Defending in MLS has never been more demanding. The modern MLS defender is expected to win aerial duels, break up attacks, play through a high press, carry the ball into midfield, and launch attacks with progressive passing. The days of the purely destructive center back or the stay-at-home fullback are over.
This ranking evaluates the best defenders in MLS for the 2025 season using American Soccer Analysis's Goals Added (g+) model, the most comprehensive measure of a player's total contribution to their team's goal difference. Unlike basic stats like tackles or clearances, Goals Added captures every on-ball action a defender makes and quantifies its impact relative to the league average.
How Goals Added Works for Defenders
Goals Added breaks a player's contributions into six action types: Interrupting (tackles, interceptions, clearances), Passing, Receiving, Dribbling, Shooting, and Fouling. For defenders, the most important categories are:
Interrupting: The core defensive skill. Measures the value of a player's tackles, interceptions, and recoveries compared to the average defender in the same situations. High interrupting scores indicate a defender who consistently wins the ball in dangerous areas.
Passing: Quantifies how much a defender's passing contributes to goal-scoring opportunities. Ball-playing center backs and creative fullbacks score highly here. This captures the modern demand for defenders who can distribute under pressure.
Receiving: Measures the value of a defender's positioning and movement when receiving the ball. Fullbacks who get into dangerous areas and center backs who advance into midfield score well.
Dribbling: Captures a defender's ability to carry the ball effectively. Progressive carries from defense are increasingly valued.
A positive total Goals Added (g+) means the player contributes more than an average MLS defender. The best defenders in the league post g+ values above +6.0 over a full season, meaning they add roughly six goals of value beyond what a replacement-level defender would provide.
The Best MLS Center Backs in 2025
1. Adilson Malanda (Charlotte FC) — g+ 8.21
Malanda was the most impactful center back in MLS in 2025, and it was largely about his defensive dominance. His interrupting g+ of +5.09 was the highest among all center backs in the league, meaning his tackles, interceptions, and recoveries alone added over five goals of value compared to the average. He paired that with strong distribution (+2.47 passing g+) despite playing over 3,250 minutes.
2. Maya Yoshida (LA Galaxy) — g+ 8.47
The veteran Japanese international posted the highest total g+ among all center backs, driven by elite passing (+2.84) and intercepting (+2.70). Yoshida brought Champions League pedigree and composure that elevated the Galaxy's entire defensive structure. His ability to step into midfield and play line-breaking passes set him apart from every other center back in the league.
3. Noah Eile (New York Red Bulls) — g+ 8.39
Eile emerged as one of the most complete center backs in MLS with the league's highest interrupting g+ among defenders at +4.37. His ability to read passing lanes and step into interceptions was transformative for the Red Bulls. He combined that defensive intelligence with solid ball progression (+2.10 passing g+).
4. Jack Elliott (Chicago Fire) — g+ 7.36
Elliott was the anchor of a resurgent Chicago defense, logging 3,328 minutes with a +4.05 interrupting g+. His consistency over the full season, never missing significant time, is itself a valuable defensive trait. He was a player whose teammates always knew where to find the ball.
5. Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew) — g+ 7.40
Zawadzki was one of the more well-rounded center backs in the league, contributing meaningfully across every action type. His +2.73 passing g+ showed a player comfortable building from the back in the Crew's possession-heavy system, while his +3.14 interrupting g+ demonstrated the defensive instincts to match.
6. Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake) — g+ 7.11
The RSL academy product continued to prove he is one of the best homegrown center backs in MLS history. Glad's +3.69 interrupting g+ was among the top five in the league, and he logged over 3,100 minutes of consistent, reliable defending. His reading of the game, honed through nearly a decade in MLS, is difficult to replicate.
7. Justin Haak (New York City FC) — g+ 6.90
Haak anchored an NYCFC defense that conceded fewer goals than expected all season. His +3.72 interrupting g+ was elite, and his +2.28 passing g+ showed he was more than just a destroyer. Playing over 3,350 minutes, his durability was a significant asset.
8. Christopher McVey (San Diego FC) — g+ 6.57
For an expansion team's first season, McVey was a revelation. He provided the veteran stability San Diego needed at the back, combining +2.87 interrupting g+ with +2.60 passing g+. His calm distribution under pressure helped San Diego build out of the back despite being a team still learning to play together.
9. Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders) — g+ 6.40
Ragen packed enormous defensive value into just 2,166 minutes. His per-minute rate was among the highest in the league, with +2.80 interrupting g+ and +2.61 passing g+ showing a center back capable of dominating both phases. The only thing keeping him from the top five was availability.
10. Thiago Martins (New York City FC) — g+ 6.38
NYCFC's defensive success was no accident. Having both Haak and Martins in the top 10 explains why the club was difficult to break down. Martins brought strong reading of the game (+2.92 interrupting g+) and excellent distribution (+2.65 passing g+) to form one of the best center back partnerships in the league.
The Best MLS Fullbacks in 2025
1. Alex Freeman (Orlando City) — g+ 9.52
Freeman was the highest-rated defender in all of MLS in 2025, regardless of position. His +2.99 receiving g+ was the best among all fullbacks, meaning he consistently got himself into positions where having the ball was dangerous for the opposition. Combined with +2.42 interrupting g+ and +1.60 dribbling g+, Freeman was the rare fullback who excelled at everything.
2. Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes) — g+ 8.41
Espinoza's +3.41 passing g+ was the second-highest among all defenders in the league. Playing as a wide defender with creative license, his ability to find teammates in dangerous areas from deep or wide positions was exceptional. He logged over 3,000 minutes, making his output even more impressive.
3. Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union) — g+ 7.04
Wagner posted the highest passing g+ of any defender in MLS at +4.38. The German left back has long been one of the most progressive passers in the league, and 2025 was no different. His ability to switch play, find runners between the lines, and deliver from set pieces added more goal value through passing alone than most midfielders.
4. Andrew Gutman (Chicago Fire) — g+ 7.35
Gutman was a key part of Chicago's defensive resurgence alongside Elliott. His +3.31 interrupting g+ showed a fullback who defended with intent, while his +1.72 receiving g+ indicated smart off-ball movement going forward. Chicago having two defenders in the top 10 overall is a statement about what their backline accomplished.
5. Jordi Alba (Inter Miami) — g+ 6.43
The former Barcelona left back proved that even in the later stages of his career, his technical quality sets him apart. His +2.02 receiving g+ and +2.00 passing g+ showed a fullback who still understands space better than almost anyone in the league. Alba's positional intelligence compensates for declining athleticism.
6. Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) — g+ 6.53
Arfsten's calling card was his off-ball movement. His +2.28 receiving g+ was the second highest among fullbacks, showing a player who consistently found pockets of space. In Columbus's build-up heavy system, having a fullback who creates passing options by positioning alone was invaluable.
7. Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United) — g+ 6.26
Markanich was one of two Minnesota fullbacks in the top 20, a testament to the Loons' wing-centric approach. His +2.78 interrupting g+ was excellent for a fullback, while his +2.50 receiving g+ showed a player comfortable in the attacking third.
8. Lukas Engel (FC Cincinnati) — g+ 6.13
Engel's +3.43 interrupting g+ was the highest among all fullbacks in the league. He was a defensive fullback first and foremost, winning the ball back at a rate that most center backs would envy. Cincinnati's defense relied heavily on his ability to shut down the right side of opposing attacks.
9. Andy Najar (Nashville SC) — g+ 6.10
The Honduran international brought experience and two-way play to Nashville. His +3.10 passing g+ was outstanding for a fullback, and his +2.04 interrupting g+ showed he held up his defensive responsibilities despite the offensive workload.
10. Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United) — g+ 6.08
Hlongwane's inclusion underscores Minnesota's reliance on their wide players. With +2.92 receiving g+ and +2.80 interrupting g+, he was dynamic in both directions. Having two fullbacks in the top 10 speaks to a tactical system that empowers its wide defenders.
What the Data Reveals
Several trends emerge from the 2025 defender rankings:
Center back passing matters more than ever. Six of the top 10 center backs posted passing g+ above +2.0. Teams that cannot build from the back in MLS are at a significant disadvantage.
Interrupting remains the foundation. Despite the emphasis on ball-playing ability, the best center backs still win the ball. Adilson Malanda led all defenders in interrupting g+ while also contributing in possession.
Fullback receiving is the differentiator. The top fullbacks separate themselves by where they receive the ball. Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten created danger simply by being in the right spots.
Durability counts. Most players on this list logged 2,500+ minutes. Defenders who stay available compound their value over a full season in ways that substitutes cannot replicate.
Chicago and Columbus built from the back. Both clubs placed two defenders in the overall top 20, suggesting their defensive success was systemic, not individual.
How We Built These Rankings
These rankings use American Soccer Analysis (ASA) Goals Added data from the 2025 MLS regular season. Only players with 500+ minutes were included. Goals Added measures a player's total contribution through every on-ball action (dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting, interrupting, fouling) compared to the positional average. Players are grouped by center back (CB) and fullback (FB) as classified by ASA's position model.
Goals Added is not without limitations. It does not capture off-ball defensive positioning, communication, or leadership. Some of the best organizers in the league may not rank highly because their value is in telling teammates where to be rather than making the interception themselves. But as a quantitative measure of on-ball defensive contribution, Goals Added is the best publicly available metric in MLS.
See also: Best Midfielders in MLS | Best Forwards in MLS | MLS Goalkeeper Rankings