MLS Week 33 best players - ranked

The final week of the 2022 MLS regular season is upon us.

Week 33 sorted out a lot of issues, with LAFC lifting the Supporters Shield, a few more teams making the playoffs, and giants like the Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United being eliminated from contention.

As always, there were some huge individual performers who wrote the narratives, so let's dive in and take a look at the top five:

5. Talles Magno (NYCFC)

Talles Magno has been the man most turned to by NYCFC in terms of trying to replace Taty Castellanos' threat through the middle. For the most part, the 20-year-old has struggled under expectations but on Sunday, he put in his best performance for quite some time.

It was the Brazilian forward who wriggled free inside the box and squared the ball to Alexander Callens to equalize in the 66th minute against Orlando City. Magno then clinically finished a team move inside the final 10 minutes to seal the win.

Magno was a threat throughout, attempting three shots and creating three chances, and NYCFC will need more of this in the playoffs if they're to stand a chance of defending their MLS Cup title.

4. Derrick Etienne Jr (Columbus Crew)

The Columbus Crew were 1-0 down to the New York Red Bulls with their MLS Cup playoffs hopes fading fast when Derrick Etienne Jr entered the field in the 70th minute.

23 minutes later, the Haitian forward had scored twice to give Columbus a priceless 2-1 win that keeps them in the hunt for a spot in the top seven.

Etienne's first was a display of pure composure inside the box, taking his time to find the right position to finish. And with RBNY still punch-drunk, Etienne reacted quickest to a rebound inside the box, delivering the most dramatic of victories.

About as perfect a substitute performance as Crew head coach Caleb Porter could ask for.

3. Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps)

The Vancouver Whitecaps are still just barely alive in the playoffs race and they have Ryan Gauld to thank for it.

As he so often has been throughout this season, Gauld was the catalyst to Vancouver's 2-0 win over high-flying Austin FC on Saturday.

First, the Scottish attacker raced behind the Verde defense and fired beyond goalkeeper Brad Stuver to give VWFC the lead inside the opening seven minutes. Then, after riding some Austin pressure, Gauld again ran into space before delivering a perfect cross to striker Lucas Cavallini, who converted to seal the victory - one of four chances Gauld created on the night.

2. Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire)

European interest seems to be mounting for Jhon Duran and after performances like the one he put in on Saturday, is it any wonder?

The Colombian teenager was on target twice 19 minutes to help the Chicago Fire take a 3-0 lead against FC Cincinnati - scoring his goals either side of a strike from fellow youngster Brian Gutierrez, who assisted both Duran's goals.

Both goals were fine examples of pure center-forward play, using his pace to fly behind the Cincy defense before showing incredible composure to beat goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

That's five goals in Duran's last four MLS appearances, taking his season tally to eight in just 13 starts.

1. Daniel Rios (Charlotte FC)

There were some fine performances this weekend but absolutely nobody was getting close to Daniel Rios.

Scoring the first hat-trick in Charlotte FC history was clearly not enough for Rios, who then decided to become the first-ever player to score four goals in a single game for an MLS expansion team. And he did so against Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union, no less.

Bagging every goal in a 4-0 win that keeps your team in the post-season hunt doesn't require any further explanation from us. Just watch the highlights...

Honorable mentions: Brian Gutierrez, Kamil Jozwiak, Claudio Bravo, Carles Gil, Diego Rubio, Sebastian Ferreira, Stefan Frei.

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