Anders Dreyer keeps delivering, and his MVP case keeps growing
Credit: Cedric Jones/ EVT Sports
Anders Dreyer has quickly established himself as one of the best players in Major League Soccer.
When San Diego FC took the field for the first time, Dreyer scored the first two goals in club history against the reigning champions, LA Galaxy. Since then, he has continued to produce.
The Danish forward leads the league in goal contributions, surpassing Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi, who has a combined 16 goals and assists this season. Dreyer is among the top goal-scorers with eight goals and has recorded the most assists in the league with nine, showcasing his versatility in the attacking third through 18 games.
SDFC has 33 goals on the season, and Dreyer has been involved in more than half of them. He is in excellent form and shows no signs of slowing down as the regular season progresses.
His selfless play has been a big reason for the new club’s success. San Diego just reached the double-digit win mark, with three draws and five losses, and is currently in second place in the competitive Western Conference with 33 points.
Anders Dreyer is firmly in the MVP discussions. His play this past Saturday against Minnesota United FC further solidified his case, scoring a brace and adding another assist.
After San Diego conceded an own goal early in the game, Dreyer noticed that goalkeeper Wessel Speel was out of position, and without hesitation, he took a shot from midfield that found the back of the net. The golazo was from 53.52 yards away and is without a doubt a top contender for Goal of the Year.
ANDERS DREYER! 🤯
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/8Fn6TMVX06 pic.twitter.com/imNu00s861
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 15, 2025
That was one of the three goals he contributed towards against a talented Minnesota squad. SDFC was awarded a penalty kick due to a handball, and Dreyer confidently approached the spot. He took a left-footed shot that went just below the goalkeeper’s attempted save and rolled into the net, once again tying the game.
Nine minutes later, Dreyer delivered a beautiful cross from the right wing into the box, connecting with a running Milan Iloski, who headed the ball into the net for the game-winning score—yet another exceptional performance from the former R.S.C. Anderlecht star.
Anders has quickly become a fan favorite in San Diego with his exciting play.
Last month, he scored in three consecutive games. In the first minute of stoppage time against Real Salt Lake, Dreyer netted the game-winning goal by hustling into the box and shooting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs, securing three points for his team.
In San Diego’s 5-0 onslaught against FC Dallas at home, he had three goal contributions with a goal and two assists. Dreyer added second-half insurance goals against St. Louis CITY SC and Colorado Rapids.
Even outside of the MLS, he cannot be stopped. Anders assisted his fellow Danish teammate and scored the final goal in their international friendly victory over Lithuania.
Not only has Dreyer been a catalyst for Chrome and Azul, but he’s also been the squad’s most reliable player. Throughout much of this season, San Diego’s offense has been missing two of its initial starting forwards, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Marcus Ingvartsen, due to injuries.
Lozano, the first designated player in club history, has suffered two hamstring injuries that have sidelined him for four matches. Ingvartsen returned to play in late May after missing 11 weeks due to a lower-body injury. Dreyer has registered 1,584 minutes, the third most on the squad behind defender Christopher McVey and goalkeeper CJ dos Santos.
Halfway through the season, Dreyer has made a compelling case for MVP. His numbers speak for themselves, but his mark on the new club has been undeniable.
SDFC has exceeded expectations in their inaugural season, and if Anders continues to perform at such an elite level, they will be a team to watch as the postseason approaches.
