MLS Week 2 Power Rankings: Messi-Less Miami Stay Hot

We’re two weeks into the 2025 MLS season, and things are slowly starting to take shape.

After a frustrating Opening Day, Inter Miami CF bounced back with a big win in Texas without Lionel Messi . Charlotte FC looked the real deal after beating their rivals at home, while the reigning MLS Cup champs continue to struggle to find their footing in the new year.

Here are GIVEMESPORT’s MLS power rankings after Matchday 2.

1 Inter Miami

Last week: 2nd (+1)

Result: 4-1 win at Houston Dynamo

Up next: Sunday, March 9 vs Charlotte FC (4:00 pm ET)

Lionel Messi didn’t play, but that didn’t matter as Inter Miami CF demolished Houston Dynamo. Telasco Segovia grabbed a brace and Luis Suarez rolled back the clock with a timeless performance up front.

2 Charlotte FC

Last week: 7th (+5)

Result: 2-0 win vs Atlanta United

Up next: Sunday, March 9 at Inter Miami (4:00 pm ET)

Charlotte FC grabbed a win and a clean sheet over rivals Atlanta United, with Wilfried Zaha the standout in his MLS debut. This side is defensively elite – if their attack continues to gel, they’ll be one of the best in MLS.

RelatedCharlotte FC star Wilfried Zaha was quickly coronated in the Queen City in his MLS debut.

3 Columbus Crew

Last week: 3rd (-)

Result: 1-0 win at New England Revolution

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs Houston Dynamo (2:30 pm ET)

The Columbus Crew SC continue to roll in MLS, even without Cucho. It wasn’t an easy night against a dogged New England defense, but Jacen Russel-Rowe continued his hot form with another goal.

4 LAFC

Last week: 4th (-)

Result: 1-0 win vs NYCFC

Up next: Saturday, March 8 at Seattle Sounders (4:45 pm ET)

It took a late goal from Ryan Hollingshead, but Los Angeles FC remain undefeated in MLS play, and have made it three 1-0 wins in a row. It’s not always pretty under Steve Cherundolo, but no one grinds out a result like them.

5 Philadelphia Union

Last week: 9th (+4)

Result: 4-1 win vs FC Cincinnati

Up next: Saturday, March 8 at New England Revolution (7:30 pm ET)

The Philadelphia Union are rolling under Bradley Carnell, absolutely smashing FC Cincinnati with a Tai Baribo hat-trick. Their press is relentless and they’re getting improved performances from Quinn Sullivan and Daniel Gazdag. It’s still early, but the early returns are really exciting.

6 FC Cincinnati

Last week: 1st (-5)

Result: 4-1 loss at Philadelphia Union

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs Toronto FC (7:30 pm ET)

FC Cincinnati were bombarded by Philadelphia’s energetic press and struggled to cope. They also looked tired from their midweek CCL match. They’ve had a packed start to the season and are missing a few key players, but it wasn’t an encouraging match by any means.

7 Minnesota United

Last week: 8th (+1)

Result: 1-0 win vs CF Montreal

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 pm ET)

Minnesota United were fairly dominant against Montreal and probably deserved more than a 1-0 win, especially factoring in the shocking decision to overturn what looked like a clear penalty on Luca Petrasso. Nevertheless, Kelvin Yeboah came in clutch once again and delivered Minnesota their first win of the year.

8 Seattle Sounders

Last week: 5th (-3)

Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Result: 2-0 loss at Real Salt Lake

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs LAFC (4:45 pm ET)

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Seattle Sounders haven’t won in Utah in regulation since November 8, 2012. Despite their respective trajectories heading into the match, the Sounders were beaten by a horrific own goal from Nouhou Tolo and a fantastic goal from Forster Ajago. Probably best not to take too much from this match, but their league form has left a lot to be desired so far.

9 Colorado Rapids

Last week: 13th (+4)

Result: 3-3 draw vs FC Dallas

Up next: Saturday, March 8 at Austin FC (8:30 pm ET)

The Colorado Rapids went toe-to-toe with FC Dallas in the most exciting match of the 2025 season so far, and forward Rafael Navarro was the star with a point-saving brace. It’s still early to draw any sweeping conclusions, but they look like a side who should be firmly in the mix in the West.

10 Atlanta United

Last week: 6th (-4)

Result: 2-0 loss at Charlotte FC

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs New York Red Bulls (7:30 pm ET)

Atlanta United were held without a goal against Charlotte, and never particularly threatened one of the best backlines in MLS. Plenty of teams will struggle to score at Bank of America Stadium, but the lack of real production from Alexey Miranchuk is something to keep an eye on.

11 New York Red Bulls

Last week: 14th (+3)

Result: 2-0 win vs Nashville SC

Up next: Saturday, March 8 at Atlanta United (7:30 pm ET)

The NY Red Bulls pressed Nashville to death in the opening few minutes for their first goal, and got a world-class strike from DP attacker Emil Forsberg. They’re still working on getting everything settled, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is still adjusting, but the initial signs are promising.

12 FC Dallas

Last week: 11th (-1)

Result: 3-3 draw at Colorado Rapids

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs Chicago Fire (8:30 pm ET)

Lucho Acosta and Petar Musa look like they’ve found some chemistry, and the result was one of the early goals of the season from Acosta. FC Dallas ‘ defense is still a concern, but they look like a much more watchable team than anyone expected.

13 Vancouver Whitecaps

Last week: 15th (+2)

Result: 2-1 win vs LA Galaxy

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs CF Montreal (9:30 pm ET)

Did anyone expect the Vancouver Whitecaps to be this good in 2025? Brian White’s 87th-minute winner makes them one of just five perfect teams so far this year, grabbing a solid win over the LA Galaxy. They’ve got a difficult midweek Concacaf match versus CF Monterrey, which could throw off their league form.

14 San Jose Earthquakes

Last week: 17th (+3)

Result: 2-1 win at Sporting KC

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs Minnesota United (10:30 pm ET)

Winning on the road in MLS is never easy. Winning on the road while playing a man down for most of the second half is a feat. The San Jose Earthquakes got a very solid 2-1 win in Kansas City, despite getting Hernan Lopez sent off just after halftime. This weekend against Minnesota will be their toughest test yet, and should be a more accurate litmus test of their quality.

15 Orlando City

Last week: 20th (+5)

Result: 4-2 win vs Toronto FC

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs NYCFC (7:30 pm ET)

After getting thrashed last weekend by Philadelphia, Orlando City SC turned around and took out all their frustrations on Toronto. The Lions were able to go route one and get in behind the TFC backline all too easily, getting a standout performance from homegrown right back Alex Freeman. Their defense is still shaky and Pedro Gallese still doesn’t look assured in goal, but hey… This was a good win.

16 Austin FC

Last week: 12th (-4)

Result: 1-0 loss at Portland Timbers

Up next: Saturday, March 8 vs Colorado Rapids (8:30 pm ET)

It took an 89th-minute winner from David da Costa to take down Austin FC , and Verde created some decent chances at Providence Park. It wasn’t a horrible performance, but their overhauled attack is still a work in progress.

17 San Diego FC

Last week: 16th (-1)

Result: 0-0 draw vs St. Louis City

Up next: Saturday, March 8 at Real Salt Lake (9:30 pm ET)

There was no fairytale win for San Diego FC in their first-ever home match, and while they did well to control a lot of the game against St. Louis, they weren’t very dangerous going forward. Losing Chucky Lozano early to an injury certainly hurt their attack, but they also looked hesitant to take risks. Still, an unbeaten start for an expansion side is a win in and of itself.

As an aside, it was really disappointing to hear “the chant” from some supporters. It was a bit of a black mark on what should have been a solely celebratory occasion, and hopefully it’s stamped out quickly.

18 LA Galaxy

Last week: 10th (-8)

Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin | Imagn Images

Result: 2-1 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps

Up next: Sunday, March 9 vs St. Louis City (7:00 pm ET)

There’s a lot to be concerned about here, y’all. The Los Angeles Galaxy ’s midfield looks incredibly disjointed, and that was before new signing Lucas Sanabria left the match with a broken collarbone. Unless Marco Reus can suddenly take over and control matches, they could be in rough shape for a while.

19 Chicago Fire

Last week: 21st (+2)

Result: 2-2 draw vs D.C. United

Up next: Saturday, March 8 at FC Dallas (8:30 pm ET)

Chicago Fire FC looked set for a first win under Gregg Berhalter until Jacob Murrell’s stunning bicycle kick doomed them to a draw. They had some good moments in attack, and Hugo Cuypers continues to be one of the most clinical strikers in MLS, but boy… their defense looks very shaky. It’s a surprise from Gregg Berhalter, who typically builds his teams on a very solid defensive foundation.

20 New York City FC

Last week: 19th (-1)

Result: 1-0 loss at LAFC