The 2026 MLS regular season comes to a close Saturday. So much has happened in the 259 days since the campaign began -- there was a whole FIFA World Cup in the middle of the year, remember that? -- and that unpredictability has delivered some unexpected candidates for the league's year-end awards.

Back in February, who among us thought that then-16-year-old Cavan Sullivan would play at an MVP level? Who knew that Antoine Griezmann would hit the ground running upon his long-awaited arrival in North America? Who knew that former United States interim manager B.J. Callaghan would lead Nashville SC to the Supporters' Shield?

Although, there is always one constant you can count on: Lionel Messi playing at a level that no one has ever seen before in MLS.

So, on the eve of the season's final matchday, ESPN asked its writers: Who are you picking for this year's awards? Jeff Carlisle, Cesar Hernandez and Lizzy Becherano make their selections for coach of the year, young player of the year, newcomer of the year and Landon Donovan MVP.

Coach of the year

B.J. Callaghan, Nashville SC: This category is probably the toughest to pick. The midseason turnaround put in by the Philadelphia Union's interim manager Ryan Richter has been stunning. St. Louis City's Yoann Damet has accelerated the club's turnaround, with a 19-game unbeaten streak, and a U.S. Open Cup title, although they've faded of late.

Bruce Arena has gotten the San Jose Earthquakes back to the playoffs in his second season, no small feat given the club's usual level of ineptitude. The excellent season put in by FC Dallas' Eric Quill has flown under the radar. And then there's Callaghan, who now has a major trophy on his résumé with this year's Supporters' Shield triumph.

This probably comes down to a two-man race between Richter and Callaghan. My nod goes to Callaghan given Nashville is on the cusp of a record-setting points haul this season. -- Carlisle

Marko Mitrovic, New England Revolution: Expectations were modest, at best, for the Revs as they headed into 2026 under Mitrovic. Following a 2025 season that saw them once again miss out on the playoffs thanks to their 11th-place finish in the Eastern Conference, this year was anticipated to be more of a rebuild than anything else.

Instead, what followed was plenty of defensive solidity that propelled them up to their fourth place in the Supporters' Shield standings. In attacking support, Mitrovic has also gotten the best out of Carles Gil, who leads the team in goal contributions with 25. After a few years coaching within the U.S. youth international structure, Mitrovic is now thriving at the senior level. -- Hernandez

B.J. Callaghan, Nashville SC: Callaghan undoubtedly deserves this trophy for the incredible work he's done with Nashville. The team lifted the Supporters' Shield and tied Miami's MLS regular-season points record with one game left in the campaign. He's elevated the club since joining in 2024, taking a good roster to a trophy-winning club.

"B.J. is an excellent coach, very talented coach," said Hany Mukhtar. "What impresses me most is that he's always willing to improve -- constantly willing to improve the team, constantly willing to adjust and make players better and better and better. And that is, I think, the culture at this club." -- Becherano

Young player of the year

Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union: I would be shocked if my colleagues selected anybody else. Once only on the radar of American soccer nerds, Sullivan has rapidly transitioned from teenage prospect to a genuine elite MLS player in 2026.

What's especially exciting about the 17-year-old is that he's not only shining on the stats sheet with his goals and playmaking, but also showing off a compelling level of tenacity and fight for a player who is still technically a kid. He's a joy to watch, and it's only a matter of time before the rest of the world learns about the creative yet daring attack-minded player and future U.S. men's national team star. -- Hernandez

Julian Hall, Red Bull New York: This is a tough award to give with so much rising talent between Sullivan, Hall and Justin Ellis, but I have the Red Bull New York striker just narrowly edging out the others. He's developed steadily over the years, really breaking out this season under head coach Michael Bradley.

Hall has 13 goals and five assists in 31 games, becoming an integral part of the Red Bull roster. Hall also became the youngest player in MLS history to record a hat trick, doing so at 18 years and 50 days. He has so much potential to tap into yet, but he's already showing signs of stardom. -- Becherano

Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union: The amount of attention attached to Sullivan's arrival in MLS as a 14-year-old would have sunk just about any player in the league at the same age. Two years on, he's grown to the point that he's begun exceeding the hype.

His six goals and ten assists in league play since the World Cup break have played a huge part in the Union's second-half revival, in which they rose from rock bottom of the league-wide standings to clinching a playoff spot. The only question heading into Decision Day is which team Philadelphia will play in the postseason. Even better, Sullivan has done it with a style that has generated a tidal wave of excitement over just how much he'll grow in the coming years. -- Carlisle

Newcomer of the year

Antoine Griezmann, Orlando City SC: Many questioned what version of Griezmann would arrive in Orlando after years of wanting to play in the U.S., but he quickly proved that he came to MLS to compete. Although he signed in March, he didn't join the team until July following the end of the LaLiga season. It took him little time to adjust, scoring just 48 minutes into his debut.

Since then, Griezmann has gone on to record 14 goals and eight assists in just 17 games. His contributions propelled Orlando from 12th place, sitting outside the playoffs upon his arrival, to clinching a place in the 2026 postseason. -- Becherano

Antoine Griezmann, Orlando City SC: This award looks to be a two-horse race. Do you go with the season-long excellence of the Houston Dynamo's Guilherme, and his 16 goals and 10 assists? Or do you opt for the second-half supernova that was Griezmann, with his 14 goals and eight assists?

Both players have vastly outperformed their xG+xA, with Guilherme by almost 13 goal contributions while Griezmann has nine more than expected, but it's hard to look past the fact that the France World Cup winner's numbers have come in about 1,000 fewer minutes. Orlando has also resurrected its playoff chances with Griezmann in the lineup, clinching a spot on Sunday. Those last two factors mean that Griezmann just edges out Guilherme for the award. -- Carlisle

Guilherme, Houston Dynamo: Some players need weeks, if not months, to adjust to MLS. Guilherme needed 66 minutes. Scoring in the second half of his debut match for Houston in February, the Brazilian then doubled the mark with a game winner that cemented a brace in his first-ever MLS game -- which foreshadowed what would eventually follow.

Since then, the 31-year-old has continued to be highly efficient with 16 goals and 10 assists across his 30 appearances. Although things have slowed down for a Houston side that have just one win in their past nine, they could still become dark horses in the playoffs if they have a healthy and fit Guilherme in the XI. -- Hernandez

Landon Donovan MVP

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami: Is there really any other choice? Numbers-wise, the Argentina World Cup winner has practically lapped the field with 26 goals and 16 assists, and Miami has done well enough as a team to make Messi's contributions vital.

To be clear, other players had outstanding seasons. There remains a chance that the best player on the best team, that being Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar, will get some votes, but his 17 goals and eight assists don't stack up to Messi. Neither do the 14 goals and 17 assists that Evander put up for an inconsistent FC Cincinnati side. Had Griezmann been with the club for a whole season, he might have threatened Messi for MVP supremacy. But as it stands, Messi is the clear choice. -- Carlisle

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami: Surprise, surprise. Sure, there are plenty who will justifiably wonder if this is simply just a popularity vote when he once again wins this award, but the numbers don't lie.

Messi leads the league in goals, goal contributions and xA. Diving into American Soccer Analysis' Goals Added metric, which "measures a player's total on-ball contribution in attack and defense," the Argentine superstar is head and shoulders above every other player in MLS with a tally of 14.06. For reference, at second place is San Jose Earthquakes forward Preston Judd, with a tally of 4.37. No matter the fact that he'll turn 40 next year, Messi continues to be the most dominant figure in MLS. -- Hernandez

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami: For a third consecutive season, Messi deserves the MVP award. He's recorded 26 goals and 16 assists in 30 games, carrying Inter Miami to second in the Eastern Conference, the Campeones Cup win over Cruz Azul and yet another Concacaf Champions Cup qualification.

Beyond the goals and assists, Messi's vision and IQ transform Inter Miami. The Herons struggled with consistency this season, playing under three coaches in the span of one campaign, but despite the constant chopping and changing, Messi remained the only positive constant. MLS may just have to change the name of the award given that Landon Donovan only won it twice. -- Becherano