Field Insider
Player Finder

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

T. Habroune of Columbus Crew is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 46.3, and A. Cubas has been the form player this season, grading 46, and D. Jean-Jacques leads the scoring with 3 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: D. Jean-Jacques has improved his Season rating most, up +40.6 on last season, while N. Caliskan's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +10.8 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, C. Durkin of St. Louis City is the most valuable name in this group at 13.3.

Best talent
T. Habroune46.3RTG
Columbus Crew
In form
A. Cubas46SsN
Vancouver Whitecaps
Rising potential
N. Caliskan+10.8RTG
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
D. Jean-Jacques+40.6SsN
Philadelphia Union · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
D. Jean-Jacques3goals
Philadelphia Union
Most valuable
C. Durkin13.3val
St. Louis City
40 players · ranked by best this seasonCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps304669.7%273.1%
2D. Jean-JacquesDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union264522.2%426.9%
3C. DurkinDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City2643215.3%4229.6%
4L. SanabriaDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy2240362.1%4415.6%
5A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC2840189.2%30±0%
6Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC263833.1%404.4%
7J. TverskovDefensive midfielderSan Diego333725.6%1527.6%
8T. HabrouneDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew2037182.4%4610.8%
9N. CaliskanDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake253740.1%4614.7%
10Bryan Josías Ramírez LeónDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati263640
11M. PeltolaDefensive midfielderDC United2436127.6%4512.9%
12J. DavisDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2435165.2%4311%
13S. SpieringsDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake303278.5%2413.7%
14H. DotsonDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders2931350%2616.3%
15J. HaakDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy243125.2%428.1%
16Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami243046.2%4311.3%
17Igor JesusDefensive midfielderLos Angeles FC2330245.3%4320.9%
18E. TagsethDefensive midfielderNashville SC25292.4%406.6%
19H. OjediranDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids2229129.4%4438.4%
20S. GidiDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati2229231%4413%
21N. PalacioDefensive midfielderToronto FC2528134.5%425%
22ArturDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30285.2%2410.1%
23J. LukićDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union242731.7%432.9%
24S. BrunellDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders1927378.6%4612.3%
25N. AcevedoDefensive midfielderNew York City FC272710.4%3828.4%
26B. ServaniaDefensive midfielderDC United272215.5%379.1%
27S. BangouraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew2421112.2%397.1%
28Luis OtávioDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC1920138.6%4230.1%
29D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers40192.6%812.3%
30D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281918.6%304.9%
31J. CaicedoDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers241840%3720.8%
32B. BronicoDefensive midfielderCharlotte311749.3%1819.7%
33O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati291771.9%243.5%
34J. ReidDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2416169%3811.7%
35M. PinedaDefensive midfielderChicago Fire2814±0%279.7%
36J. BuenoDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union2713±0%314.7%
37D. SamassékouDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30122347.1%
38S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal311117.6%186.7%
39I. HarkesDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311165.2%1817.5%
40P. KingstonDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders240378.3%