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Most In-Form defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer 2026

The most in-form defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Most in-form goalkeepers in Major League SoccerMost in-form defenders in Major League SoccerMost in-form midfielders in Major League SoccerMost in-form attackers in Major League SoccerBest defensive midfielders in Major League SoccerTop-scoring defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer

At a glance

A. Mehmeti of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 53.4, and T. Muyumba has been the form player this season, grading 47.7.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: N. Caliskan has improved his Season rating most, up +41.4 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, T. Jacob of Atlanta United FC is the most valuable name in this group at 13.4.

Best talent
A. Mehmeti53.4RTG
New York Red Bulls
In form
T. Muyumba47.7SsN
Atlanta United FC
Rising potential
N. Caliskan+6.1RTG
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
N. Caliskan+41.4SsN
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
T. Muyumba4goals
Atlanta United FC
Most valuable
T. Jacob13.4val
Atlanta United FC
44 players · ranked by best this seasonCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1T. MuyumbaDefensive midfielderAtlanta United FC2948243.2%3128.5%
2A. MehmetiDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls174753
3A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps304564.2%289.2%
4T. JacobDefensive midfielderAtlanta United FC2244377.4%475.7%
5N. CaliskanDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake264365.3%4111%
6C. DurkinDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City2639186.1%4024.7%
7Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC263935.6%405.2%
8K. Kossa-RienziDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders243797.3%43±0%
9L. SanabriaDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy2235302.3%4314.8%
10M. PeltolaDefensive midfielderDC United2433112.8%4410.6%
11Bryan Josías Ramírez LeónDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati263339
12J. DavisDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2432141.7%428.6%
13J. HaakDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy253027.5%433.6%
14S. GidiDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati2229232.2%4412.5%
15N. PalacioDefensive midfielderToronto FC2528136.1%425%
16S. SpieringsDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake302855.4%236.6%
17Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami252730.3%4110.2%
18N. AcevedoDefensive midfielderNew York City FC272710.4%3828.4%
19J. TverskovDefensive midfielderSan Diego332747.1%1626.2%
20H. OjediranDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids2226107.9%4438.2%
21J. LukićDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union242635%424.5%
22S. BrunellDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders1924332.1%4510.1%
23E. TagsethDefensive midfielderNashville SC252416%405.2%
24ArturDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo302322%249%
25B. ServaniaDefensive midfielderDC United272214.3%377%
26A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC282043.2%293.4%
27J. BuenoDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union271949.2%325.4%
28Luis OtávioDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC1919125.3%4329.7%
29S. KowalczykDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo281932.7%3225.9%
30H. DotsonDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders2919172.1%246.2%
31D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281816%290.7%
32D. DouděraDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati28181
33J. CaicedoDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers241734.4%3917.3%
34B. BronicoDefensive midfielderCharlotte311651.6%1819.3%
35S. BangouraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew241557.1%384.9%
36D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers401519.4%71.4%
37O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati291444.8%243.9%
38J. ReidDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2513131%368.8%
39S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal31138.1%188.3%
40D. SamassékouDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30112243.2%
41I. HarkesDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311067.4%1818.4%
42K. AgyabengDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City19937
43M. PinedaDefensive midfielderChicago Fire28840.4%2710.4%
44J. ShoreDefensive midfielderNew York City FC19763.3%396.7%