As another MLS regular season rounds to a close and Decision Day (Oct. 18) fast approaches, now is a good time to check in and see what’s on the radar over the next two-plus weeks. These will decide how 2025 is remembered, for posterity’s sake.

Let’s jump in. LANDON DONOVAN MLS MVP

I didn’t vote Lionel Messi for Landon Donovan MLS MVP last year. Yes, he was the best player. Yes, he added the most cumulative value if you look at data like American Soccer Analysis’s goals added (G+) metric. And yes, Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield.

But he played fewer than 1,500 minutes! I’m sorry, that’s not enough. The rule is technically that they've got to play 1,000 minutes in the regular season, but I’ve got it in my head that the cut-off is 2,000 minutes (which is about two-thirds of

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