Major League Soccer: MLS Cup Winners List, Clubs With Most MVPs

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Image: LA Galaxy

MLS Cup is the annual championship game of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the end result of the MLS Playoffs. The game pits the winner of the Eastern Conference Final against the winner of the Western Conference Final. The MLS Cup winner is awarded the title of league champion.

The format is different from most of the football leagues around the world. MLS uses a playoff tournament following the regular season to determine its overall league champion. The method is similar to those  used by other major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

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The winner of MLS Cup is awarded one of the country’s four berths in the following season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The LA Galaxy are the most successful team with six MLS Cups (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024).

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Major League Soccer: MLS Cup all-time winners list

YearChampion ClubMVPMVP’s Club
2024LA GalaxyGastón BrugmanLA Galaxy
2023Columbus CrewCucho HernándezColumbus Crew
2022Los Angeles FCJohn McCarthyLos Angeles FC
2021New York City FCSean JohnsonNew York City FC
2020Columbus CrewLucas ZelarayánColumbus Crew
2019Seattle Sounders FCVictor RodríguezSeattle Sounders FC
2018Atlanta United FCJosef MartínezAtlanta United FC
2017Toronto FCJozy AltidoreToronto FC
2016Seattle Sounders FCStefan FreiSeattle Sounders FC
2015Portland TimbersDiego ValeriPortland Timbers
2014LA GalaxyRobbie KeaneLA Galaxy
2013Sporting Kansas CityAurélien CollinSporting Kansas City
2012LA GalaxyOmar GonzálezLA Galaxy
2011LA GalaxyLandon DonovanLA Galaxy
2010Colorado RapidsConor CaseyColorado Rapids
2009Real Salt LakeNick RimandoReal Salt Lake
2008Columbus CrewGuillermo B. SchelottoColumbus Crew
2007Houston Dynamo FCDwayne De RosarioHouston Dynamo FC
2006Houston Dynamo FCBrian ChingHouston Dynamo FC
2005LA GalaxyGuillermo RamirezLA Galaxy
2004D.C. UnitedAlecko EskandarianD.C. United
2003San Jose EarthquakesLandon DonovanSan Jose Earthquakes
2002LA GalaxyCarlos RuizLA Galaxy
2001San Jose EarthquakesDwayne De RosarioSan Jose Earthquakes
2000Kansas City WizardsTony MeolaKansas City Wizards
1999D.C. UnitedBen OlsenD.C. United
1998Chicago Fire FCPeter NowakChicago Fire FC
1997D.C. UnitedJaime MorenoD.C. United
1996D.C. UnitedMarco EtcheverryD.C. United

MLS Cup MVP award recipients list

YearPlayerClub
2024Gastón BrugmanLA Galaxy
2023Cucho HernándezColumbus Crew
2022John McCarthyLos Angeles FC
2021Sean JohnsonNew York City FC
2020Lucas ZelarayánColumbus Crew
2019Victor RodríguezSeattle Sounders FC
2018Josef MartínezAtlanta United FC
2017Jozy AltidoreToronto FC
2016Stefan FreiSeattle Sounders FC
2015Diego ValeriPortland Timbers
2014Robbie KeaneLA Galaxy
2013Aurélien CollinSporting Kansas City
2012Omar GonzálezLA Galaxy
2011Landon DonovanLA Galaxy
2010Conor CaseyColorado Rapids
2009Nick RimandoReal Salt Lake
2008Guillermo Barros SchelottoColumbus Crew
2007Dwayne De RosarioHouston Dynamo FC
2006Brian ChingHouston Dynamo FC
2005Guillermo RamirezLA Galaxy
2004Alecko EskandarianD.C. United
2003Landon DonovanSan Jose Earthquakes
2002Carlos RuizLA Galaxy
2001Dwayne De RosarioSan Jose Earthquakes
2000Tony MeolaKansas City Wizards
1999Ben OlsenD.C. United
1998Peter NowakChicago Fire FC
1997Jaime MorenoD.C. United
1996Marco EtcheverryD.C. United

Also Read: Messi’s Bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko Has Been Banned From The Major League Soccer(MLS)

Clubs with Most MVPs

  • LA Galaxy – 6 MVPs
    (Gastón Brugman, Omar González, Robbie Keane, Guillermo Ramirez, Carlos Ruiz, Landon Donovan)

  • D.C. United – 5 MVPs
    (Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno, Ben Olsen, Alecko Eskandarian, Dwayne De Rosario)

  • Columbus Crew – 3 MVPs
    (Cucho Hernández, Lucas Zelarayán, Guillermo Barros Schelotto)

  • Seattle Sounders FC – 2 MVPs
    (Victor Rodriguez, Stefan Frei)

  • Houston Dynamo FC – 2 MVPs
    (Brian Ching, Dwayne De Rosario)

  • Toronto FC, Portland Timbers, NYCFC, LAFC, Sporting KC, Colorado Rapids, San Jose Earthquakes – 1 each