MLS End-of-Year Awards: Valair Shabilla's 2026 ballot

The 2026 MLS regular season is over, so it is officially award season. Players, technical staffers, and media members are due to submit their ballots for awards like MVP, Defender of the Year, and Best XI.

For the third year in a row, I've had the privilege of voting. I submitted my ballot on Sunday, and below are my picks and reasons.

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Most Valuable Player - Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Others receiving consideration: Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Carles Gil (New England Revolution)

It might be boring, but it is the right choice. Lionel Messi has been the league's best player since he set foot in North America, and this season was no different. The numbers speak for themselves; the Argentinian had 43 goal contributions in the league. Beyond the stats, he has bailed Inter Miami out of bad situations more than any player has ever bailed a team out in history. I don't think there's much discussion here.

Coach of the Year - BJ Callaghan (Nashville SC)

Others receiving consideration: Yoan Damet (St. Louis), Jesper Sørensen (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Another straightforward pick. For this award, I usually look for two things: man-management and tactical ability. BJ Callaghan has excelled at both, leading his team to the best MLS regular season ever.

Callaghan's ability to get the best out of all of his players sets him apart. Throughout the season, he has used different players in multiple roles without it affecting the outcome. He has also instilled a strong mentality in the squad, where Nashville can win games in multiple ways.

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Goalkeeper of the Year - Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)

Others receiving consideration: Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

It was a record-breaking season for Brian Schwake in his first year as a starter. The goalkeeper broke Tony Meola's record of most clean sheets in a single season with 16. His shot-stopping has been incredible, keeping Nashville in games often.

Aside from his saves, he is great on the ball, which is crucial to the way Nashville play. His calmness and distribution make him the best in his position in MLS.

Defender of the Year - Jeisson Palacios (Nashville SC)

Others receiving consideration: Maxwell Woledzi (Nashville SC), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire)

Alongside Schwake, Jeisson Palacios and the rest of the Nashville defenders helped secure the clean sheet. The Colombian has been stellar all season, giving opposing attackers little breathing room. His towering presence and recovery speed give him a strong advantage, allowing him to step higher up the pitch.

His partnership with Maxwell Woledzi has been the best in MLS, and the award votes could split between them. Palacios slightly edges Woledzi for me, but I think they both deserve the award.

Newcomer of the Year - Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City)

Others receiving consideration: Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), Maxwell Woledzi (Nashville SC)

Antoine Griezmann has been the leading man behind Orlando's roaring comeback in the second half of the season. Despite joining midway through, the French World Cup winner has settled nicely in Florida and has already formed strong relationships with several teammates.

On the pitch, his numbers are astonishing. In just 18 matches, he scored 14 goals and contributed eight assists. Houston's Guilherme had an incredible campaign as well, but Griezmann takes this one for me.

Young Player of the Year - Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)

Others receiving consideration: Adri Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake)

The easiest category to vote on, 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan has been sensational for the Philadelphia Union. He finished the season with nine goals and 14 assists in 1,800 minutes, despite being 16 for most of it.

He played a major role in the Ryan Richter-led Union resurgence and was key to their success. Perhaps what's most impressive about the youngster is that he never felt intimidated by the immense pressure put on him.

Comeback Player of the Year - Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)

This one is a little weird, and I am not really sure how to vote on it. Obviously, Eduard Löwen went through something no one can imagine, and I have the utmost respect for him for working through it. That said, I usually go for a sporting reason when voting on sports awards. Maybe that makes me a bad person; I don't know.

For this award, I am sticking with the Sullivan family. Quinn Sullivan returned after missing almost 300 days due to an ACL injury. These sorts of injuries often define a player's career, usually negatively. Since returning, the 22-year-old has made 10 goal contributions in under 1,000 minutes.

Audi Goals Drive Impact Award - Paul Arriola (Seattle Sounders)

Others receiving consideration: Brad Stuver (Austin FC), Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution)

MLS Best XI

I don't think I have any super controversial picks here. I decided to go with Denis Bouanga over Griezmann because it's a better positional fit and he's done it for an entire season.

The midfield is not the most balanced, but all three players deserve to be there. I think Pep Biel gets overlooked, but I love watching him play, and he always makes things happen for Charlotte.

I feel like some players missed out, but still had a great season. For a league with 30 teams, picking just 11 players is very difficult. For that reason, I am officially doing the unofficial Second XI this season.

Second XI

Matt Turner; Reed Baker-Whiting, Mathias Laborda, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Frankie Westfield; Daniel Edelman, Rodrigo De Paul; Cales Gil, Antoine Griezmann, Guilherme; Brian White