May 10, 2025. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC are in the home of the Loons for the first time ever, and the Black and Blue are up by one. In first-half stoppage time, a motivated wingback decides it’s time to double the lead: Michael Boxall hurls a long throw into the box, where Nicolás Romero heads it back and Anthony Markanich is waiting to slam it into the net at the far post.
May 21, 2025. After shutting out St. Louis CITY SC only days before in regular-season play, the clubs are facing off again in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. In the 84th minute, the Loons are down 1-2. Markanich grabs a long pass and makes a huge run up the left flank, sending the ball into the far corner to tie it up against the very club that sold him to Minnesota United in the first place. Not three minutes later, Joaquín Pereyra’s corner rockets into the box, and Markanich puts it away to knock St. Louis out of the Open Cup.
November 8, 2025. Game three of the Loons’ Round One playoff series against Seattle. 2-2 in the 71st minute. Pereyra corner. Ball in the box. Markanich scores.
Getting the picture yet? Markanich has been on a goal-scoring tear since the 2025 season, when he set a club defensive scoring record with 13 goals across all competitions for the Black and Blue. The wingback has not only an established defensive presence, but also the dynamic positioning of a striker. His attacking instinct has helped him become the club’s second-leading goal scorer again in the 2026 season, only behind forward Kelvin Yeboah. He strikes fear into the hearts of any opponent faced with a Minnesota set piece, then doubles down and proves he can do it run of play too.
And he just won’t stop.
The Scoring Secret
In Markanich’s time with St. Louis CITY, he logged just one goal. Since joining Minnesota United in 2024, he’s increased that tally exponentially. In 2025 alone, he scored nine goals in regular-season play, one in the postseason, one in Leagues Cup, and two in Open Cup, effectively shattering Ike Opara’s 2019 club record for most goals by a defender in a single season. It doesn’t matter who’s across the pitch, apparently — Anthony Markanich will find a way.
He attributes the shift in his attacking performance to the environment the team creates, allowing him to take risks and branch out of standard defensive play into an attacking role.
“When I came in, my teammates and coaches, they gave me a lot of confidence to really just be myself,” he said. “They know my instincts are good on set pieces, so they just let me roam free and get to the ball.”
When awaiting service, he likes to start far and then attack, rather than starting closer to goal and having to sprint back if the ball goes long. As far as positioning in the box goes, he gravitates toward the far post on set pieces in order to get a better visual on the full play.
But once the ball is in the air, he lets his instincts take over. If the situation calls for a header, he’s there. If it calls for a dive to finish the rebound, he’s there. If it calls for a crazy left-footed kick in the split-second a defender leaves him unmarked, he’s there.
Markanich’s resolution this year (aside from continuing to find the back of the net, obviously) is to increase his assist tally. So far, he’s logged four goals and two assists.
“I just let my game play how it is,” he said. “And I think it's gonna improve.”
A Busy Break
The league’s break for the World Cup was a whirlwind for Markanich. He got married to his longtime girlfriend, and not long after, an email popped up in his inbox from MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
“I almost deleted it because I thought it was spam,” Markanich admitted. “I was like, I never get an email from Don. What is this about?”
Fortunately, Markanich gave the email a chance, and it informed him that he had been selected as one of the First XI for the 2026 MLS All-Star game. The left back joins the likes of Lionel Messi, Son Heung-Min, Tim Ream, and Sebastian Berhalter as some of the league’s most prolific players.
“It’s one of the best breaks I've had. Getting married and then finding out I'm an All-Star, too?” he said. “Cherry on top.”
The early media vote had put Markanich in the top five potential left backs, so the announcement hadn’t come entirely out of left field, but the decision still sparked a full-on celebration. Markanich’s call with his family was full of cheering and screaming.
Ant is excited to meet everyone on the All-Star team, but of course, he’s got an eye on Messi.
“I think that’ll be a great opportunity just to be with him in the locker room, see what he does day in and day out,” he said.
The team is back in market ahead of their return to MLS play on July 22, which takes place just a week before the All-Star Game. The additional match is just another thing piled onto a very busy second half of the season, but Markanich is revved up and ready to go.
“This past week the guys have been training really hard, and I think there's a new level of intensity that we're bringing right now,” he said. “So I’m excited.”
When All-Star Anthony Markanich takes to the pitch on July 29 in Charlotte, North Carolina, keep an eye out. His combination of steadfast defense and unexpected attacking acumen makes him quite the player to watch, and on a stage with the rest of the league’s finest, the bar is only getting higher.
