The 2020 edition of the MLS Best XI presented by The Home Depot is a collection of the elite performers from the MLS regular season and it’s one of the most prestigious annual honors any player can receive.
This year’s list includes: the Defender of the Year (Walker Zimmerman), Goalkeeper of the Year (Andre Blake) and Young Player of the Year (Diego Rossi). Also, players from the Supporters’ Shield-winning Philadelphia Union and defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders make up more than half of the names. Here is the 2020 Best XI as voted on by current players, club technical staff and media:
FORWARDS
The winner of the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, Rossi scored 14 goals in 2020. During the MLS is Back Tournament, Rossi was involved in five goals (four goals, one assist) in LAFC's win vs. LA Galaxy, becoming the first player in MLS history to have played a part in five goals in two separate games. This is Rossi's first Best XI selection. Stats and highlights
Morris finished tied for fifth in the MLS Golden Boot race with 10 goals in 2020, the third time in his five MLS seasons he's scored in double figures. Morris also added a single-season career-best eight assists, tied for fifth-most in the league. This is the first Best XI selection for Morris. Stats and highlights
In his third season in Major League Soccer, Ruidíaz once again hit for double figures in goals, finishing in a tie for second place in the MLS Golden Boot race with 12 goals. This is Ruidíaz's first Best XI selection. Stats and highlights
MIDFIELDERS
A technical playmaker who can run all day, Aaronson is in his second season in MLS after signing as a Homegrown Player late in 2018. Aaronson scored four goals and added seven assists in 2020, starting all 23 games for the Union as they laid claim to the Supporters' Shield with the league's best record overall. This is Aaronson's first Best XI selection. Stats and highlights
In his 10th season in Major League Soccer, Chara has been named to the Best XI for the first time. A tenacious holding midfielder, Chara recorded a single-season career-high six assists to go with one goal, starting 20 matches for the Timbers. Stats and highlights
Lodeiro was tied for the lead in assists in MLS in 2020 with 10, leading Sounders FC to a record 12th appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in the club's 12th season in the league. In his fifth season in the league, Lodeiro has recorded double figures in assists in each of the last four years, one of just six players in MLS history to record double digits in assists in that many consecutive seasons. This is Lodeiro's first Best XI selection. Stats and highlights
Pozuelo tied for the MLS lead in assists with 10 while finishing tied for eighth in the MLS Golden Boot race with nine goals. Pozuelo was ever-present for Toronto FC this season, starting all 23 games as the club finished second in the overall MLS standings. The 29-year-old is in his second season in MLS, finishing his debut campaign in 2019 with 12 goals and 12 assists. Stats and highlights
DEFENDERS
An experienced center back who appeared in two FIFA World Cups with Ghana, Mensah is in his fourth MLS season. He was ever-present for Crew SC this season, a vital cog in a backline which posted nine shutouts in 23 matches, tied for the most in the league, and was a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year. Stats and highlights
McKenzie anchored a backline which saw just 20 goals conceded over the course of the season as the Union finished atop the MLS overall standings and were presented with the Supporters' Shield. McKenzie was this year named a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year honors after being named a finalist for Rookie of the Year in 2018. This is McKenzie's first Best XI selection. Stats and highlights
The winner of the MLS Defender of the Year award for 2020, Zimmerman was the heart of the Nashville SC team which became one of seven expansion sides to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Zimmerman scored the first goal in Nashville's MLS history, and was the center of a stout defense that set the record for the lowest goals against average ever for a first-year MLS team (0.96 goals allowed per game). Stats and highlights
GOALKEEPER
Blake won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors for a second time in leading the Union to the best overall record in the league in 2020. Blake posted a 77.8 save percentage and allowed 18 goals in his regular season appearances for an 0.88 goals allowed average, both league-bests for goalkeepers with 20 or more appearances on the year. The 29-year-old’s 13 goalkeeper wins also led MLS. Stats and highlights
