360 View: Embrace the Big Six era & battle for supremacy

Major League Soccer is renowned for its parity, where every team traditionally has a shot at glory, defined by slim margins separating contenders from also-rans. However, 2024 has defied this norm, emerging as the season of the ‘Big Six’—and it’s a spectacle I’m absolutely thrilled about.

During a recent MLS 360 segment, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Kaylyn Kyle, Sacha Kljestan, and I couldn’t help but marvel at how these elite teams are pushing each other to new heights. They’re not just raising the bar; they’re stringing together winning streaks at a pace unprecedented in MLS history. FC Cincinnati’s resounding 6-0 victory over Inter Miami and Columbus Crew’s dominant 4-0 win against Toronto FC are prime examples of this trend. Real Salt Lake, aware of these results, promptly scored within the first minute against Atlanta United and added four more goals. The best are competing fiercely, setting a standard we’ve never witnessed before in MLS.

Consider the points-per-game metric: Last season, only FC Cincinnati finished with more than 2 PPG. In 2022, no team achieved this mark. In fact, only once in MLS history have two teams ended the season with over 2 PPG—New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United in 2018. Yet this year, three teams currently exceed 2 PPG, with three others nipping at their heels. Welcome to the era of the elite.

Let me clarify: The Big Six of 2024 consists of FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami, LAFC, Real Salt Lake, LA Galaxy, and Columbus Crew. It’s no coincidence that these six have surged ahead of the pack, engaging in one of the most competitive Supporters’ Shield races MLS has ever seen. And remember, winning the Supporters’ Shield grants home-field advantage throughout the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

All six teams share a lot in common, setting the stage for an exciting Matchday 26 showdown when LAFC hosts Columbus in a rematch of the 2023 MLS Cup (10:30 pm ET | Apple TV – Free). Let’s delve deeper.

Superstars

The race for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award is intense. A few weeks ago, Bradley and Sacha identified Lionel Messi and Chicho Arango as the frontrunners. However, Lucho Acosta has since surged to the forefront. But let’s not forget about Denis Bouanga. Despite a slow start last season’s Golden Boot winner, he has now scored 14 goals in his last 17 games, with Olivier Giroud joining his side.

Cucho Hernández, last season’s MLS Cup MVP, has also gained traction in the MVP race with seven goals in his last six games, forming a dynamic trio with Diego Rossi and Christian Ramírez, who have scored 14 goals in the Crew’s last six games.

Coaching Success

These head coaches have the most knowledge of how to win. Pablo Mastroeni (RSL) and Steve Cherundolo (LAFC) have both won MLS Cup or the Supporters’ Shield. The have No also ? salvaged because Out scated Mastroeni