MLS Power Rankings: The Early Chaos After Five Mad Weeks

Picture this: five weeks of MLS madness wrapped up, and now the lads are jetting off for internationals. No side's managed a perfect 5-0-0 start – shocking, right? But Lionel Messi notched his 901st career goal to drag Inter Miami out of a rough patch, while Hugo Lloris etched his name in history with LAFC, grabbing a fifth straight clean sheet to kick off the longest shutout streak in league history. Drawing from SI Soccer's sharp take, here's how the table shakes out post-Matchday 5.

Bottom Feeders to Mid-Pack Scrappers (30-15)

Down at 30, Sporting Kansas City nudged up one from last week, but let's be honest, it's still grim up there. CF Montréal swapped spots with them at 29, while New England Revolution (28) and Atlanta United (27) cling on like stubborn defenders. St. Louis CITY SC climbed to 26, but D.C. United slipped to 25 – ouch.

The mid-table is a proper scrap: Colorado Rapids (24), Austin FC (23), Orlando City (22, down from 18 – yikes), Portland Timbers (21), Toronto FC (20, up three), Minnesota United (steady at 19), Philadelphia Union (down to 18), FC Dallas (up to 17), Columbus Crew (down to 16), LA Galaxy (15), Real Salt Lake (14), New York Red Bulls (down to 13 from 11), and Houston Dynamo (sliding to 12). It's tighter than a playoff shootout here.

The Climbers and Tumblers (11-6)

Chicago Fire (11) edged up, but Charlotte FC storms into 10 (from 12) with a belter. They smashed New York Red Bulls 6-1 – biggest win in club history! Archie Goodwin (that 21-year-old nugget) bagged a brace off the bench, Wilfried Zaha finally got his 2026 tally after weeks of drought (and ref moans), Pep Biel hit four goals and an assist, and Idan Toklomati chipped in. Next up: limp Philadelphia Union. Momentum, baby.

FC Cincinnati hold 9, but what a rollercoaster. Crashed out of Concacaf Champions Cup on away goals to Tigres after a late stoppage-time clanger, then Kévin Denkey heroically nodded a 4-3 winner over Montréal in the dying moments. Boss Pat Noonan shrugged: wins are wins, pretty or not. Red Bulls await post-break.

Seattle Sounders drop to 8 despite a solid 0-0 vs Minnesota's low block. Their Concacaf romp over Vancouver (shoutout Albert Rusnák, Jesús Ferreira, Paul Rothrock) in Spokane was class, but only league points count here. Dynamo next.

New York City FC tumble to 7 after a 3-2 loss to Miami. Nicolás Fernández smashed a free-kick for five goals in five – first Pigeons player ever – but Messi's show stole it. Defence wobbly, and Maxi Moralez (39!) still cooking.

San Jose Earthquakes rocket to 6 (from 8) with a win over Vancouver. Hyped Timo Werner vs Thomas Müller? Bench-warmers. Beau Leroux's wonderstrike and keeper Daniel's calm ruled. Bruce Arena's second year? MLS Cup vibes already?

Top Five Tease: Miami Rising (5-1)

Inter Miami climb to 5 on Messi's arm – more on that below. The source cuts short, but you get the drift: top spots are fluid, with no one's running away yet.

Full rundown: 11. Chicago Fire, 10. Charlotte FC, 9. FC Cincinnati, 8. Seattle Sounders, 7. NYCFC, 6. San Jose Earthquakes, 5. Inter Miami, and the rest as above. LAFC's Lloris streak has them lurking high too, though not specified here.

MLS is bonkers early doors – internationals now, then back for more chaos. Who's your pick to top this lot by summer?