List of first overall MLS draft picks explained

The Major League Soccer SuperDraft's first overall pick is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the annual Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. The first pick is awarded to the club with the poorest regular season record during the previous MLS campaign. Exceptions are when there is an expansion franchise, where the expansion side has the opportunity to select the first overall draft pick.

Two first picks have won the MLS Rookie of the Year award in their maiden season: Maurice Edu and Cyle Larin.

No first pick has ever won the Landon Donovan MVP Award, although Alecko Eskandarian is the only first draft pick to win the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player Award.

Note that between 1996 and 1999, the MLS draft was known as the MLS College Draft. Official MLS publications include the College Draft as part of MLS's draft history.

Key

^
	Elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame
^*	Denotes Hall of Famers who have been selected to the All-Star Game
Player (in italic text)	Young Player of the Year
App.	MLS appearances
Goals	MLS goals
Asst.	MLS assists

List of first overall picks

Draft	Selected by^[1]	Player	Nationality	Position	College/high school/former club	MLS rookie statistics			Ref.
App.	Goals	Asst.
1996	Kansas City Wiz			DF	Saint Louis				^[2]
1997	Colorado Rapids			DF	UCLA
1998	Miami Fusion			DF	Maryland
1999	D.C. United			MF	Virginia
2000	MetroStars			MF	UCLA
2001	San Jose Earthquakes			FW	North Carolina
2002	Dallas Burn			DF	Connecticut
2003	D.C. United			FW	Virginia
2004	D.C. United			FW	IMG Academy
2005	Real Salt Lake			MF	IMG Academy
2006	New York Red Bulls			DF	UCLA
2007	Toronto FC	^		DF	Maryland
2008	Kansas City Wizards			DF	UCLA
2009	Seattle Sounders FC	^		FW	Akron				^[3]
2010	Philadelphia Union			FW	Oregon State				^[4]
2011	Vancouver Whitecaps FC			FW	Guadalajara Academy				^[5]
2012	Montreal Impact			FW	Duke				^[6]
2013	New England Revolution	^		DF	Louisville
2014	Philadelphia Union	^		GK	UConn
2015	Orlando City SC	^		FW	UConn				^[7]
2016	Chicago Fire			MF	Wake Forest
2017	Minnesota United FC			FW	UCLA				^[8]
2018	Los Angeles FC			DF	Akron				^[9]
2019	FC Cincinnati			MF	UCLA				^[10]
2020	Inter Miami CF			FW	Clemson				^[11]
2021	Austin FC			MF	Virginia Tech				^[12]
2022	Charlotte FC			MF	Maryland				^[13]
2023	Charlotte FC			DF	Clemson				^[14]
2024	Toronto FC			FW	Lipscomb				^[15]

See also

• MLS SuperDraft
• List of first overall NASL draft picks

Notes and References

1. News: Sigal . Jonathan . December 19, 2023 . Every No. 1 overall pick in MLS SuperDraft history . MLSsoccer.com . January 8, 2024.
2. Web site: Matt McKeon MLS Statistics. MLSsoccer.com. October 26, 2017.
3. Web site: Steve Zakuani MLS Statistics. MLSsoccer.com. October 26, 2017.
4. Web site: Danny Mwanga MLS Statistics. MLSsoccer.com. October 26, 2017.
5. Web site: Omar Salgado MLS Statistics. MLSsoccer.com. October 27, 2017.
6. Web site: Andrew Wenger MLS Statistics. MLSsoccer.com. October 26, 2017.
7. Web site: Orlando City forward Cyle Larin named 2015 AT&T Rookie of the Year. November 10, 2015.
8. Web site: Abu Danladi MLS Statistics. MLSsoccer.com. October 26, 2017.
9. Web site: Joao Moutinho MLS Statistics. MLSsoccer.com. December 19, 2023.
10. Web site: Analysis: Meet FC Cincinnati's first-ever MLS SuperDraft pick, Frankie Amaya. Brennan. Pat. January 11, 2019. The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 11, 2019.
11. Web site: Inter Miami, Beckham picked Robbie Robinson No.1 in MLS SuperDraft. Then things got weird. ESPN. January 10, 2020. January 10, 2020.
12. Web site: Winters . Scott . Austin FC selects Daniel Pereira with the No. 1 pick in the SuperDraft . . January 21, 2021 . January 21, 2021.
13. Web site: Carlisle . Jeff . Charlotte FC Picks Maryland's Ben Bender as top MLS draft selection . . January 11, 2022 . January 11, 2022.
14. Web site: Charlotte FC picks Clemson's Hamady Diop No. 1 in MLS SuperDraft . . December 21, 2022 . December 21, 2022.
15. News: Rueter . Jeff . Bogert . Tom . MLS SuperDraft: Toronto FC selects Tyrese Spicer No. 1, teams uncertain on potential picks . . limited . December 19, 2023 . December 19, 2023.