MLS Designated Players: Which teams are getting the most bang for their buck in 2021?
While roster rules have evolved, being an MLS designated player still holds a certain level of expectations (and salary). Are teams spending wisely?
2021 Schedule
TORTOR027/104:30 PM
0Philadelphia UnionPHI- Philadelphia UnionPHI1FT
0NSHNSH 
MINMIN3FT2Philadelphia UnionPHI
MTLMTL2FT2Philadelphia UnionPHI
CINCIN1FT2Philadelphia UnionPHI- Philadelphia UnionPHI3FT
0CLBCLB 
NYNY1FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI- Philadelphia UnionPHI1FT
0ATLATL - Philadelphia UnionPHI3FT
1ORLORL - Philadelphia UnionPHI0FTAgg. 0-4
2AMEAME - Philadelphia UnionPHI0FT
1NENE 
DCDC3FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI- Philadelphia UnionPHI1FT1MTLMTL
- Philadelphia UnionPHI1FT
0NYCNYC - AMEAME2FT0Philadelphia UnionPHI
- NENE2FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI3FT0TORTOR
- Philadelphia UnionPHI1FT
1CHICHI 
MIAMIA1FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI- ORLORL2FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI2FT1DCDC
- NYNY1FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- NSHNSH1FT0Philadelphia UnionPHI
- CHICHI3FT3Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI1FT0CLBCLB
- ATLATL2FT2Philadelphia UnionPHI
2021 Schedule
13-10-8, 2nd in Major League Soccer
- ATLATL220/6FT
2Philadelphia UnionPHI - Philadelphia UnionPHI123/6FT0CLBCLB
- CHICHI326/6FT3Philadelphia UnionPHI
- NSHNSH13/7FT0Philadelphia UnionPHI
- NYNY18/7FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI217/7FT1DCDC
- ORLORL222/7FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- MIAMIA125/7FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI11/8FT1CHICHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI34/8FT0TORTOR
- NENE28/8FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- AMEAME212/8FT0Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI118/8FT0NYCNYC
- Philadelphia UnionPHI121/8FT1MTLMTL
- DCDC328/8FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI03/9FT1NENE
- Philadelphia UnionPHI015/9FTAgg. 0-42AMEAME
- Philadelphia UnionPHI319/9FT1ORLORL
- Philadelphia UnionPHI125/9FT0ATLATL
- NYNY129/9FT1Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI33/10FT0CLBCLB
- CINCIN19/10FT2Philadelphia UnionPHI
- MTLMTL216/10FT2Philadelphia UnionPHI
- MINMIN320/10FT2Philadelphia UnionPHI
- Philadelphia UnionPHI123/10FT0NSHNSH
- TORTOR027/10h:mm a z, US/Eastern0Philadelphia UnionPHI
Philadelphia prevail over Nashville thanks to Przybylko's goal
Kacper Przybylko scored on a first-half penalty kick for his team-leading 11th goal to help the Philadelphia Union beat Nashville.
Kacper Przybylko scores penalty goal vs. Nashville SC (0:26)
MLS Cup playoffs: Who's in, who's out and the matchups if the postseason began today
There's less than a month left in the season, so we've looked at the table as of today to get a sense of how the MLS Cup playoffs could shape up.
Minnesota United rally to earn 3-2 win over Union
Franco Fragapane scored the winning goal in the 67th minute in Minnesota United's 3-2 win over Philadelphia.
Minnesota stays in playoff hunt with comeback win vs. Philly (1:52)
Late goal lifts CF Montreal to draw vs. Philadelphia
Sunusi Ibrahim scored his third goal of the season deep in second-half stoppage time to help CF Montreal salvage a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia.
Sunusi Ibrahim the hero for Montreal in draw vs. Union (1:56)
MLS Cup playoffs: The matchups if the postseason began today
There's less than a month left in the season, so we've looked at the table as of today to get a sense of how the MLS Cup playoffs could shape up.
Shorthanded Union hold off FC Cincinnati
Philadelphia Union held on for a 2-1 road victory over reeling FC Cincinnati on Saturday night.
FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union - Game Highlights (1:48)
MLS-worst Cincinnati hires Albright as new GM
FC Cincinnati announced former MLS player and front-office veteran Chris Albright as the team's new general manager on Monday.
Union moving up in East after blanking Crew
Philadelphia survived a second half in which the Union went down a man and faced a penalty kick to defeat the visiting Columbus Crew 3-0 on Sunday.
Andre Blake stops a penalty kick, then makes another stunning save (0:59)
Omir Fernandez nets equalizer as Red Bulls tie Union (1:52)
Fernandez nets equalizer as Red Bulls tie Union
Omir Fernandez scored the tying goal in the 37th minute as the host New York Red Bulls rallied for a 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union.
Przybylko tallies to lift Philadelphia over Atlanta
Kacper Przybylko scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season in the 71st minute to lift Philadelphia Union to a 1-0 victory over Atlanta.
Kacper Przybylko goal 71st minute Philadelphia Union 1-0 Atlanta United FC (0:46)
Przybylko nets pair to lift Union past Orlando
Kacper Przybylko scored twice to break a seven-match MLS scoring drought and lift the Philadelphia Union to a 3-1 victory over Orlando City.
Orlando City irate as controversial Philly goal stands (1:18)
Club America beats Philadelphia, into CCL final
Club America eliminated the Philadelphia Union 4-0 on aggregate after a 2-0 win on Wednesday to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Short-handed Revs hold on to edge Union
Matt Polster scored in the 33rd minute and the 10-man New England Revolution held on for the 1-0 victory over the host Philadelphia Union on Friday.
Matt Polster's goal on free kick puts New England up 1-0 (0:47)
D.C. United earn first win over Union since 2017
D.C. United rallied to end a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 win against the visiting Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
Union tally in 87th minute to tie CF Montreal
Quinn Sullivan's late strike from outside the box at the arc helped the Philadelphia Union salvage a point with a 1-1 draw against CF Montreal.
2021 MLS Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Revolution | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | +24 | 70 |
| Philadelphia Union | 31 | 13 | 10 | 8 | +11 | 49 |
| Nashville SC | 31 | 11 | 16 | 4 | +19 | 49 |
| Orlando City SC | 31 | 12 | 11 | 8 | +1 | 47 |
| New York City FC | 31 | 12 | 8 | 11 | +17 | 44 |
| New York Red Bulls | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | +6 | 43 |
| Atlanta United FC | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | +6 | 43 |
| CF Montréal | 31 | 11 | 10 | 10 | +3 | 43 |
| DC United | 31 | 12 | 5 | 14 | +1 | 41 |
| Inter Miami CF | 31 | 11 | 5 | 15 | -15 | 38 |
| Columbus Crew | 31 | 10 | 8 | 13 | -4 | 38 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 32 | 9 | 7 | 16 | -15 | 34 |
| Toronto FC | 31 | 6 | 8 | 17 | -25 | 26 |
| FC Cincinnati | 31 | 4 | 8 | 19 | -31 | 20 |
2021 Team LeadersMajor League Soccer
- Goals
- Assists
RankingsMajor League Soccer
Goal Difference117th
Goals Scored43Tied-14th
Assists27Tied-17th
Goals Conceded32Tied-4th