According to this weekend’s announcer’s, “no player on planet Earth” scored more goals than “the highest-scoring defender in the world” Anthony Markanich in 2025. I like the sound of that, so we’ll refrain from fact-checking this time. After opening his 2026 account this weekend, Markanich returned to the Team of the Matchday for the first time this season, standing out as one of Matchday 6’s best players.
With key absences and tired legs returning from international duty, the Loons were looking a bit lean ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the LA Galaxy. Both teams came into the match on five points, and both were looking to jumpstart their season. It was the Loons who found the spark they needed, and a superb second-half performance from Mr. Markanich played a huge part in that breakthrough.
After coming out of the locker room, the Black and Blue immediately began trying to take advantage of LA’s high line with some aggressive wingback play, with both Kyle Duncan and Markanich running behind to create chances. It didn’t take long for the strategy to pay dividends, as Joaquín Pereyra did his best quarterback impression to connect with Markanich in the 51st minute, putting the defender in on goal for the low, clean finish past the Galaxy keeper. Not only did this strike open the scoring, it served as a deserved reward for what had been a spirited performance from the Loons up to that point.
After the goal, Markanich continued to offer both an attacking outlet and a solid defensive presence as his side looked to preserve their three points. With his first goal of 2026 now checked off, the race to match his impressive nine league-goal tally from 2025 is officially on. Well done, Anthony, the highest-scoring defender on planet Earth (or so I’ve heard).
TOTM 6:
F: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Wessam Abou Ali (CLB), Son Heung-Min (LAFC)
M: Luca Langoni (NE), Niko Tsakiris (SJ), Sebastian Berhalter (VAN), Zavier Gozo (RSL)
D: Anthony Markanich (MIN), Mamadou Fofana (NE), Osaze Urhoghide (DAL)
GK: Chris Brady (CHI)
Coach: Marc Dos Santos (LAFC)
Bench: Hugo Lloris (LAFC), Juan Mosquera (POR), Noel Caliskan (RSL), Max Arfsten (CLB), Paul Rothrock (SEA), Wilfried Zaha (CLT), Lionel Messi (MIA), Josh Sargent (TOR), Preston Judd (SJ)
