MLS continues to grow its presence in the world of soccer, with a record 11 million fans attending matches last season. From Inter Miami’s superstar Lionel Messi to Los Angeles FC’s Riqui Puig, the league has attracted plenty of global talent in recent years.
However, it’s not only outfield players who make the difference on the soccer pitch. Goalkeepers are just as crucial, and it’s safe to say the league doesn’t lack talent in this position. With that said, let’s look at who the best MLS goalkeepers are in 2025.
Hugo Lloris – Los Angeles FC
Hugo Lloris spent over 10 years with the Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur before joining Los Angeles FC in January 2024. Not only did he constantly rank among the best goalkeepers in Europe during this time, but he also won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, lifting the trophy as the team’s captain. On top of this, he holds the record for the most capped player in the French national team with 145 appearances.
In his first year with Los Angeles FC, Lloris kept 12 clean sheets in the regular season and helped the team win the MLS Cup Playoffs. Los Angeles FC will look to repeat that success this year, with MLS betting sites currently placing them second in the odds to win the cup. With the league’s popularity growing, more and more fans are betting on MLS, with the best sites offering competitive odds and user-friendly platforms that make the process extremely easy.
Roman Burki – St. Louis CITY SC
St. Louis CITY’s Roman Burki isn’t only the league’s highest-paid goalkeeper, but he’s also one of the best in the position in MLS. The Swiss was the first-choice goalkeeper of the European giants Borussia Dortmund for eight seasons before joining St. Louis in 2023. During his time in Germany, he became the first-ever Bundesliga goalie to keep clean sheets in the first five games of the season. Upon joining St. Louis, he played an integral role in the team’s expansion season in the MLS, winning the 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
He finished the 2023 season with 11.9 goals prevented, which was significantly higher than any other goalkeeper in the league. His performances helped the team top the Western Conference but they ended up getting eliminated in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs. The 2024 season wasn’t as successful for St. Louis, finishing 12th in the Western Conference and missing out on the Playoffs. They’ll look to bounce back and return to the Playoffs this year.
Kristijan Kahlina – Charlotte FC
It only makes sense for Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina, who was named the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, to be featured on this list. The Croatian played every minute last season and led the league in save percentage with 75.83%. On top of this, he finished top-five in saves (121) and goals against average (1.09). With him in goal, Charlotte FC finished the season with the fewest goals conceded (37).
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— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) March 16, 2025
Although he hasn’t played in the biggest European clubs before joining MLS, like some other goalkeepers currently in the league, he has proven to be one of Charlotte’s key players since joining in 2022 from Bulgarian side Ludogorets. Last season, the team fell to Orlando City in the MLS Cup Round One and will aim to make a deeper Playoff run this year.
CJ dos Santos – San Diego FC
Another player on our list of the best MLS goalkeepers in 2025 is San Diego FC’s CJ dos Santos. Born in Philadelphia, dos Santos went to Europe at a young age, signing for Benfica’s academy in Portugal. Despite being eligible to play for Portugal through his parents, he represented the U.S. youth national teams across multiple age levels. He returned to MLS in 2022, signing for Inter Miami but was acquired by San Diego FC in December 2024.
Although he didn’t spend much time on the field with Inter Miami, he’s slotting in as the starting goalkeeper for San Diego FC this season and will look to prove himself as a reliable presence between the posts. With his European training and international experience at a youth level, he’s viewed as one of the nation’s biggest goalkeeping talents. Aged just 24, dos Santos is projected to have a successful career in MLS, and he could soon become the next USMNT goalkeeper.
Daniel – San Jose Earthquakes
Daniel joined the San Jose Earthquakes in January 2023 as the team’s next first-choice goalkeeper. However, he missed most of the season with a muscle injury, returning only for the last few games. He returns as the number one goalkeeper this year, looking to help the team bounce back from its last-place finish in the Western Conference last year. In his first two seasons with the club, Daniel kept 6 clean sheets in 34 appearances, helping the team reach the MLS Cup in 2023.
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He has recently extended his contract with San Diego through 2026 with options for the following two years. The Brazilian spent most of his career with Internacional in his home country, where he served as a back-up before breaking into the first team in the 2020/2021 season. He had to adapt to a new culture and language upon joining San Diego but has established himself as one of the team’s key pieces.
Matt Freese – New York City FC
New York City FC’s Matt Freese stands out not only as a player who has managed to earn a Harvard degree while playing professionally but also as one of the league’s most consistent goalkeepers. He was named the team’s MVP for the 2024 season after ranking third in the league in saves (121) and fourth in saves percentage (72.9%).
Freese has represented the U.S. at youth levels and has recently received his first USMNT call-up, but is yet to make an appearance for the national team. Despite this, he has his sights set on the 2026 World Cup. But first, he has a huge season with New York City FC, who were eliminated from the Playoffs in the conference semifinals last year and aim to contend for the title this year.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt the 2025 MLS Season is going to be an exciting one, with the league’s status in world soccer constantly growing. Additionally, with the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the U.S., more eyes will be on MLS than ever before. As international interest rises, goalkeepers will look to make their mark as they compete for the MLS Cup title.