We’ve paid our dues to Minnesota United’s best defenders (and keeper) of all time, and now it’s time to pay it forward — quite literally. You’ve voted five midfielders and one forward to the Team of the Decade’s starting lineup, and when these guys stack up, the sheer power behind and on the ball is absurd. This is my World Cup.
(I’m kidding, but also, look at these guys. This is a star-studded cast.)
Osvaldo “Ozzie” Alonso
Ozzie Alonso is a name that rings throughout Loons history. A remarkable defensive midfielder, this four-time MLS All-Star pulled up in 2019 and was here for so many milestones that it’s impossible not to equate him with success. Alonso was responsible for scoring the first-ever goal at Allianz Field — and oh, would you look at that? I already wrote about it!
He captained the squad through multiple historic runs in his three-season tenure, including the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and 2020 MLS Cup Western Conference Finals, and had a hugely positive impact on team culture. This man turned the Loons into winners, and we have never once forgotten him.
Wil Trapp
You know him, you love him, you’ve probably read many an ode to his skill written by Kyle Hayward on mnufc.com. Wil Trapp joined Minnesota United in 2021, immediately becoming a regular starter and unquestioned leader with his years of experience. Often wearing the captain’s armband, constantly chewing gum during games, and usually making weird faces at the camera while dancing during warmups, he’s as integral to this squad as a personality as he is a player. And what a player he is; his steady presence manning the double pivot means he sometimes slides under the radar (until he whips out a bit of fancy footwork or a cheeky backheel pass), but Trapp never fails to put in the quieter kind of work, connecting the game and steadying the defense with the unheralded toil of a defensive mid.
Robin Lod
Everyone’s favorite archer, Robin Lod. He may be listed here as a midfielder, but don’t let that fool you; Lod is a Swiss army knife, and he played all over the pitch for the Loons. Get him the ball and he knows exactly how to put it in the back of the net. He’s Minnesota United’s leading scorer across all competitions, with 39 goals and a goal contribution record of 58. (Yes, you may applaud.) The Finnish international repped the Loons as an MLS All-Star in 2022 and was a leader throughout his seven years on the squad. Name any landmark moment between 2019 and 2025, and Lod was there, from the 2019 U.S. Open Cup finals run through the historic pair of Round One PK victories over Seattle in the 2025 playoffs. Robin Lod is also the only reason I have ever reluctantly cheered for the Chicago Fire, which is an achievement all its own.
Joaquín Pereyra
Ask me what I miss most during this World Cup break, and I’ll tell you it’s watching the increasingly creative attack that Joaquín Pereyra has brought to the Black and Blue. Since joining the Loons in the summer of 2026, Pereyra has established himself as one of the most innovative midfielders in the league. He can pick out a pass anywhere, his free kicks are lethal, and he’s recently taken on the additional responsibility of the captain’s armband (in Boxy’s absence) as he leads a dynamic attacking trio with Tomás Chancalay and Kelvin Yeboah. He currently leads the club in assists (5), successful crosses (22), and touches (996), which is no surprise, seeing as he’s always pulling the strings and positioning himself to progress the ball with any kind of pass, whether it’s a short back-and-forth or a soaring long ball up the pitch.
Emanuel Reynoso
They don’t call him El Rey for nothing. (That’s Spanish for The King, by the way.) Reynoso joined Minnesota United as a DP in September 2020 from legendary Argentinian club Boca Juniors. He made waves immediately, providing three assists in back-to-back playoff games (an MLS record) in the run that saw the Loons reach the Western Conference Finals. In 2023, he tied Darwin Quintero for the club’s highest goals-scored tally (27) across all competitions. More than the stats, the energy that surrounded Rey’s every touch was groundbreaking for Minnesota. He was a quick fan favorite and a legendary attacker who changed the game every time he took to the pitch.
Tani Oluwaseyi
As far as I’m concerned, it’s always Tani Time. It’s just a little extra true right now as our boy starts for Canada in the World Cup! The Loons snatched Tani up in the 2022 SuperDraft, after which he spent some time with the Twos and on loan to San Antonio FC. In 2024, he returned to Minnesota and absolutely exploded onto the scene, becoming the second player in Loons history to score in three consecutive regular-season matches. He couldn’t seem to stop accumulating goals, always positioning himself in the perfect place to make a high-speed break forward and find the back of the net. The Canadian international scored 10 goals in 24 games in 2025 before being sold to La Liga’s Villarreal for a club-record transfer fee, where he’s seen minutes in Champions League and the Spanish Copa del Rey. We’ll be rooting for our TOTD striker to find the back of the net on the biggest stage in the world (and you can watch him as Canada takes on Qatar on June 18 at 5:00 p.m. CT).
There you have it, folks: the best five midfielders in Loons history, and also Tani Oluwaseyi. Heroes of the pitch who will live on in our tales of glory — and, in the case of Trapp and Pereyra, who will jump right back into the fray when we return from the league break in July. Stay tuned, because the reminiscing isn’t over yet! We’ve still got a TOTD bench to cover.
