9/9 - Matchday 24

Chicago Fire FC forward Maren Haile-Selassie

Maren Haile-Selassie is playing the best ball of his Chicago Fire career. With all of Chicago's attacking talent, the Swiss forward can easily get overlooked. Phillip Zinckernagel, runner up for MLS Newcomer of the Year last season. Robert Lewandowski, need I say more? Jonathan Bamba, another highly touted DP winger. Puso Diethejane, electrifying U22 winger who announced himself with a brilliant Leagues Cup campagin. Robin Lod, 2024 MLS All Star. Yet the longest tenured Fire attacker continues to find himself in the starting lineup. And he's making the most of his opportunities.

After his brace against Toronto, no player on Chicago's current roster has tallied more times in MLS play than the Swiss. With 7 goals and 5 assists, Haile-Selassie is enjoying his most productive season yet for the Fire. He's started 17 league matches now, up from just 6 last year, and he's found the back of the net in his last 3 starts. His versatility has powered his impressive run of form. Haile-Selassie has been deployed as a striker, winger, and wingback this season, and he's been effective in all these roles. His work rate and understanding of the game enable him to succeed in any attacking position with any attacker for the Fire. His intelligent runs off the ball afford his teammates time and space, and with his ability to find the danger areas, he receives the ball in great positions. Haile-Selassie also provides a stout defensive presence, filling the void left by Hugo Cuypers' departure. Whether as a winger or a forward, Maren Haile-Selassie will continue to make a difference for Chicago Fire.

New York City FC forward Agustín Ojeda

Agustín Ojeda was brought in by New York City FC before the 2024 MLS season with several other young attackers. In his first season, he struggled to prove that he should be an everyday starter for the club. Following the arrival of head coach Pascal Jansen in 2025, Ojeda enjoyed a breakout year. While his numbers, 1 goal and 6 assists across all competitions for the club, are hardly overwhelming, he became a reliable winger that the Pigeons desperately needed to complement their attack. It's not just his pace that makes him dangerous, but his intelligence and the timing of his runs.

This season, Ojeda has continued to be a reliable threat on the right flank while also significantly improving in his production. To this point in the season, Ojeda has 6 goals and 8 assists in just 28 games. All of this comes in the absence of striker Alonso Martínez. Without a true number 9 in the team, Nicolás Fernández Mercau was forced to deputize up top for the Pigeons at the start of the season. While he was magnificent, and even worked his way into the MVP conversation, Ojeda's running has been a big part of New York City's success. His verticality was crucial to NYCFC's good start to the season, as injuries forced NYCFC to put out makeshift lineups and Ojeda had to step up.

Since Leagues Cup, NYCFC has struggled, picking up just 3 points in their last 5 games. However, Ojeda has consistently put in a good shift. With the addition of Luighi, a mobile striker, up top, has been able combine to more with Fernández Mercau. Ojeda's work rate is also very important: he tracks back to close down opposing fullbacks while also dropping deep to support his teammates in the build-up phase when he isn't threatening in behind. With the transfer window and players coming back from injury, Jansen will have more options to shuffle up the lineup, but Ojeda will continue to lock down the right wing position.