MLS Power Rankings After Matchday 4: Dynamo Surge as Cincy Crumbles and Mukhtar Hits Milestone

Picture this: you've sunk a few pints, and your mate asks how MLS is shaping up after the first month. Well, pull up a stool, because Matchday 4 brought squad rotations galore with the Concacaf Champions Cup stealing the show, plus a couple of historic moments that'll have you raising a glass.

Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar notched the 25,000th goal in MLS history – a proper milestone in the league's 31-year run. Meanwhile, Colombian wizard James Rodríguez made his bow for Vancouver Whitecaps, but it was a nightmare debut in a 6-0 thrashing of his side. Nearly all teams have four games in the bag now, heading into Matchday 5. Here's our take on the power rankings, straight from the chaos.

Big Climbers and Key Performers

Let's start with the lads on the up. Houston Dynamo rocket into 10th (up from 12th), and it's about bloody time someone else scored besides Guilherme. The Brazilian newbie bagged their only goals in the opening three matches, but last week Felipe Andrade, Mateusz Bogusz, and Guilherme all chipped in during a mad late stoppage-time thriller against Portland Timbers.

Bogusz, fresh from Cruz Azul in Liga MX, looked sharp – reminiscent of his Atlanta United glory days. Add a belter from USMNT hopeful Jack McGlynn with his second assist, and Houston's cooking. They'll fancy the Texas Derby vs FC Dallas on Saturday.

Seattle Sounders climb to 7th (from 9th), owing plenty to cult hero Paul Rothrock. The homegrown star's line-breaking runs and cool finishes are gold in Brian Schmetzer's system. His goal – off a clever dummy from Georgi Minoungou – edged San Jose Earthquakes 1-0, while keeper Andrew Thomas pulled off five saves. Bonus: they smashed Vancouver 5-1 aggregate in Champions Cup, but that doesn't count here.

San Jose Earthquakes hold 8th, unlucky not to nab more from their Sounders test. Timo Werner started but couldn't score; still, his link-up with Niko Tsakiris has promise. Bruce Arena's tinkering with Ousseni Bouda on the right and Preston Judd up top aims to unleash the German, but fitness is key.

Tumbles and Tough Weeks

Not everyone's grinning. FC Cincinnati plummet to 9th (down from 7th) after a 6-1 league spanking by New England Revolution – one of their worst ever. Sure, they battered Tigres UANL 3-0 at home in Champions Cup, but blew it with a 5-1 loss in Mexico (5-4 aggregate). Pat Noonan's rotations made sense prioritising the cup, but they've lost their bite. Regroup time vs CF Montréal.

Inter Miami slip to 6th (from 5th) after a goalless draw marred by Javier Mascherano's sending off. Frustrating stuff.

Lower down, Chicago Fire steady at 13th, Columbus Crew unmoved at 14th, but Philadelphia Union drop to 17th, Orlando City to 18th, and Colorado Rapids tumble to 25th.

Full Top 30 Snapshot

For the obsessives, here's the ladder:

30. CF Montréal (up from 27) | 29. Sporting Kansas City (from 30) | 28. St. Louis CITY SC (from 26)

27. New England Revolution (from 29) | 26. Atlanta United (from 28) | 25. Colorado Rapids (from 23)

24. D.C. United (from 25) | 23. Toronto FC (from 24) | 22. Austin FC (from 21)

21. FC Dallas (from 22) | 20. Portland Timbers (from 18) | 19. Minnesota United (from 16)

18. Orlando City (from 20) | 17. Philadelphia Union (from 15) | 16. LA Galaxy (from 17)

15. Real Salt Lake (from 19) | 14. Columbus Crew (from 14) | 13. Chicago Fire (from 13)

12. Charlotte FC (from 11) | 11. New York Red Bulls (from 10)

10. Houston Dynamo 🆙 | 9. FC Cincinnati 📉 | 8. San Jose Earthquakes 🤝 | 7. Seattle Sounders 🆙 | 6. Inter Miami 📉

The top five? We'll spill next week as the pack tightens. MLS is wide open – rotations, cup runs, and breakout stars keeping it spicy. Who's your pick to crack the top five? Fancy a wager over that pint?