The youth movement in MLS continues to impress, with a new wave of standout performances in Matchdays 16 and 17. From breakout goals to defensive heroics, here are the top Young Players of the Matchday:
Peyton Miller – Defender, New England Revolution
Age: 17
Miller turned in a star-making performance in the Revs’ win over CF Montréal, notching his first career MLS goal and adding his first assist of the season. Beyond the stats, he won 6 of 10 duels and added 3 tackles and 2 interceptions. Already a fixture in Caleb Porter’s starting XI, the teenager is proving he’s not just ready — he’s essential.
Ilay Feingold – Defender, New England Revolution
Age: 20
Feingold capitalized on Miller’s assist to bag his second goal of the match, capping off a late insurance goal for New England. With 3 goals and 3 assists across 14 starts this season, Feingold is clearly in breakout mode on the opposite flank of the Revs’ young fullback tandem.
Matthew Corcoran – Midfielder, Nashville SC
Age: 19
Corcoran was a quiet engine in Nashville’s 2-2 draw with NYCFC, recording two secondary assists and showing poise in midfield. A former FC Dallas academy player, he’s also seen minutes in US Open Cup action and is building a strong case for a larger role.
Lucas Sanabria – Midfielder, LA Galaxy
Age: 20
Sanabria netted his first MLS goal in a much-needed 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake, opening the scoring in LA’s first victory of the season. Even better? The assist came from fellow U22 signing Matheus Nascimento — a glimpse of the Galaxy’s future midfield core.
Christopher Cupps – Defender, Chicago Fire FC
Age: 17
The Fire’s homegrown center back went a full 90 minutes in Chicago’s 3-1 road win at Orlando City. It was just his second career start, but the teenager was composed and confident. Earlier this month, Cupps became the youngest starter in Fire history at just 16 years, 342 days.
Honorable Mentions
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Oscar Verhoeven (San Diego FC / on loan from San Jose): Strong right-back performance in a 2-0 clean sheet vs. Austin FC.
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Alejandro Alvarado Jr. & Luca Bombino (San Diego FC): Both played key roles in midfield and defense.
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Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami): Steady presence alongside Sergio Busquets in Miami’s 5-1 thrashing of Columbus.
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Jacob Bartlett (Sporting KC): Quietly excelling in a full-time role with 13 starts and an 87% pass completion rate.
As the 2025 season heats up, the league’s next generation is showing they’re not just the future — they’re already making a difference.
