Orlando City SC defender Alex Freeman named to 2025 MLS Best XI

ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 5, 2025) – Major League Soccer today announced that Orlando City SC defender Alex Freeman has been named to the 2025 MLS Best XI, which recognizes the league’s top players at each position as determined by members of the media, MLS players and MLS club technical staffs.

The honor marks the second post-season award for the Orlando City defender, following him being named the 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year earlier last week. At 21 years and 88 days old, Freeman is the youngest player to be named to the MLS Best XI since Philadelphia’s Brenden Aaronson earned the honor in 2020 (20 years, 29 days).

The right back is the first Orlando City player in Club history to be named to an MLS Best XI, following his first MLS season as a full-time player, in which Freeman produced a career-best nine goal contributions (six goals, three assists) in regular-season play, netting his first MLS goal on March 1 against Toronto FC. Among all defenders in 2025, the attacking fullback’s six regular-season goals were tied for second in MLS, while his 42 key passes were the fourth-most. In regular season games that Freeman scored or assisted in, Orlando produced a 4-2-2 record. Freeman was also an elite defender, as he led the Lions in aerial duels (110) and finished fourth in clearances (19).

Freeman’s 2025 campaign was also highlighted by his breakthrough into the United States Men’s National Team, earning his first call-up in June and his debut appearance as a starter against Turkey on June 7. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native was named to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup roster for the United States and started all six matches en route to the final.

Freeman earned his first MLS All-Star Team selection earlier this season, when the MLS side defeated the LIGA MX All-Stars in Austin, Texas. A product of Orlando City SC’s academy, Freeman has risen through every step of the Club’s pathway to the pros, starring with the Academy in MLS NEXT, Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro and now the First Team in MLS.

The 2025 MLS Best XI features five players from the U.S. and Canada, which is the most in a single season since 2015, when there were also five. Six different individuals are first-time honorees, and nine different MLS clubs are represented.

2025 MLS Best XI

• Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC)

• Defenders: Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)

• Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC)

• Forwards: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)