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Most Improved defenders in Major League Soccer 2026

The most improved defenders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Most improved goalkeepers in Major League SoccerMost improved midfielders in Major League SoccerMost improved attackers in Major League SoccerBest defenders in Major League SoccerMost in-form defenders in Major League SoccerTop-scoring defenders in Major League Soccer

At a glance

R. Roberts of San Jose Earthquakes is the standout for raw talent across defenders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 49.1, and R. Porteous has been the form player this season, grading 65.2, and A. Markanich leads the scoring with 5 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: E. Segura has improved his Season rating most, up +44.9 on last season, while E. Morales's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +8.8 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, Felipe Andrade of Houston Dynamo is the most valuable name in this group at 14.9.

Best talent
R. Roberts49.1RTG
San Jose Earthquakes
In form
R. Porteous65.2SsN
Los Angeles FC
Rising potential
E. Morales+8.8RTG
CF Montreal · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
E. Segura+44.9SsN
Los Angeles FC · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
A. Markanich5goals
Minnesota United FC
Most valuable
Felipe Andrade14.9val
Houston Dynamo
50 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1E. SeguraCentre-backLos Angeles FC29+44.9
24/25→25/26
6366%321.6%
2R. PorteousCentre-backLos Angeles FC27+41.6
24/25→25/26
65343.5%3922.5%
3N. TafariFull-backLos Angeles FC29+38.4
24/25→25/26
5887.9%3110%
4Antônio CarlosCentre-backHouston Dynamo33+35.1
24/25→25/26
52540.7%1660.2%
5D. PolvaraCentre-backSt. Louis City26+31.4
24/25→25/26
34153.7%4216.1%
6A. GutmanFull-backChicago Fire29+28.5
24/25→25/26
3531.6%299.8%
7E. MoralesFull-backCF Montreal22+27.9
24/25→25/26
29156.3%4516%
8M. WoledziCentre-backNashville SC25+27.5
24/25→25/26
536.1%452.5%
9J. TravisFull-backColorado Rapids22+26.8
24/25→25/26
31595.6%4313%
10A. MarkanichFull-backMinnesota United FC26+25.2
24/25→25/26
329.4%424.2%
11W. SandsCentre-backNew England Revolution26+24.8
24/25→25/26
32258%4227.3%
12R. HoldingCentre-backColorado Rapids30+24.5
24/25→25/26
31404.8%2536.9%
13O. VerhoevenCentre-backSan Diego20+23.9
24/25→25/26
26129.8%443.8%
14D. MunieCentre-backSan Jose Earthquakes26+23.9
24/25→25/26
3079.4%4317.7%
15O. SvatokCentre-backAustin31+23.5
24/25→25/26
298.7%230.9%
16J. DíazCentre-backMinnesota United FC25+21.4
24/25→25/26
3227.1%431.8%
17D. LovitzCentre-backNashville SC35+21
24/25→25/26
4740.4%167.1%
18M. LabordaFull-backVancouver Whitecaps26+21
24/25→25/26
4519.6%469.5%
19S. HeftiFull-backDC United28+20.6
24/25→25/26
39110.2%3628.9%
20T. BlackmonCentre-backVancouver Whitecaps30+20.1
24/25→25/26
3729.1%2915%
21A. NajarFull-backNashville SC33+18.3
23/24→25/26
3710.6%1615.9%
22B. KamungoFull-backFC Dallas24+18.1
24/25→25/26
2621.4%424%
23M. FofanaCentre-backNew England Revolution28+17.4
24/25→25/26
3815%354.2%
24B. KikanovicFull-backSan Jose Earthquakes26+17.1
24/25→25/26
304030.9%
25R. PrisoCentre-backVancouver Whitecaps24+16.1
24/25→25/26
21±0%411.7%
26J. OrozcoCentre-backSt. Louis City22+15.6
22/23→25/26
19125.9%4111.4%
27K. FranklinFull-backToronto FC23+15.3
24/25→25/26
21138.6%4417.8%
28R. CannonCentre-backColorado Rapids28+15.1
24/25→25/26
1934.5%2811.9%
29T. BaumgartlCentre-backSt. Louis City30+13.8
23/24→25/26
2335.1%2929.1%
30C. GarcésFull-backLos Angeles Galaxy24+12.5
24/25→25/26
2522.8%392.1%
31T. GrayCentre-backNew York City FC24+12.2
24/25→25/26
29±0%458.2%
32L. BartlettCentre-backDC United29+12.1
24/25→25/26
2735%329.5%
33J. DeanFull-backChicago Fire29+11.9
24/25→25/26
2534.1%273.6%
34K. RowlesCentre-backDC United28+11.6
24/25→25/26
3726.3%342.1%
35J. LöffelsendFull-backSan Diego28+11
24/25→25/26
15305.6%2616.8%
36R. LaryeaFull-backToronto FC31+10.8
24/25→25/26
193.3%2325.7%
37J. BellCentre-backAustin29+10.2
24/25→25/26
1829.5%2812.7%
38I. FrayFull-backInter Miami23+9.7
24/25→25/26
171.2%411.4%
39E. BaillyCentre-backColumbus Crew32+9.3
24/25→25/26
16150%344.2%
40S. MooreCentre-backFC Dallas29+9.2
24/25→25/26
2810.2%321.6%
41L. EngelCentre-backReal Salt Lake27+8.3
24/25→25/26
1367.3%3314.1%
42L. MacNaughtonFull-backSt. Louis City31+8
24/25→25/26
12123.6%2125.9%
43K. O'TooleCentre-backNew York City FC27+8
24/25→25/26
2033%334.1%
44B. ByeFull-backPortland Timbers30+7.7
24/25→25/26
1224.8%2835.2%
45K. ThompsonFull-backColorado Rapids23+7.5
24/25→25/26
1620.8%441.2%
46N. AllenFull-backInter Miami22+6.3
24/25→25/26
1620.6%430.7%
47N. ToloCentre-backSeattle Sounders29+6.2
24/25→25/26
4066.4%315.8%
48R. EdwardsFull-backToronto FC31+5.4
24/25→25/26
2311.1%193.1%
49K. DuncanFull-backMinnesota United FC29+5.1
24/25→25/26
2111.3%271.5%
50J. CheCentre-backNew York Red Bulls22+5.1
24/25→25/26
2723.7%415.7%