2021 MLS Cup Playoffs: 14 clubs – 14 players to watch

Kickoff Saturday 

With the Major League Soccer regular season concluded, the MLS Cup Playoffs will kick off on Saturday with two games. In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia Union will host the New York Red Bulls (2:30 p.m. ET) and in the Western Conference, Sporting Kansas City face the Vancouver Whitecaps (5:00 p.m. ET). The action then continues on Sunday with New York City FC vs Atlanta United (3:00 p.m. ET). and Portland Timbers vs Minnesota United (5:30 p.m. ET). The qualifying round is then concluded on Tuesday when Nashville SC host Orlando City (8:00 p.m. ET) and Seattle Sounders face Real Salt Lake City (10:30 p.m. ET). 

The winners of the qualifying round will advance the Conference semifinals. The Colorado Rapids, who finished first in the Western Conference and the New England Revolution, the club won both the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield—a trophy handed out to the club with the most points after the regular season—were given a bye and will be starting the playoffs in the Conference semifinals (second round). 

Ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 777 players (you can read about the update here). Now with the playoffs just about to kick off, we identify one player from each of the 14 clubs to watch ahead of the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. 

MLS Cup Playoffs Preview: 14 players to watch 

Eastern Conference: 

Philadelphia Union: Paxten Aaronson 

Brenden Aaronson‘s little brother could become the next big Philadelphia Union export. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has already scored three goals in 14 games this season and in some ways mirrors his older brother’s elegance. Paxten Aaronson might not always start, but when he is on the field his awareness and brilliant shot stand out. As a result, Transfermarkt has recently increased his market value from $440,000 to $1.65 million. 

New York Red Bulls: Caden Clark 

Caden Clark loves scoring highlight reel goals. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder will play his last few games for the New York Red Bulls and then complete his transfer to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. Clark has scored four goals and three assists in 24 MLS regular season games this season. “I look up to someone like [Manchester United’s] Bruno Fernandes, who reminds me of myself in some ways,” Clark said in an exclusive interview with Transfermarkt last year. 

New York City FC: Valentín Castellanos 

Valentín Castellanos has been sensational this season. The 23-year-old Argentine center-forward scored 19 goals and eight assists in 32 games for NYCFC this season. That is a goal every 145 minutes and the most goals scored in the league together with D.C. United forward Ola Kamara. Signed for just $468,000 from CA Torque in 2019, the striker has increased his market value to $7.7 million in the recent market value update. 

Atlanta United: Josef Martínez 

The king has returned. Venezuelan striker Josef Martínez missed most of last year with a serious ACL injury and without him the Five Stripes missed the playoffs altogether. After a slow start this season, Martínez scored 12 goals in just 24 games. Despite a drop in his market value over the recent years, Martínez remains the most valuable player in the league and one of the biggest attractions in the league overall. 

Nashville SC: Hany Mukhtar

“We played a great season, but the playoffs as a single-elimination competition gives the league a push; that’s when it matters,” Hany Mukhtar said to Transfermarkt in an exclusive interview this week. The 26-year-old native of Berlin scored 16 goals and 10 assists (12 if you use the MLS system) and was perhaps the best player in the league. The eyes will be on the German as he has emerged as a player, who could easily play in one of Europe’s top five leagues. 

Orlando City: Daryl Dike 

After returning from his loan stint with Barnsley, Daryl Dike scored ten goals in 18 games. The 21-year-old is a powerful forward and the MLS Cup Playoffs will be his opportunity to put himself in the shopping window for a big winter transfer. Valued at $11 million, Dike is one of the most valuable players in the league and a crucial player for Orlando’s playoff ambitions. 

New England Revolution: Tajon Buchanan

Unlike Dike, Tajon Buchanan has already secured his move to Europe. The 22-year-old Canadian winger was one of the best players for both club and country over the last 12 months. Lightning fast, skillful and tactically intelligent, Buchanan scored eight goals and six assists in 27 games this season. Enough to convince Club Brugge to pay $7 million, plus bonuses for the Brampton, Ontario native. Buchanan is a star in the making and has seen his market value improve to $9.35 million in the recent market value update. 

Western Conference: 

Sporting Kansas City: Dániel Sallói 

Dániel Sallói is another player, who has seen his market value significantly improve in the recent market value update. The 25-year-old scored 16 goals and eight assists in 30 MLS regular season games for Sporting KC and, as a result, his market value improved from $3.3 million to $8.25 million, which makes him one of the ten most valuable Hungarians on the planet and most certainly a player to watch ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs. 

Vancouver Whitecaps: Ryan Gauld 

No other player in the league had a bigger impact on his club’s fortunes then Scottish midfielder Ryan Gauld. Gauld joined a hopeless Whitecaps side from Farense on July 31. Since then his impact has been impressive, the 25-year-old scored four goals and five assists in 18 games and formed a deadly partnership with Brian White. Vancouver fans have waited for years for the club to sign an impact player and Gauld is just that, a sensational number 10 that gives his club hope for a deep push in the upcoming playoffs. 

Portland Timbers: Dairon Asprilla 

Ten goals and three assists in 34 games, Dairon Asprilla has impressed this season. Signed from Atletico Nacional all the way back in 2015, it took some time for the 29-year-old to fully arrive in the league. But the right-winger has been fun to watch this season and improved his market value from $660,000 to $1.65 million. A significant jump that he now needs to confirm in the upcoming playoffs. 

Minnesota United: Franco Fragapane 

It would have been easy to pick Emanuel Reynoso here but the truth is Franco Fragapane has stolen the show from his Argentine compatriot this season. The 28-year-old winger has scored five goals and nine assists for the Loons this season and will be a key player as Minnesota United face the Portland Timbers in the first round of the playoffs. 

Seattle Sounders: Raúl Ruidíaz 

Raúl Ruidíaz remains one of the biggest stars in the league. This year the Peruvian forward scored 17 goals in 26 regular season games. Dynamic and full of trickery, Ruidíaz is always dangerous anywhere inside and around the box. Extremely explosive, if Ruidíaz plays well, the Sounders will remain one of the favorites to win the MLS Cup at the end of the season. 

Real Salt Lake City: Damir Kreilach 

Without Damir Kreilach, Real Salt Lake City would have missed the playoffs. Not only did the 32-year-old Croatian score the winner in a must win game against Sporting KC on the final matchday of the season, but Kreilach also managed an incredible 16 goals and eight assists in 33 regular season games. The former Union Berlin forward will be the most important player as RSL face the Seattle Sounders in the first round. 

Colorado Rapids: Mark-Anthony Kaye 

Canadian Mark-Anthony Kaye joined the Colorado Rapids from Los Angeles FC mid-season in a trade worth $1 million in General Allocation Money. The impact has been significant, Colorado would storm to the first in the Western Conference and LAFC missed the playoffs altogether. Kaye does not shine by scoring goals or assists but rather through providing stability in midfield, a trade that will be important if the Rapids want to have a long playoff run. 

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