While each Major League Soccer club names a team MVP every season, the overall best player in MLS is awarded the Landon Donovan MVP award. That name change happened for the 2015 season, honoring the USMNT alum who once held the league’s all-time scoring title as well as lifting six MLS Cups with two MLS clubs. Donovan won the award in 2009. USMNT alum Preki is the only player to win the MLS MVP twice, in 1997 and 2003. More recently, expansion teams have had a player win the league’s MVP award relatively quickly, while MLS originals Colorado has never had an MLS MVP winner.
| Year | Club |
|---|---|
| 1996 | DC United |
| 1997 | DC United |
| 1998 | Chicago |
| 1999 | DC United |
| 2000 | Kansas City |
| 2001 | San Jose |
| 2002 | LA Galaxy |
| 2003 | San Jose |
| 2004 | DC United |
| 2005 | LA Galaxy |
| 2006 | Houston |
| 2007 | Houston |
| 2008 | Columbus |
| 2009 | Real Salt Lake |
| 2010 | Colorado |
| 2011 | LA Galaxy |
| 2012 | LA Galaxy |
| 2013 | Kansas City |
| 2014 | LA Galaxy |
| 2015 | Portland |
| 2016 | Seattle |
| 2017 | Toronto |
| 2018 | Atlanta |
| 2019 | Seattle |
| 2020 | Columbus |
| 2021 | NYCFC |
| 2022 | LAFC |
| 2023 | Columbus |
