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Most Improved defenders in Major League Soccer 2026

The most improved defenders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

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

At a glance

M. Dos Santos of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across defenders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 49.6, and M. Woledzi has been the form player this season, grading 61.4, and A. Markanich leads the scoring with 7 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: E. Segura has improved his Season rating most, up +40.1 on last season, while E. Morales's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +6.9 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, Felipe Andrade of Houston Dynamo is the most valuable name in this group at 14.9.

Best talent
M. Dos Santos49.6RTG
New York Red Bulls
In form
M. Woledzi61.4SsN
Nashville SC
Rising potential
E. Morales+6.9RTG
CF Montreal · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
E. Segura+40.1SsN
Los Angeles FC · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
A. Markanich7goals
Minnesota United FC
Most valuable
Felipe Andrade14.9val
Houston Dynamo
50 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1E. SeguraCentre-backLos Angeles FC29+40.1
24/25→25/26
5853.3%310.6%
2M. WoledziCentre-backNashville SC25+36.4
24/25→25/26
6124%452.8%
3R. PorteousCentre-backLos Angeles FC27+35.7
24/25→25/26
59303.4%3821.9%
4R. HoldingCentre-backColorado Rapids31+31.5
24/25→25/26
38517.7%2643%
5N. TafariCentre-backLos Angeles FC29+29.2
24/25→25/26
4958%306.8%
6D. PolvaraCentre-backSt. Louis City26+28.3
24/25→25/26
31130.6%4217.2%
7M. LabordaFull-backVancouver Whitecaps27+27.5
24/25→25/26
5137%4515.5%
8T. BlackmonCentre-backVancouver Whitecaps30+25.4
24/25→25/26
4247.7%3016.6%
9A. MarkanichFull-backMinnesota United FC26+25.1
24/25→25/26
329.7%411.5%
10O. VerhoevenCentre-backSan Diego20+24
24/25→25/26
26130.7%456.2%
11A. NajarFull-backNashville SC33+22.1
23/24→25/26
4022.1%1711.1%
12K. ThompsonFull-backColorado Rapids23+22
24/25→25/26
3151%43±0%
13E. MoralesFull-backCF Montreal22+21.7
24/25→25/26
23100.9%4311.1%
14D. LovitzCentre-backNashville SC35+21.5
24/25→25/26
4741.9%1512.4%
15W. SandsCentre-backNew England Revolution26+21.2
24/25→25/26
28217%4227.3%
16Antônio CarlosCentre-backHouston Dynamo33+20.7
24/25→25/26
38363%1552%
17D. MunieCentre-backSan Jose Earthquakes26+20.1
24/25→25/26
2656.4%4214.9%
18S. HeftiFull-backDC United28+18.9
24/25→25/26
38101.1%3531.1%
19J. DíazCentre-backMinnesota United FC25+17.2
24/25→25/26
2810.4%423%
20A. GutmanFull-backChicago Fire29+16.5
24/25→25/26
2313%2910.1%
21J. OrozcoCentre-backSt. Louis City22+15.8
22/23→25/26
19128.2%4213.6%
22O. SvatokCentre-backAustin31+15.3
24/25→25/26
2022.4%225.2%
23L. BartlettCentre-backDC United29+15.1
24/25→25/26
3049.8%314.7%
24T. GrayCentre-backNew York City FC24+13.9
24/25→25/26
315.5%457.2%
25J. DeanFull-backChicago Fire29+13.7
24/25→25/26
2743.8%272.2%
26K. FranklinFull-backToronto FC23+13.6
24/25→25/26
19119.3%4416.8%
27M. FofanaCentre-backNew England Revolution28+13.5
24/25→25/26
3423.8%354.5%
28R. Baker-WhitingFull-backNashville SC21+13.3
24/25→25/26
21165.8%448.9%
29J. TravisFull-backColorado Rapids22+13.2
24/25→25/26
18293.3%4211.1%
30R. CannonCentre-backColorado Rapids28+13
24/25→25/26
1741.7%306.6%
31T. BaumgartlCentre-backSt. Louis City30+12.7
23/24→25/26
2228.7%2930%
32R. PrisoCentre-backVancouver Whitecaps24+12.7
24/25→25/26
1816.2%411.9%
33B. KikanovicFull-backSan Jose Earthquakes26+11.9
24/25→25/26
243927.6%
34L. MacNaughtonFull-backSt. Louis City31+11.6
24/25→25/26
16189.1%2019.9%
35I. FrayFull-backInter Miami24+11.4
24/25→25/26
1811.7%434.2%
36K. RowlesCentre-backDC United28+9.8
24/25→25/26
3520.1%331.5%
37F. NegriFull-backHouston Dynamo31+9.2
24/25→25/26
1756.5%180.6%
38R. LaryeaCentre-backToronto FC31+7.5
24/25→25/26
1515%2429%
39S. MooreFull-backFC Dallas29+7.2
24/25→25/26
262.4%322.3%
40C. GarcésFull-backLos Angeles Galaxy24+7
24/25→25/26
194.5%391.8%
41J. YaroCentre-backSt. Louis City31+6.9
24/25→25/26
1770.4%224.7%
42B. ByeFull-backPortland Timbers30+6.8
24/25→25/26
1130.6%2729%
43J. BellCentre-backAustin29+6.3
24/25→25/26
141.4%25±0%
44R. HollingsheadCentre-backLos Angeles FC35+6
24/25→25/26
4738.1%148.4%
45B. KamungoFull-backFC Dallas24+6
24/25→25/26
1336.2%435.7%
46N. HarrielFull-backPhiladelphia Union25+5.7
24/25→25/26
3723.2%457.5%
47N. ToloCentre-backSeattle Sounders29+5.7
24/25→25/26
3964.3%302.7%
48M. DeslerCentre-backAustin31+5
24/25→25/26
1142.3%1714.4%
49L. EngelCentre-backReal Salt Lake27+4.9
24/25→25/26
976.2%3216.4%
50Y. CheberkoCentre-backLos Angeles FC28+4.1
24/25→25/26
3252.6%321.3%