Cristian Roldan has always been an integral part to the Sounders midfield since joining the club in 2015. But, his influence in 2025 has been unmatched.
On Wednesday, Roldan was one of three midfielders to be selected for Major League Soccer’s Best XI for 2025. This marks Roldan’s first time being chosen for the annual league-wide award.
“This is a huge honor for me,” said Roldan. “I thank [the] guys for just being such great teammates to me and making me feel so comfortable. And obviously, I'm emotional. This is crazy.”
The midfielder has rightfully earned his place in amongst the best players in MLS, including Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
Toward the end of the 2024 season, the coaching staff moved Roldan into a defensive midfield role following a couple of seasons spent out on the wing. Despite Schmetzer enjoying his placement on the outside, he said Roldan has utilized the new positioning “as a learning tool to get better, even at his age.”
Fast forward to today, Roldan is a two-way force to be reckoned within the team’s double pivot alongside rising star Obed Vargas.
Defensively, the California native won 215 duels, collected 40 interceptions, tallied a total of 83 tackles, and made 191 recoveries so far in 2025. In the attack, Roldan created 36 chances for the Rave Green, racked up a pass completion rate of 88.6%, and contributed to nine assists and a goal.
“Credit to [his] hard work, dedication, [his] teammates, a lot of different things, but that is an excellent, excellent achievement,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “We're all very proud of [him].”
The long-time Sounder has been consistent all season, but it wasn’t until the FIFA Club World Cup where he proved his talents against the best-of-the-best. In addition to his ability to control the midfield, Roldan tallied the Sounders’ lone goal in their match against Brazilian powerhouse Botafogo. And for spells in each of the three games against giants like Atlético Madrid and PSG, he was among the top performers on the pitch.
Since then, the midfielder has earned two call-ups from the USMNT, where he’s made the most of his opportunities on the pitch. In their most recent friendly against Australia, Roldan led the team to a 2-1 victory with his two assists.
“He's getting his due recognition,” said Schmetzer. “With Cristian, I think it's been a breakout season in some respects. [He’s] put the work in, and we're all seeing the fruits of the labor.”
It is safe to say 2025 has been a special year for Roldan, and it is far from finished. As the Sounders navigate MLS Cup Playoffs, the team will need the support from the veteran player to guide them to a third league title.
“I didn't think that I'd have a year like this, but I'm just thankful to be able to do it with the group of guys that [I] share the field with,” said Roldan. “And hopefully, we can finish off the year in the right way.”
