When a Major League Soccer team constructs its roster, the most prestigious spots are often Designated Players. This roster-building mechanism allows them to acquire and retain world-class talent, resulting in many of MLS's biggest stars.
Clubs can sign up to three DPs whose compensation and acquisition costs exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge. Additionally, clubs bear financial responsibility for any compensation above each player's Salary Budget Charge (outside the Salary Cap).
For more details, check out the Winter 2026 Roster Profiles and the league's Roster Rules.
Updated as of: May 11, 2026
Atlanta United
- Miguel Almirón (M)
- Emmanuel Latte Lath (F)
- Alexey Miranchuk (M)
Austin FC
- Facundo Torres (F)
- Myrto Uzuni (F)
- Brandon Vazquez (F)
Charlotte FC
- Liel Abada (F)
- Pep Biel (M)
- Wilfried Zaha (F)
Chicago Fire FC
- Jonathan Bamba (F)
- Hugo Cuypers (F)
FC Cincinnati
- Kévin Denkey (F)
- Evander (M)
- Miles Robinson (D)
Colorado Rapids
- Paxten Aaronson (M)
- Rafael Navarro (F)
Columbus Crew
- Wessam Abou Ali (F)
- Dániel Gazdag (M)
- Diego Rossi (F)
FC Dallas
- Santiago Moreno (F)
- Petar Musa (F)
D.C. United
- Tai Baribo (F)
- Louis Munteanu (F)
Houston Dynamo FC
- Mateusz Bogusz (M)
- Guilherme (F)
- Ezequiel Ponce (F)
Sporting Kansas City
- Manu GarcÃa (M)
- Dejan Joveljić (F)
LA Galaxy
- João Klauss (F)
- Joseph Paintsil (F)
- Gabriel Pec (F)
- Riqui Puig (M)^
LAFC
- Denis Bouanga (F)
- Son Heung-Min (F)
Inter Miami CF
- Germán Berterame (F)
- Rodrigo De Paul (M)
- Lionel Messi (F)
Minnesota United FC
- JoaquÃn Pereyra (M)
- Kelvin Yeboah (F)
CF Montréal
- Iván Jaime (M)
Nashville SC
- Cristian Espinoza (F)
- Hany Mukhtar (M)
- Sam Surridge (F)
New England Revolution
- Carles Gil (M)
- Matt Turner (GK)
New York City FC
- Nicolás Fernández Mercau (M)
- Talles Magno (F)
- Thiago Martins (D)
Red Bull New York
- Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (F)
- Emil Forsberg (M)
- Jorge Ruvalcaba (F)
Orlando City
- Braian Ojeda (M)
- MartÃn Ojeda (F)
- Marco Pašalić (F)
Philadelphia Union
- Bruno Damiani (F)
Portland Timbers
- David Da Costa (M)
- Kristoffer Velde (F)
Real Salt Lake
- Justen Glad (D)
- Morgan Guilavogui (F)
San Diego FC
- Anders Dreyer (F)
- Chucky Lozano (F)
San Jose Earthquakes
- Hernán López (M)^
- Timo Werner (F)
Seattle Sounders FC
- Pedro de la Vega (F)
- Jordan Morris (F)
- Albert Rusnák (M)
St. Louis CITY SC
- Roman Bürki (GK)
- Sergio Córdova (F)
- Marcel Hartel (M)
Toronto FC
- Djordje Mihailovic (M)
- Josh Sargent (F)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Ryan Gauld (M)
- Thomas Müller (M)
^ Occupies a DP spot, but is not on the current roster.
