Editor’s Picks: Hudson River Blue’s Best Stories of 2025
Happy New Year! Here are 18 of our favorite articles from this past year as selected by the editorial staff at Hudson River Blue.
How We Voted
Lionel Messi caps MVP season with one more Player of the Matchday performance
Lionel Messi saved his best performances of the season for Decision Day as he took over in Nashville and earned Player of the Matchday for a sixth time...
Joseph Paintsil’s first MLS hat trick a rare bright spot in rough LA Galaxy season
The Ghanaian forward earned MLS Player of the Matchday honors, while New York City FC had Thiago Martins and coach Pascal Jansen place in the latest Team of...
Denis Bouanga hat trick bests Lionel Messi brace in MLS Player of the Matchday race
Plus: NYCFC's Pascal Jansen gets named Coach of the Matchday, while Alonso Martínez and Matt Freese earn spots in Team of the Matchday.
Thomas Müller announces MLS arrival with hat trick, assist in 7-0 win
The German star became the first player in MLS history to net a hat trick on his birthday, with Müller's contributions helping Vancouver dismantle the Philadelphia Union.
Anders Dreyer strengthens MVP case with latest match-winning performance
The San Diego FC star strengthened the expansion side's place at the top of the Western Conference by assisting and scoring to beat LAFC on the road. Plus:...
Hany Mukhtar renaissance continues in Nashville blowout of Orlando
The former MLS MVP's two goals and one assist paced Nashville SC to a big win over Orlando City SC. Plus: Aiden O'Neill, Pascal Jansen, Alonso Martínez rep...
Three Rafael Navarro goal contributions carry Colorado, earn him Player of the Matchday
The Rapids forward had two goals and one assist to almost single-handedly beat Atlanta United and earn Colorado a big win as they fight for a playoff spot...
Luis Muriel helps Orlando crush Inter Miami with brace, assist
A performance well worthy of MLS Player of the Matchday from the striker who led the way in Orlando's 4-1 intrastate derby win over Inter Miami.
Hat trick heroics earn Alonso Martínez MLS Player of the Matchday
Alonso Martínez becomes the first NYCFC player to win MLS Player of the Matchday since the last time he won it back in September 2024. Plus: Maxi Moralez...
Lionel Messi runs rampant against Red Bulls in latest Player of the Matchday performance
Lionel Messi wins MLS Player of the Matchday for a fifth time this season for his huge performance at Sports Illustrated Stadium in a 5-1 away blowout.
Albert Rusnák bangers not enough for either Player of the Matchday, a Seattle win
The Seattle Sounders playmaker scored twice and assisted once in a 3-3 draw, earning our vote for PotM. Plus: Matt Freese of NYCFC starts in the MLS Team...
All Lionel Messi does is score braces and win Player of the Matchday
Lionel Messi made the most of a two-match week by posting his fourth and fifth consecutive two-goal games in MLS play, earning yet another Player of the Matchday...
Late road magic from Ezequiel Ponce helps Houston snap San Diego winning streak
Why this MLS Player of the Matchday vote went to Houston Dynamo FC's Argentine No 10, not Lionel Messi, who won the actual award. Plus: Two NYCFC players...
Evander carries FC Cincinnati to another impressive away win
This round of MLS Player of the Matchday voting felt like a referendum on the developing debate over who should win the MLS MVP award this season.
Milan Iloski scores four to carry San Diego to top of Western Conference
Four goals scored in 12 minutes by San Diego's Iloski in his first MLS start earned him our vote for Player of the Matchday.