Best Strikers in the MLS (Oct 2025)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: MLS Strikers 2023-24
Our database tracked 34 MLS Strikers in the 2023-24 season, representing 26 clubs with a combined market value of €136.0M. The average market value for MLS Strikers was €4.0M, with the average age at 28.7 years old.
The most valuable striker in the MLS was Emmanuel Latte Lath, worth €18.0M and played for Atlanta United FC at 26 years old. The top 5 Strikers averaged €10.8M in market value, including Kévin Denkey and Hugo Cuypers.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked striker was Kevin Kelsy (21 years, Portland Timbers, €4.0M), while the oldest was Luis Suárez (38 years, Inter Miami CF, €1.8M). Research shows Strikers typically peak at age 26.
Historical analysis showed 13 Strikers (38%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The MLS market for Strikers remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2023-24 season.
💡 Use the search bar below to find specific players, or apply filters to narrow results by club, age range, or market value. Click the chart icon next to any player to view their historical value trajectory and forecast.
Explore Market Size by Position in MLS
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all MLS Strikers. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 26 clubs with €136.0M combined value.
Age Distribution: MLS Strikers
The MLS ST market shows 4 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 30+ bracket (13 players, 38% of market). The 24-26 age group holds the most value at €65.5M, averaging €6.0M per player.
Top Strikers by Age Bracket
21-23 Years (2 players)
24-26 Years (11 players)
27-29 Years (8 players)
30+ Years (13 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 4 Strikers (12% of players) control €48.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with high (€15-30m) tier representing 3% of the MLS ST pool.
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: MLS Strikers
Among 26 MLS clubs, Atlanta United FC leads with 2 Strikers worth €18.4M (averaging €9.2M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 41% of tracked Strikers.
Atlanta United FC (2 Strikers)
FC Cincinnati (2 Strikers)
San Jose Earthquakes (2 Strikers)
Chicago Fire FC (1 Strikers)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Emmanuel Latte Lath
Atlanta United FC • 26 years old
€15.6M
€18.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €18.5M
71.0
Kévin Denkey
FC Cincinnati • 24 years old
€12.1M
€14.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.5M
67.9
Hugo Cuypers
Chicago Fire FC • 28 years old
€9.0M
€9.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €8.5M
57.3
Sam Surridge
Nashville SC • 27 years old
€7.0M
€7.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €6.6M
54.9
Wessam Abou Ali
Columbus Crew • 26 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.2M
53.7
Kelvin Yeboah
Minnesota United FC • 25 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.4M
53.7
Cristian Arango
San Jose Earthquakes • 30 years old
€7.5M
€7.5M
+0.0%
Expected: €7.1M
53.6
Petar Musa
FC Dallas • 27 years old
€6.0M
€6.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €5.7M
53.0
Dejan Joveljić
Sporting Kansas City • 26 years old
€4.8M
€5.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.7M
52.6
Rwan Cruz
Real Salt Lake City • 24 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.6M
51.5
Ezequiel Ponce
Houston Dynamo FC • 28 years old
€5.0M
€5.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €4.7M
50.0
Brenner
FC Cincinnati • 25 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.2M
48.7
Thomas Müller
Vancouver Whitecaps FC • 36 years old
€6.0M
€6.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €5.7M
46.5
Kevin Kelsy
Portland Timbers • 21 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.0M
46.5
Cedric Teuchert
St. Louis CITY SC • 28 years old
€3.0M
€3.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €2.8M
40.1
Marcus Ingvartsen
San Diego FC • 29 years old
€3.0M
€3.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €2.8M
39.3
Leonardo Campana
New England Revolution • 25 years old
€2.2M
€2.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.6M
39.2
Mikael Uhre
Philadelphia Union • 31 years old
€3.0M
€3.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €2.8M
37.9
João Klauss
St. Louis CITY SC • 28 years old
€2.5M
€2.5M
+0.0%
Expected: €2.4M
37.8
Ignatius Ganago
New England Revolution • 26 years old
€1.7M
€2.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.1M
36.5
Scout Tools
Advanced analytics for scouting and recruitment decisions. Each tool provides unique insights into player value, potential, and market dynamics.
Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Identifies pre-peak players offering exceptional value relative to their age bracket. Higher PPVE = better value.
Understanding Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
FC Cincinnati's Kévin Denkey at 24 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 2.80×. That means Kévin Denkey is valued 2.80× higher than the median player in the 24-26 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Minnesota United FC's Kelvin Yeboah, who is 25 years old, with a 1.20× PPVE. Third is Kevin Kelsy of Portland Timbers, who is 21 years old with a 1.00× PPVE.
How PPVE is calculated: PPVE compares a player's current market value to the median value of all players in their age bracket. A PPVE of 2.80× means the player is worth 180% more than typical players their age—making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kévin Denkey FC Cincinnati | 24 | 24-26 | €14.0M | €5.0M | 2.80× |
| #2 | Kelvin Yeboah Minnesota United FC | 25 | 24-26 | €6.0M | €5.0M | 1.20× |
| #3 | Kevin Kelsy Portland Timbers | 21 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €4.0M | 1.00× |
| #4 | Rwan Cruz Real Salt Lake City | 24 | 24-26 | €5.0M | €5.0M | 1.00× |
| #5 | Brenner FC Cincinnati | 25 | 24-26 | €4.0M | €5.0M | 0.80× |
| #6 | Leonardo Campana New England Revolution | 25 | 24-26 | €2.5M | €5.0M | 0.50× |
| #7 | Osaze De Rosario Seattle Sounders FC | 24 | 24-26 | €750K | €5.0M | 0.15× |
| #8 | Jules-Anthony Vilsaint Toronto FC | 22 | 21-23 | €500K | €4.0M | 0.13× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
No RPP data available (requires forecast values in database)
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Portland Timbers's Kevin Kelsy has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 75.2. That means Kevin Kelsy has 26% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Toronto FC's Jules-Anthony Vilsaint with a 72.7 RAU (21% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Kévin Denkey of FC Cincinnati with a 41.4 RAU (11% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 75.2 means the upside is 75.2× greater than the uncertainty—making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.
Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kevin Kelsy Portland Timbers | €5.0M | €4.4M-5.7M | +26% | 75.2 |
| #2 | Jules-Anthony Vilsaint Toronto FC | €606K | €533K-678K | +21% | 72.7 |
| #3 | Kévin Denkey FC Cincinnati | €15.5M | €13.7M-17.4M | +11% | 41.4 |
| #4 | Osaze De Rosario Seattle Sounders FC | €833K | €733K-933K | +11% | 41.4 |
| #5 | Rwan Cruz Real Salt Lake City | €5.6M | €4.9M-6.2M | +11% | 41.4 |
| #6 | Brenner FC Cincinnati | €4.2M | €3.7M-4.7M | +6% | 23.5 |
| #7 | Kelvin Yeboah Minnesota United FC | €6.4M | €5.6M-7.1M | +6% | 23.5 |
| #8 | Leonardo Campana New England Revolution | €2.6M | €2.3M-3.0M | +6% | 23.5 |
| #9 | Dejan Joveljić Sporting Kansas City | €5.7M | €5.0M-6.3M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #10 | Emmanuel Latte Lath Atlanta United FC | €18.5M | €16.3M-20.8M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #11 | Wessam Abou Ali Columbus Crew | €6.2M | €5.4M-6.9M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #12 | Ignatius Ganago New England Revolution | €2.1M | €1.8M-2.3M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #13 | Milan Iloski Philadelphia Union | €1.9M | €1.6M-2.1M | +3% | 12.0 |
Roster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
What This Shows
Z-Score explained: Measures how many standard deviations a player's strength is from the position average. Z-Score = 0 means average, +1.0 is one standard deviation above average, -1.0 is below average.
How to use: RPI < -1.0 indicates critical depth shortage. These positions need immediate reinforcement. RPI > +1.0 suggests strong depth, allowing selective, high-value additions only.
Current market: striker position shows weak depth (avg Z-score: -0.00). RPI: -0.00.
Position Depth Analysis
Highest Z-Scores
Lowest Z-Scores
Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Orlando City SC's Luis Muriel in the 30+ age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-16.6%. That means Cristian Arango captures 21.6% of total market value while representing only 38.2% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is San Jose Earthquakes's Josef Martínez with a +-16.6% ASC (21.6% value share vs 38.2% player share in 30+ bracket). Third is Diego Rubio of Austin FC with a +-16.6% ASC (21.6% value vs 38.2% players in 30+ bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-16.6% ASC means the player captures -16.6% more market value than their numerical representation—indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.
Value Concentration by Player
| Rank | Player | Age Bracket | Value Share | Player Share | ASC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Luis Muriel Orlando City SC | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #2 | Josef Martínez San Jose Earthquakes | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #3 | Diego Rubio Austin FC | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #4 | Christian Ramirez Los Angeles Galaxy | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #5 | Jamal Thiaré Atlanta United FC | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #6 | Cristian Arango San Jose Earthquakes | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #7 | Mikael Uhre Philadelphia Union | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #8 | Jonathan Rodríguez Portland Timbers | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #9 | Khiry Shelton Sporting Kansas City | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #10 | Luis Suárez Inter Miami CF | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #11 | Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting New York Red Bulls | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #12 | Christian Benteke D.C. United | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #13 | Thomas Müller Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 30+ | 21.6% | 38.2% | -16.6% |
| #14 | Dejan Joveljić Sporting Kansas City | 24-26 | 48.2% | 32.4% | +15.9% |
| #15 | Emmanuel Latte Lath Atlanta United FC | 24-26 | 48.2% | 32.4% | +15.9% |
| #16 | Brenner FC Cincinnati | 24-26 | 48.2% | 32.4% | +15.9% |
| #17 | Wessam Abou Ali Columbus Crew | 24-26 | 48.2% | 32.4% | +15.9% |
| #18 | Kévin Denkey FC Cincinnati | 24-26 | 48.2% | 32.4% | +15.9% |
| #19 | Ignatius Ganago New England Revolution | 24-26 | 48.2% | 32.4% | +15.9% |
| #20 | Kelvin Yeboah Minnesota United FC | 24-26 | 48.2% | 32.4% | +15.9% |
Buy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
What This Shows
How to use: "Buy Now - High Upside" = immediate priority targets. "Watch List" = monitor for 6-12 months. "Peak" = pay premium for proven performers. "Aging" = short-term depth only.
Current market: 2 immediate targets, 6 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 12 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
Price vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
What This Shows
How to use: Z-score < -1.5 = significantly undervalued (potential bargain). Z-score > +1.5 = premium pricing (requires strong justification). Within ±1.0 = fair market value.
Current market: Position median is €18.0M. 3 undervalued, 2 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Giacomo Vrioni CF Montréal | €1.0M | €3.0M | -4.00 | Undervalued |
Rwan Cruz Real Salt Lake City | €5.0M | €3.0M | -2.00 | Undervalued |
Osaze De Rosario Seattle Sounders FC | €750K | €3.0M | -1.79 | Undervalued |
Dejan Joveljić Sporting Kansas City | €5.5M | €3.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
João Klauss St. Louis CITY SC | €2.5M | €3.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Thomas Müller Vancouver Whitecaps FC | €6.0M | €3.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Jules-Anthony Vilsaint Toronto FC | €500K | €3.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Christian Ramirez Los Angeles Galaxy | €300K | €3.0M | -0.75 | Good Value |
Jamal Thiaré Atlanta United FC | €400K | €3.0M | -0.69 | Good Value |
Khiry Shelton Sporting Kansas City | €400K | €3.0M | -0.69 | Good Value |
Ezequiel Ponce Houston Dynamo FC | €5.0M | €3.0M | -0.67 | Good Value |
Diego Rubio Austin FC | €800K | €3.0M | -0.44 | Fair Value |
Petar Musa FC Dallas | €6.0M | €3.0M | -0.33 | Fair Value |
Milan Iloski Philadelphia Union | €1.8M | €3.0M | -0.29 | Fair Value |
Luis Muriel Orlando City SC | €1.2M | €3.0M | -0.19 | Fair Value |
Cedric Teuchert St. Louis CITY SC | €3.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Cristian Arango San Jose Earthquakes | €7.5M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Marcus Ingvartsen San Diego FC | €3.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Emmanuel Latte Lath Atlanta United FC | €18.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Sam Surridge Nashville SC | €7.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |