LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, left, greets forward Mario González during the second half of LAFC’s win over Vancouver in the first game of their MLS Cup playoff series on Saturday night. (Ryan... Read more »

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andrés Cubas, left, and LAFC forward Carlos Vela vie for the ball during the first half of their MLS playoff match Saturday at BMO Stadium. (Ryan Sun / Associated... Read more »

LAFC star Carlos Vela doesn’t understand the reasoning behind the new MLS playoff format. (Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images) Giorgio Chiellini has played in two European Championship finals, two World Cups, an... Read more »

Photograph: Andy Lyons/Getty Images The best player in Major League Soccer this season has been an Argentine, but not that Argentine. While 2023 will forever be remembered as the year Lionel Messi... Read more »

The Philip F. Anschutz Trophy is displayed during the 2022 MLS Cup Media Day on Nov. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Another chaotic Major League Soccer regular... Read more »

Photograph: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images Twice in my life, I have been heartbroken over a parasocial relationship. The first time was 31 May 1998; I was 11 years old and Geri Halliwell announced... Read more »

Photograph: Katie Stratman/USA Today Sports The regular season was defined by… Would a much-loved attacker in his mid-thirties who’s achieved so much in the game still have the hunger to perform and... Read more »

Galaxy coach Greg Vanney, right, has struggled to steer the team back to its championship level. The team failed to make the playoffs at the conclusion of Vanney’s third season in charge.... Read more »

Photograph: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports For most of the league’s existence, high-profile players in MLS have tended to fit into one of two categories: young prospects, from home or abroad, who have... Read more »