The 2026 Major League Soccer season is a week old, and MLS NEXT Pro gets started this week, so let’s take the time to do our completely scientific power ranking of the players under contract with FC Dallas and North Texas SC.
We look at who is playing well, who is playing at all, and who is making waves with fans and our colleagues in the media to rank all 49 contracted professionals. So without further delay …
Starting XI
1
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Petar Musa#9 | F | FCD
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 1
I mean, come on. Dude is in mid season form. Can he get 15 by the World Cup break? - Buzz
2
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Osaze Urhoghide#3 | D | FCD
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 3
The other key piece holding things together. - Dan
3
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Logan Farrington#23 | F | FCD
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 3
Feels like a breakout season is coming. I predicted 10 and 10. - Buzz
4
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Michael Collodi#30 | GK | FCD
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 6
A rough couple of minutes in the opener, but he's still Matt Doyle's GKotY pick! - Dan
5
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Christian Cappis#12 | M | FCD
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 5
Quietly, he's FCD's best midfielder. He's not a playmaker but he's driving the bus. - Buzz
6
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Ramiro#17 | M | FCD
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 9
O capitão. A calming influence in the opening game. - Dan
7
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Shaq Moore#18 | D | FCD
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 7
The other Captain. For now he's a CB, but he may end up having to play all over. - Buzz
8
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Joaquín Valiente#21 | M | FCD
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 8
It wasn't the DP 10 we all expected, but FC Dallas has given some hype to their new TAM signing. - Dan
9
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Herman Johansson#14 | D | FCD
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 10
Good start with a complete game. But is looks like he can do much more. - Buzz
10
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Kaick#55 | M | FCD
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 10
Going into the offseason, Kaick's minutes thought they might reduce but he's transitioned to more of an 8 role. - Dan
11
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Bernard Kamungo#77 | D | FCD
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 13
He's getting the starts but his defense is a mess. How long can he hold off Ricky Louis? - Buzz
In the Mix
12
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Sebastien Ibeagha#25 | D | FCD
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 12
Trusted, but a placeholder for now? - Dan
13
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Anderson Julio#11 | F | FCD
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 23
Julio provides a legit late game threat over the top. - Buzz
14
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Ran Binyamin#6 | M | FCD
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 16
Only the remaining six minutes of added time, but two tackles, two aerials won, and a few sprints that showed off that engine. - Dan
15
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Ricky Louis#15 | M | FCD
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 17
Louis showed well in winter camp, but so did Enzo Newman last year. Is Louis the 2nd choice LWB? How long before he's 1st? - Buzz
16
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Patrickson Delgado#8 | M | FCD
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 16
Lost out with the ten-less shape, but Patrickson was able to bring some stability into the midfield late in the NYRB game. - Dan
17
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Nolan Norris#32 | D | FCD
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 17
Norris finished '25 on a high, but hasn't beaten Ibby for the starting spot in '26. So we wait. - Buzz
18
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Deedson#7 | M | FCD
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 18
The World Cup hype is real with a CBS interview earlier in the week. Deedson looked solid at RWB (shooting aside). - Dan
19
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Sam Sarver#28 | M | FCD
HIGH: 18 | LOW: 19
Are there many minutes for him when he's 3rd or 4th striker in a wingless team? - Buzz
20
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Lalas Abubakar#5 | D | FCD
HIGH: 20 | LOW: 20
Lalas is a solid depth option at this point. - Dan
Development Team
21
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Jonathan Sirois#40 | GK | FCD
HIGH: 21 | LOW: 22
He's carrying a knock, but has his visa. - Buzz
22
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Álvaro#22 | D | FCD
HIGH: 22 | LOW: 28
With a shortage of international roster spots, Alvaro is calling NTSC home for now. - Dan
23
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Caleb Swann#27 | M | FCD
HIGH: 19 | LOW: 23
Over the winter, Swann seemingly pulled ahead of Diego Garcia at the 8. But Binyamin probably takes his FCD minutes. - Buzz
24
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Josh Torquato#24 | D | FCD
HIGH: 24 | LOW: 29
Torquato has seen Ricky Louis come in ahead of him in the depth chart. - Dan
25
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Nick Simmonds#16 | F | FCD
HIGH: 21 | LOW: 25
Simmonds has a lot of tools to like, but he's buried deep at striker. Lots of NTSC time to start the season it seems. - Buzz
26
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Tsiki Ntsabeleng#16 | M | FCD
HIGH: 26 | LOW: 38
Started 3 of last 6 but can't get near the Sundowns' Champions League roster. - Dan
27
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Enes Sali#99 | M | FC Dallas
HIGH: 27 | LOW: 41
At least he's playing. Seven games with 4 starts since his loan. - Buzz
28
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Slade Starnes#26 | D | FCD
HIGH: 24 | LOW: 28
Starnes is coming back from a groin injury through pre-season. - Dan
29
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Brooks Thompson#31 | GK | FCD
HIGH: 29 | LOW: 30
The surprise 3rd keeper on loan through June. - Buzz
30
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Diego García#50 | M | FCD
HIGH: 27 | LOW: 30
Garcia has lost minutes to Swann in preseason, and further dropped down with Binyamin's arrival. - Dan
31
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Natty James#11 | F | NTSC
HIGH: 26 | LOW: 31
There's some hype here, but no chance to see him yet. - Buzz
In Reserve
32
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Nico Montoya#57 | GK | NTSC
HIGH: 32 | LOW: 40
Nico got plenty of training time with the first team in preseason. He's not played much in preseason as a result but should be NTSC #1 going into the season. - Dan
33
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Edu Nys#10 | M | NTSC
HIGH: 25 | LOW: 33
The playmaker had an unusual path and is showing at NTSC already. - Buzz
34
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Umberto Pelà#6 | M | NTSC
HIGH: 34 | LOW: 45
A scout not tied to FC Dallas told me that Pela was the best 8 in NCAA soccer last season. - Dan
35
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Geovane Jesus#2 | D | FCD
HIGH: 35 | LOW: 47
Out TBD. Had some kind of setback in Portugal. But is at least in training to some extent. - Buzz
36
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Samuel Sedeh#23 | F | NTSC
HIGH: 35 | LOW: 36
The 16-year-old is walking into his first full season with NTSC. Likely to be behind Natty James and Nick Simmonds. - Dan
37
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Jaidyn Contreras#20 | M | FCD
HIGH: 31 | LOW: 37
In a wingless system, getting run outs at RWB. Which I actually think is a good idea. - Buzz
38
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Enzo Newman#29 | D | FCD
HIGH: 36 | LOW: 38
Newman has been a big presence returning from injury, let's see how it translates to playing time. - Dan
39
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Eryk Dymora#13 | GK | NTSC
HIGH: 39 | LOW: 39
The oldest NTSC keeper. Can he win the spot? - Buzz
40
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Daniel Baran#36 | F | FCD
HIGH: 40 | LOW: 44
An out-and-out winger in a wingless system. Where does he fit in? - Dan
41
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Jonah Biggar#12 | D | NTSC
HIGH: 32 | LOW: 41
The newest NTSC signing, a lefty CB with some size.- Buzz
42
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Favour Aroyameh#8 | M | NTSC
HIGH: 42 | LOW: 42
Feeling like a bit of a spare part right now. Especially if Pela does translate to the 6. - Dan
43
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Ian Charles#4 | D | NTSC
HIGH: 43 | LOW: 46
Out TBD. Hopefully not to much longer. Probably a RCB in this system. - Buzz
44
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Malachi Molina#35 | D | FCD
HIGH: 34 | LOW: 44
One of the more unusual loans. Loaned to Nashville, who in turn loaned him to their MLS NEXT Pro side Huntsville City. - Dan
45
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Zach Molomo#17 | D | NTSC
HIGH: 45 | LOW: 48
I think the kid has a lot of potential, but the Biggar signing hurts his minutes. - Buzz
46
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Marlon Luccin#19 | M | NTSC
HIGH: 43 | LOW: 46
We haven't seen a lot of the new Atletico Dallas coach's son. - Dan
47
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Thomas Burchfield#31 | GK | NTSC
HIGH: 47 | LOW: 50
He's basically just a paid Academy player at 17. The 4th NTSC keeper on paper. - Buzz
48
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Isaiah Kaakoush#46 | D | NTSC
HIGH: 48 | LOW: 51
An ACL tear back in August keeps Koush on the sidelines. - Dan
49
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Kaka Scabin#34 | D | FCD
HIGH: 49 | LOW: 52
We just learned on Thursday that he's done a knee again and is out for the season. - Buzz
50
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Timothy Ospina#18 | D | NTSC
HIGH: 33 | LOW: 50
Comments and Thoughts
Well, it should come as no surprise that Petar Musa leads the way with all the World Cup hype and an opening day brace that made him a starter on the MLS Team of the Matchday.
With no movement to talk about yet, let’s see how quickly things change in two teams that are looking to settle into the new season. Injuries always play their part, so the immediate futures of Geovane Jesus and Enzo Newman could see a big rise or fall depending on whether either has good news.
How do we know that Ricky Louis can play any better defense? Especially at the MLS level? A couple goals and assists against low level European teams is nice, but we saw Dante Sealy do the same thing 2 seasons ago.
We don’t for sure. But the small sample size we’ve seen him this spring he looks pretty good.