#3 Yeimar Gómez Andrade – 2025 Overall Rating: 6.42 in 36 appearances
Community Rating: 6.13
MLS Regular Season: 6.21 in 24 appearances
MLS Playoffs: 6.00 in 3 appearances
Concacaf Champions Cup 6.00 in 4 appearances
Leagues Cup: 8.00 in 5 appearances
MOTM = 3 | High = 9 | Low = 4
I was surprised to see Yeimar as the highest rated player on the backline, because Jackson Ragen had such an incredible second half. But looking back, Yeimar has had consistently strong performances, and consistently high ratings, in each of his past six years with the Sounders. While his early 2025 performances looked like a dip in form, later in the year he improved significantly, and by the end of the season his appearance numbers and ratings were firmly in line with expectations.
How it started: Yeimar started out poorly, and his worst match of the season was his first. There was no sugarcoating his performance against Antigua:
Yeimar was bad. He wasn’t just poor positionally or tactically in the Sounders defense, he was actively bad in distribution. It was like he was trying to pass to the other team. When he inexplicably lunged and was beaten on the 24th minute throw-in, there was not enough coverage behind him and Antigua scored. Even worse were the awful passes, with turnovers in the 34th, 43rd, 48th, and a terrible touch that put an Antigua attacker directly in on goal in the 65th … this was a night to forget by Yeimar.
From there he started to improve, fitting back into the team and minimizing those distribution errors he can be prone to. As he improved, we saw the expected high level of play from Yeimar, even as those around him continued to struggle. He unfortunately got injured and missed the Club World Cup, where he was sorely needed for his athleticism and aerial presence, two areas where the team was exposed by the impressive opponents that came to Seattle.
How it ended: Yeimar was back with a vengeance in July, after missing nine matches. An impressive match against Colorado on his return was followed by some warm up games, and then came the Leagues Cup. In this competition, Yeimar’s cumulative rating was nearly a point higher than any other Sounder: a phenomenal “8” average over five matches. This included a “9” against Cruz Azul where he paired lockdown defense with the key first goal of the match, opening the floodgates for a Sounders romp. He had well above average play in his other appearances, as the defense conceded only two goals in this tournament. Yeimar averaged 6.6 after returning from his midyear injury, and although he missed another multi-match stretch late in the regular season, he was a consistent strong performer for Seattle when healthy.
Where do we go from here? That “when healthy” part will be a talking point. Yeimar is 33, and there should be planning for the inevitable dropoff coming down the road. There’s no sign yet of a downswing, however in 2025 he had more variability in his ratings scores than prior years. The eye test also showed a number of issues and errors that can be attributed to a gradual slowing down. The coaches must plan to give Yeimar occasional rest, and the team’s depth should support that. Clearly capable of high performance, and still one of the top defenders in MLS, the visible signs of aging should be monitored. However, at the end of the day Yeimar was the third-highest rated player in 2025. His speed, size, decision making, defensive anticipation, aerial dominance, and most of the time his passing, are phenomenal defensive assets.
Realio
Realio
Realio
Realio
Realio
Realio
#2 Albert Rusnák – 2025 Overall Rating: 6.66 in 41 appearances
Community Rating: 6.43
MLS Regular Season: 6.59 in 29 appearances
MLS Playoffs: 7.00 in 3 appearances
Concacaf Champions Cup 6.67 in 3 appearances
Club World Cup 7.00 in 3 appearances
Leagues Cup: 6.67 in 3 appearances
MOTM = 7 | High = 8 | Low = 5
Another year, another massive cumulative rating for Albert Rusnák, who may not be flashy but is damn effective. With seven MOTM awards, Albert tied for most on the team. Once again, he was an incredibly productive DP for Seattle. Resilient, featuring in 41 matches, he had a high floor, rarely scoring low and consistently well above average. This was because he can combine with anyone around him, creating big chances for them and adding his own direct-on goal-opportunities that he finished all year. The biggest factor that Rusnák brought to matches was his control, projecting calmness and ownership. Seattle used this in a productive fashion, creating offense and finding success in myriad ways, with Rusnák’s fingerprints on almost all of them.
How it started: Over the Sounders’ first 10 matches of the year, Albert averaged “7” and earned two of his MOTM designations. Although the two teams tied, he had a standout performance against San Jose:
With Seattle making moves in the second half, Rusnák was dialing up key passes everywhere, whether it was putting Rothrock in direct in the 48th minute or finding link-up plays with Jesús and the Moose. When isolated on the far side in the 80th minute, he used his underrated dribbling ability to create space around a defender and smashed an unsaveable shot into side netting.
At this point in the season, he was top ten in the league in G+A, scoring two and had the second-most key passes in MLS. He was able to unlock teammates in great scoring positions, and to dial up his own quality finishing. When Seattle played against some outstanding teams in the Club World Cup, he stood out:
Albert Rusnák was not only able to hang with Madrid, he was at times the best player on the field. Every bit the dynamic DP playmaker people love to claim he isn’t, he was a constant menace to Atletico. His touch and control were on display, and eventually his skill and pressure earned him and Seattle a goal against a strong opponent. What a moment! This goal was quickly and reflexively taken, bringing Seattle back into the match and believing they could compete. He added two other shots, a key pass, and 92 percent passing, continually driving Seattle into their best attacks.
He did not look remotely out of place in that tournament, showing up as able to compete with those international players.
How it ended: Unfortunately, Rusnák got hurt against Tijuana during the Leagues Cup, and he had to watch Seattle go on an inspired run to the trophy without him. He missed six matches in a row, but returned for the last seven games of the MLS season and playoffs. He was solid, but not quite at the high level he had been playing, until the final match in Minnesota where Albert had four shots, three key passes, a goal, and made his penalty to lead off the shootout. His leadership and composure were critical, and Seattle had a clear identity when he was in the middle and pushing to transition forward.
Where do we go from here? The Sounders didn’t completely fall off a cliff when Rusnák was out, which led to some criticism about him, but it’s hard to argue with his value as a Sounder. He’s resilient, consistent, and a league leader in creation for himself and others. He scores, he can deliver set pieces, and he fits well with just about any combination of players around him. His ability to control matches through possession, skill, and connection is some of the best in the MLS. What he lacks in explosiveness is irrelevant when he can put himself and every teammate around him in the optimal position, every time. With Rusnák holding the reins, the offense could be even better next year than it was in 2025.
