Inter Miami CF midfielder Diego Gómez, who tops the 2024 22 Under 22 presented by BODYARMOR rankings, keeps some exclusive company.
Who are the previous winners and where are they now? Check out the formidable list below.
Editor's note: Up until 2018, the list was previously known as 24 Under 24.
YEAR | PLAYER | MLS CLUB | CURRENT CLUB |
|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Alan Velasco | FC Dallas | FC Dallas |
2022 | Jesús Ferreira | FC Dallas | FC Dallas |
2021 | Ricardo Pepi | FC Dallas | PSV (Netherlands) |
2020 | Brenden Aaronson | Philadelphia Union | Leeds United (England) |
2019 | Diego Rossi | LAFC | Columbus Crew |
2018 | Alphonso Davies | Vancouver Whitecaps | Bayern Munich (Germany) |
2017 | Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United | Newcastle United (England) |
2016 | Cyle Larin | Orlando City | Mallorca (Spain) |
2015 | Fabián Castillo | FC Dallas | Deportivo Cali (Colombia) |
2014 | DeAndre Yedlin | Seattle Sounders | FC Cincinnati |
2013 | Darlington Nagbe | Portland Timbers | Columbus Crew |
2012 | Darren Mattocks | Vancouver Whitecaps | N/A |
2011 | Brek Shea | FC Dallas | N/A |
2010 | Fredy Montero | Seattle Sounders | Deportivo Cali (Colombia) |
- Current club: FC Dallas
- 2023 22 Under 22 ranking
- Current club: FC Dallas
- 2022 22 Under 22 ranking
Jesús Ferreira entered a new stratosphere during the 2022 season as the league’s top domestic scorer with 18 goals and six assists. That catapulted him to the FIFA 2022 World Cup with the USMNT.
- Current club: PSV (Netherlands)
- 2021 22 Under 22 rankings
Pepi rose to stardom during the 2021 MLS season, finishing with 13 goals and three assists across 31 games (24 starts). That prompted a reported $20 million move to German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, before eventually joining one of Holland's top clubs.
- Current club: Leeds United (England)
- 2020 22 Under 22 rankings
Aaronson went from a prized Philadelphia Union academy prospect to a club-record signing (reported $30 million) for English side Leeds United. He spent last year on loan with Bundesliga side Union Berlin.
- Current club: Columbus Crew
- 2019 22 Under 22 rankings
Winner of the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi and MLS Young Player of the Year awards in 2020, the Uruguayan winger returned to MLS last summer with the Columbus Crew and has since won two titles. Previously, he moved from LAFC to Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe.
- Current club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
- 2018 22 Under 22 rankings
The crown jewel of MLS homegrowns, Davies is a bonafide superstar for German Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich. The former Vancouver Whitecaps forward also carried the Canadian men’s national team to their first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1986, ending a 36-year drought for the program.
- Current club: Newcastle United (England)
- 2017 22 Under 24 rankings
A regular for Newcastle United in the English Premier League, Almiron was previously MLS’ record outgoing transfer, having left Atlanta United in January 2019. The Paraguayan star earned Best XI honors in 2017-18 before bringing the Five Stripes their first MLS Cup title in 2018.
- Current club: Mallorca (Spain)
- 2016 24 Under 24 rankings
Canada’s leading scorer was a huge part of booking a World Cup return in 2022, scoring 13 goals throughout Concacaf qualifying. The Mallorca forward was the first overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas and snagged MLS Rookie of the Year honors with Orlando City SC.
- Current club: Deportivo Cali (Colombia)
- 2015 24 Under 24 rankings
After beginning his professional career with Deportivo Cali in his native Colombia, Fabián Castillo signed with FC Dallas ahead of the 2011 season. The speedy winger scored 34 goals and added 30 assists in 159 appearances for then-head coach Oscar Pareja.
- Current club: FC Cincinnati
- 2014 24 Under 24 rankings
The original Seattle Sounders FC homegrown signing in 2013, Yedlin spent over seven years in Europe, most prominently featuring at Premier League side Newcastle United and Turkish side Galatasaray. He captained Inter Miami CF upon his return to MLS before getting traded to FC Cincinnati this season.
- Current club: Columbus Crew
- 2013 24 Under 24 rankings
Since being picked No. 2 in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers, Nagbe has established himself as one of the league’s most technically gifted, tempo-setting midfielders wherever he’s been. He's won MLS Cup with Portland (2015), Atlanta (2018) and twice with Columbus (2020, 2023).
- Current club: Unattached
- 2012 24 Under 24 rankings
Mattocks started his MLS career in Vancouver, where he featured until 2016 before getting other stints at Portland, D.C. United and FC Cincinnati. He finished his time in MLS with 37 goals and 14 assists across 182 games (102 starts).
- Current club: Retired
- 2011 24 Under 24 rankings
Shea was once among US soccer’s hottest prospects, turning his early FC Dallas stardom into a move to then-English Premier League side Stoke City in 2013. Following brief stints on loan at Barnsley and Birmingham City, he returned to MLS in 2015 with Orlando City. Moves to Vancouver, Atlanta and Inter Miami followed suit.
- Current club: Deportivo Cali (Colombia)
- 2010 24 Under 24 rankings
Montero was a huge part of laying Seattle’s trophy-filled foundation upon their MLS introduction in 2009. The Colombian striker played at Sporting CP (Portugal) and Tianjin Tigers (China) before returning to MLS for two separate runs with Vancouver in 2017 and from 2019-20. Montero made his return to Seattle ahead of the 2021 season.
