Lionel Messi's biggest threat for the 2025 MLS MVP award is at San Diego FC

The 2025 season has been another spectacular campaign for Lionel Messi, but he does not have the Major League Soccer MVP award secured. 

San Diego FC's Anders Dreyer has emerged as one of his main rivals.

Dreyer leads MLS in assists in his first season in the U.S. with 18, adding 14 goals for 32 goal contributions. The 27-year-old Dane leads Messi by three goal contributions (19 goals, 10 assists for Messi) on the season.

Dreyer arrived at San Diego FC from Belgium's Anderlecht for $5.85 million, according to Transfermarkt estimates.

Since his arrival, the Dane has become the key piece of the team led by head coach Mikey Varas, even above Hirving Lozano, who was absent for 26 days due to a muscular injury in March of this year.

Currently, Dreyer not only has individual merits to surpass Messi for the MVP, but also collective ones. San Diego FC is positioned as the leader of the Western Conference with 56 points after 29 matches played. Messi's Inter Miami is positioned sixth in the Eastern Conference with 46 points added after 25 matches played.

Other players who are in the race for the league's top individual award are Nashville's Sam Surridge (20 goals and four assists) and Cincinnati's Evander (16 goals and nine assists).

Data taken from the official MLS website. MLS considers the pass before the goal pass as an assist, which is not the case in the main soccer leagues in the rest of the world.