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Most In-Form defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer 2026

The most in-form defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Most in-form goalkeepers in Major League SoccerMost in-form defenders in Major League SoccerMost in-form midfielders in Major League SoccerMost in-form attackers in Major League SoccerBest 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
45 players · ranked by best this seasonCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1A. MehmetiDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls174753
2A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps304564.2%289.2%
3Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC273935.6%4015.1%
4L. SanabriaDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy2235302.3%4314.8%
5M. PeltolaDefensive midfielderDC United2433112.8%4410.6%
6J. DavisDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2432141.7%428.6%
7J. HaakDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy253027.5%433.6%
8S. GidiDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati2229232.2%4412.5%
9N. PalacioDefensive midfielderToronto FC2528136.1%425%
10S. SpieringsDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake302855.4%236.6%
11Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami252730.3%4110.2%
12E. AtuestaDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC292718.5%2710.4%
13N. AcevedoDefensive midfielderNew York City FC272710.4%3828.4%
14J. TverskovDefensive midfielderSan Diego332747.1%1626.2%
15H. OjediranDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids2226107.9%4438.2%
16J. LukićDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union242635%424.5%
17S. BrunellDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders1924332.1%4510.1%
18E. TagsethDefensive midfielderNashville SC252416%405.2%
19ArturDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo302322%249%
20B. ServaniaDefensive midfielderDC United272214.3%377%
21S. ZawadzkiDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew262229.6%414.8%
22A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC282043.2%293.4%
23J. BuenoDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union271949.2%325.4%
24Luis OtávioDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC1919125.3%4329.7%
25S. KowalczykDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo281932.7%3225.9%
26D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281816%290.7%
27J. CaicedoDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers241734.4%3917.3%
28B. BronicoDefensive midfielderCharlotte311651.6%1819.3%
29D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers401519.4%71.4%
30S. BangouraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew241557.1%384.9%
31M. SofoDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls211522.9%424.6%
32A. MuylDefensive midfielderNashville SC311550%225.7%
33M. CorcoranDefensive midfielderNashville SC2015274.4%4417.2%
34O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati291444.8%243.9%
35J. ReidDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2513131%368.8%
36S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal31138.1%188.3%
37J. StroudDefensive midfielderDC United301150.7%207%
38D. SamassékouDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30112243.2%
39I. HarkesDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311067.4%1818.4%
40D. HolmesDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo3198.7%1812.7%
41K. AgyabengDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City19937
42M. PinedaDefensive midfielderChicago Fire29840.4%271.1%
43B. AnungaDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati30856.1%2013.3%
44J. ShoreDefensive midfielderNew York City FC19763.3%396.7%
45M. AmaroDefensive midfielderAtlanta United FC21738