Who’s No. 1? Five of Messi’s Inter Miami teammates make MLS 22 Under 22
Five of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami teammates have been named to the MLS 22 Under 22 list, with Paraguayan Olympian Diego Gomez snagging the No. 1 spot.
Gomez rose from No. 20 on last year’s list. Argentine midfielder Federico Redondo (No. 5), USMNT Olympic midfielder Benjamín Cremaschi (No.6), Argentina defender Tomás Avilés (No. 12) and Honduran international David Ruiz (No. 21) also represent first-place Inter Miami, which won the MLS Supporters’ Shield for the best record during the 2024 season.
Gomez breaks a three-year streak of FC Dallas players holding the top spot. And for the second consecutive year, Inter Miami has the most representatives of any club in the league on the list, which was released Wednesday and highlights the best young international and domestic players in MLS.
Gomez was Most Valuable Player and top scorer in the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament before captaining Paraguay in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he scored a goal and had two assists. He also scored a game-winning goal against Brazil in World Cup qualifiers for the Paraguay senior national team this year. He leads all MLS players in Points per Match (2.39), and Inter Miami is unbeaten in 17 of the 18 matches he’s played (13-1-4 record) this season.
“We’re very proud of Diego for the tremendous growth he’s shown since arriving at the club, and happy to see it recognized with this special honor,” Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson said. “He’s a game-changing player who makes everybody around him better. His dynamism paired with his effort have been crucial to the team’s success, and we are excited to see everything he will accomplish.”
Added legendary Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets:“He is an important player for us because of everything he contributes.”
Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna is second on the list, U.S. Olympic Team member Jack McGlynn of Philadelphia Union is third, and Chicago Fire’s Brian Gutiérrez rounds out the Top 4.
The Union’s Quinn Sullivan is No. 8, while his 15-year-old brother Cavan Sullivan debuts on the list at No. 18. Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player in American sports to debut for a major league team at 14 years and 293 days old earlier this year.
The other MLS teams with multiple players on the MLS 22 under 22 list are the Philadelphia Union (3), Chicago Fire FC (2), L.A. Galaxy (2), and New England Revolution (2).
This year’s list is comprised of 16 homegrown signings and six U22 Initiative signings. Ten players previously played in MLS NEXT, while 10 others have played in MLS NEXT Pro.
The players were voted on by an expert panel of coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS Season Pass Talent, and select media.
Here’s the full MLS 22 Under 22 listed by 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