Major League Soccer has been graced by talents who didn’t just win once — they dominated the awards scene. Players who dominated MLS awards carved their legacies through consistency, influence, and moments that defined seasons. In this article, KorKick will take you on a journey through MLS history. We’ll spotlight the legends who repeatedly claimed MVPs, Golden Boots, Best XI selections, and more — and explain how they etched their names into league lore.
What It Means To Dominate MLS Awards
To dominate in MLS awards is more than a one-season wonder. It’s a combination of:
- Multiple MVP or “Most Valuable Player” awards
- Repeated Golden Boot (top scorer) honors
- Frequent MLS Best XI appearances
- Recognition across monthly awards or positional awards
These players weren’t just best in a year — they shaped eras.
The Only Two-Time MLS MVP: Preki
One of the first names in this discussion is Preki (Predrag Radosavljevic). He remains the only player in league history to win the league MVP twice — in 1997 and 2003.
His dominance spanned years and demonstrated an enduring elite level. He also appeared in the MLS Best XI multiple times.
While many stars have shone bright for a single season, Preki stands alone in claiming MVP glory twice.
Landon Donovan: The All-Time Awards King
If you ask fans and analysts who dominated MLS awards, Landon Donovan is inevitable. Here’s why:
- The league’s MVP award is named the Landon Donovan MVP Award in his honor.
- He holds the all-time lead in Best XI selections (seven).
- Donovan claimed six MLS Cups (the most by any player), and won two MLS Cup MVPs.
- He ranks among the all-time leaders in both goals and assists.
- Across his career, he was a perennial nominee and award magnet.
Donovan’s dominance wasn’t about peaking once — it was about sustaining excellence across more than a decade.
Goal Machines: Golden Boot & MVP Stars
A few players combined the scoring accolades with season honors in spectacular fashion:
- Chris Wondolowski: The league’s all-time top scorer. He won the Golden Boot twice (2010, 2012) and was MLS MVP in 2012. He also earned multiple Best XI honors.
- Josef Martínez: His 2018 season is legendary — Golden Boot winner, league MVP, and inclusion in the Best XI.
- Carlos Vela: Domination in 2019 — 34 goals, Golden Boot, MVP, and Best XI recognition.
- Sebastian Giovinco: In his breakout MLS period, he dominated statistical categories, won the MVP in 2015, and featured repeatedly in awards lists.
These players combined scoring consistency with enough influence to be recognized league-wide.
Masters of Consistency: Best XI Legends
Even if a player never won multiple MVPs, dominating the MLS Best XI over many seasons is a sign of enduring excellence. Some notable figures:
- Land of Donovan again, with seven Best XI selections across his career
- Dwayne De Rosario: frequently in Best XI, and multiple MVP-level seasons
- Robin Fraser: a defender who won Defender of the Year and multiple Best XI honors
- More recent: Walker Zimmerman now holds among the highest Best XI tally among active defenders
These players may not have peaked with MVPs every year, but their presence in the Best XI cemented them as top-tier.
Award-Winning Specialists by Category
Sometimes domination comes in a niche:
- MLS Player of the Month: Chris Wondolowski tops that list, having won it more than any other player.
- MLS Defender of Year and positional awards: players like Robin Fraser have collected multiple Defender of Year accolades, often alongside Best XI honors.
- Comeback Player of Year: fewer repeat winners, but impact stories show who dominated certain narratives.
Dominance doesn’t always mean MVPs — it can mean being the top in your role year after year.
Emerging Names and Modern Dominators
MLS continues to evolve, and newer stars are staking claims:
- Lionel Messi: In 2024, Messi won the MVP in his first full season in MLS, joining an elite group of award winners.
- Luciano Acosta: The 2023 MLS MVP moved clubs in 2025, showing his award-winning status carries weight in transfer markets.
- Denis Bouanga: Has earned multiple Player of the Month awards, and is emerging as a recurring award contender.
These players aren’t just shining bright now — they might be future legends of award dominance.
Why Award Dominance Matters
Dominating MLS awards isn’t vanity — it signals:
- A consistent impact on games, season after season.
- Recognition. Influence on club success — many award dominators helped their teams to trophies or strong campaigns.
- Legacy & market value — being an award magnet boosts a player’s stature, even outside the US.
For fans and historians alike, these names become shorthand for eras and excellence.
Conclusion
Players who dominated MLS awards left legacies beyond mere statistics. They earned respect season after season, combining individual brilliance with team impact. From Preki’s rare two MVPs to Landon Donovan’s award reign, from Wondolowski’s goal-scoring supremacy to modern stars like Messi and Acosta, these figures define excellence in MLS.
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