SanchezCentral midfielderRhode Island241432
5Nick FirminoCentral midfielderLexington25214000%326.5%
6M. VargasCentral midfielderNew Mexico United2517328.4%
7F. DaromaCentral midfielderEl Paso Locomotive252132
8Evan DavilaCentral midfielderLouisville City24430
9P. BarnesCentral midfielderPittsburgh Riverhounds251030
10A. RochaCentral midfielderColorado Springs25730
11K. Hernández-FosterCentral midfielderDetroit City2411100%2924.4%
12J. CedeñoCentral midfielderDetroit City261629
13C. HolstadCentral midfielderRhode Island2619±0%29±0%
14V. NoëlCentral midfielderNew Mexico United271629
15Z. BaileyCentral midfielderNew Mexico United2611791.7%2920.9%
16N. OkelloCentral midfielderLexington2618420%2817.2%
17M. NgalinaCentral midfielderHartford Athletic2692814.1%
18A. FontanaCentral midfielderColorado Springs26132580%2846.9%
19D. GomezCentral midfielderOakland Roots261128
20G. ColliCentral midfielderFC Tulsa261127
21A. McFaddenCentral midfielderLouisville City2719235.1%2725.5%
22B. MakangilaCentral midfielderHartford Athletic26626
23A. StanleyCentral midfielderDetroit City265683.3%2629.2%
24T. McCabeCentral midfielderOakland Roots28825
25Y. HanyaCentral midfielderColorado Springs27122524.1%
26C. VázquezCentral midfielderMiami FC271425
27D. HernandezCentral midfielderSan Antonio271325
28M. PalominoCentral midfielderOrange County SC25136.5%255.3%
29D. GriffinCentral midfielderPittsburgh Riverhounds282224
30D. McCartneyCentral midfielderBirmingham Legion271024
31E. CalvilloCentral midfielderEl Paso Locomotive2812668.8%2239.4%
32Rafael MentzingenCentral midfielderDetroit City302322
33D. TrejoCentral midfielderOakland Roots28181073.3%2218%
34C. PinzónCentral midfielderLas Vegas Lights281222
35J. ScearceCentral midfielderPhoenix Rising281221
36J. MurphyCentral midfielderIndy Eleven29021
37E. YcazaCentral midfielderCharleston Battery291420
38M. RodríguezCentral midfielderSacramento Republic30584.7%2037.1%
39K. LambertCentral midfielderLouisville City298971.4%1934.8%
40M. BenítezCentral midfielderSacramento Republic302219
41C. LindleyCentral midfielderIndy Eleven29918
42W. FonguckCentral midfielderMonterey Bay29018
43J. GurrCentral midfielderSacramento Republic30191062.5%1851.2%
44M. RomeroCentral midfielderMiami FC30152.7%1855.6%
45Z. ZandiCentral midfielderColorado Springs30617
46R. CoronadoCentral midfielderEl Paso Locomotive301116
47Z. HerivauxCentral midfielderRhode Island301016
48S. LletgetCentral midfielderMonterey Bay341539.7%1626.2%
49A. SkundrichCentral midfielderLoudoun United31102.9%1650%
50M. RodriguezCentral midfielderRhode Island311916