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Defensive midfielders with the Best Potential in Major League Soccer 2026

The highest-potential defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Best goalkeepers in Major League SoccerBest defenders in Major League SoccerBest midfielders in Major League SoccerBest attackers in Major League SoccerMost in-form defensive midfielders in Major League SoccerTop-scoring defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer

At a glance

A. Mehmeti of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 53.4, and J. Haak leads the scoring with 2 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: J. Lukić has improved his Season rating most, up +25.8 on last season, while J. Haak's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +4.1 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, J. Haak of Los Angeles Galaxy is the most valuable name in this group at 11.9.

Best talent
A. Mehmeti53.4RTG
New York Red Bulls
In form
A. Mehmeti46.7SsN
New York Red Bulls
Rising potential
J. Haak+4.1RTG
Los Angeles Galaxy · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
J. Lukić+25.8SsN
Philadelphia Union · 22/23→25/26
Top scorer
J. Haak2goals
Los Angeles Galaxy
Most valuable
J. Haak11.9val
Los Angeles Galaxy
44 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1A. MehmetiDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls174753
2S. BrunellDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders1924332.1%4510.1%
3M. CorcoranDefensive midfielderNashville SC2015274.4%4417.2%
4S. GidiDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati2229232.2%4412.5%
5M. PeltolaDefensive midfielderDC United2433112.8%4410.6%
6H. OjediranDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids2226107.9%4438.2%
7L. SanabriaDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy2235302.3%4314.8%
8J. HaakDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy253027.5%433.6%
9Luis OtávioDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC1919125.3%4329.7%
10J. LukićDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union242635%424.5%
11N. PalacioDefensive midfielderToronto FC2528136.1%425%
12M. SofoDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls211522.9%424.6%
13J. DavisDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2432141.7%428.6%
14S. ZawadzkiDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew262229.6%414.8%
15Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami252730.3%4110.2%
16E. TagsethDefensive midfielderNashville SC252416%405.2%
17Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC273935.6%4015.1%
18J. ShoreDefensive midfielderNew York City FC19763.3%396.7%
19J. CaicedoDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers241734.4%3917.3%
20S. BangouraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew241557.1%384.9%
21M. AmaroDefensive midfielderAtlanta United FC21738
22N. AcevedoDefensive midfielderNew York City FC272710.4%3828.4%
23K. AgyabengDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City19937
24B. ServaniaDefensive midfielderDC United272214.3%377%
25J. ReidDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2513131%368.8%
26S. KowalczykDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo281932.7%3225.9%
27J. BuenoDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union271949.2%325.4%
28A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC282043.2%293.4%
29D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281816%290.7%
30A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps304564.2%289.2%
31M. PinedaDefensive midfielderChicago Fire29840.4%271.1%
32E. AtuestaDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC292718.5%2710.4%
33ArturDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo302322%249%
34O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati291444.8%243.9%
35S. SpieringsDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake302855.4%236.6%
36D. SamassékouDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30112243.2%
37A. MuylDefensive midfielderNashville SC311550%225.7%
38B. AnungaDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati30856.1%2013.3%
39B. BronicoDefensive midfielderCharlotte311651.6%1819.3%
40I. HarkesDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311067.4%1818.4%
41D. HolmesDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo3198.7%1812.7%
42S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal31138.1%188.3%
43J. TverskovDefensive midfielderSan Diego332747.1%1626.2%
44D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers401519.4%71.4%