Check out the top players on the MLS 22 Under 22 list: 5 Inter Miami players make the cut!
Five players from Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have made it onto the MLS 22 Under 22 list, with Paraguayan Olympian Diego Gomez taking the top honor.
Gomez improved his ranking significantly, going from No. 20 last year to first place. Joining him are Argentine midfielder Federico Redondo (No. 5), USMNT Olympic player Benjamín Cremaschi (No. 6), Argentina defender Tomás Avilés (No. 12), and Honduran international David Ruiz (No. 21). Inter Miami, which had the best record in the 2024 season, winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield, has the highest representation on the list.
Gomez’s rise breaks a three-year streak of players from FC Dallas holding the top position. For the second year in a row, Inter Miami has the most players on this prestigious list of young domestic and international talent in MLS, which was announced Wednesday.
Recognized as the Most Valuable Player and leading scorer at the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, Gomez captained Paraguay at the 2024 Paris Olympics, contributing with one goal and two assists. He also scored a decisive goal against Brazil during World Cup qualifiers this year. Currently, he leads all MLS players in Points per Match (2.39), and Inter Miami has only lost one of the 18 matches he participated in this season (13 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss).
Chris Henderson, Inter Miami’s sporting director, praised Gomez’s growth since joining the club, saying, “We’re extremely proud of Diego and this recognition is well-deserved. He’s a transformative player who elevates those around him. His energy and commitment have been essential to our team’s success, and we are eager to see what he will achieve next.”
Sergio Busquets, a legendary midfielder for Inter Miami, added, “His contributions are invaluable to our team.”
Diego Luna from Real Salt Lake ranks second, followed by Jack McGlynn from Philadelphia Union in third, and Brian Gutiérrez from Chicago Fire completing the Top 4.
Philadelphia Union’s Quinn Sullivan sits at No. 8, while his 15-year-old brother Cavan Sullivan makes his debut on the list at No. 18, having become the youngest player in American sports to play for a major league team at 14 years and 293 days earlier this year.
Other teams with multiple players on the MLS 22 Under 22 list include the Philadelphia Union (3), Chicago Fire FC (2), L.A. Galaxy (2), and New England Revolution (2).
The 2024 list includes 16 players who were signed as homegrown talents and six players from the U22 Initiative. Half of the players previously competed in MLS NEXT, and the other half have played in MLS NEXT Pro.
An expert panel consisting of coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS Season Pass talent, and some media members voted on the players.
Here is the complete MLS 22 Under 22 list, showing player, club, and age:
- Diego Gómez, Inter Miami CF, 21
- Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake, 21
- Jack McGlynn, Philadelphia Union, 21
- Brian Gutiérrez, Chicago Fire FC, 21
- Federico Redondo, Inter Miami CF, 21
- Benjamin Cremaschi, Inter Miami CF, 19
- Obed Vargas, Seattle Sounders FC, 19
- Quinn Sullivan, Philadelphia Union, 20
- Jalen Neal, LA Galaxy, 21
- Esmir Bajraktarević, New England Revolution, 19
- Daniel Edelman, New York Red Bulls, 21
- Tomás Avilés, Inter Miami CF, 20
- Chris Brady, Chicago Fire FC, 20
- Nathan Saliba, CF Montréal, 20
- Kevin Kelsy, FC Cincinnati, 20
- Julián Aude, LA Galaxy, 21
- Owen Wolff, Austin FC, 19
- Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union, 15
- David Martínez, Los Angeles Football Club, 18
- Christian McFarlane, New York City FC, 17
- David Ruiz, Inter Miami CF, 20
- Peyton Miller, New England Revolution, 17
