MLS Power Rankings: Miami remains on top without Messi and seeks record

It's Monday and another week of MLS action has wrapped up, which means it's time for the ESPN Power Rankings.

Our power rankings are derived from a combination of key season stats (points per game, goal difference, expected goal difference), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings and our writers' observations.

Who's on the rise? Who's in free fall? We've ranked all 29 clubs in the league. Let's break them down.

Previous classification: 1

Inter Miami is racking up points at a record pace right now. Their big win over the Chicago Fire lifted them to 2.19 points per game, putting them on pace for 74 points. The current MLS record: 73 points, set by the 2021 New England Revolution. This is doable, folks.

Previous classification: 2

Think you've got a tie against the Columbus Crew locked up? Think again. Wilfried Nancy's side scored two goals in second-half stoppage time to turn a 2-2 draw into a 4-2 win. This team is great.

Previous classification: 5

There's nothing like a home game against CF Montreal to get back on track! Cincy showed its strength for the first time in nearly a month with a 4-1 win against a Canadian opponent that was struggling.

Previous classification: 3

The fact that the drubbing the Houston Dynamo took only dropped them one spot in this standings after that 2-0 loss is a testament to LAFC's excellent consistency. But make no mistake: LAFC was ripped apart by Ben Olsen and company. This team needs a breather.

Previous classification: 4

Without Riqui Puig due to an accumulation of cards, the Galaxy didn't look like themselves in their 2-1 road loss at St. Louis on Sunday. However, when Marco Reus and his new teammates get on the same page, you have to be careful.

Gabriel Pec equalizes the score with a goal for LA Galaxy

Gabriel Pec equalizes for LA Galaxy with a left-footed shot from the center of the box to make it 1-1 against St. Louis City SC.

Previous classification: 8

RSL did exactly what a title-contending team should do against the Revs by beating them 2-0 in easy fashion. The fact that they managed to get those three points even without Cristian Arango may be the best news of all.

Previous classification: 6

The Rapids weren't perfect in Frisco on Saturday, but they posed enough of a threat on the counterattack between Dallas' center backs and wingers to score three goals. Colorado still has its sights set on a top-four seed in the West.

Darren Yapi scored in stoppage time to give Colorado the win

Darren Yapi's stoppage-time goal gives the Rapids the win over FC Dallas.

Previous classification: 9

No Brian White? No problem. Vancouver controlled the game at Q2 Stadium this weekend, creating the better chances and benefiting from Ryan Gauld's class before he heads off to Scotland for the international break.

Previous classification: 10

With Felipe Mora and Brian Rodriguez suspended, the Timbers' offense wasn't at its best against the Sounders. But the defense? It held firm en route to a 1-0 win. It sure is sweet to beat your biggest rivals, huh?

Previous classification: 14

Sure, they played LAFC at the perfect time: It was the sixth game in three weeks for Steve Cherundolo's team. But the Dynamo played incredibly well against LAFC. Their buildup play was borderline perfect. Ben Olsen's team is the closest thing we have to the Crew.

Previous classification: 7

Felipe Carballo, RBNY's new Designated Player, making his debut in midfield? That's a good thing. Losing 2-0 to the Philadelphia Union? That's a lot less good. The Red Bulls are downright unmotivated right now.

Previous classification: 12

Despite the frustration of conceding goals and losing points in stoppage time, there's nothing wrong with losing to the Columbus Crew. Still, NYCFC is clearly a level below the best in the East.

Previous classification: 15

Without enough reinforcements arriving in the summer, Atlanta United have an uphill battle to finish this year. The debut of Aleksei Miranchuk as the team's new number 10 should greatly lift the spirits of the Five Stripes. The former Atalanta player looks like a high-quality addition.

Previous classification: 11

Charlotte FC, winless in its last four MLS games, needs more firepower up front. Pep Biel showed some flashes in his first start since joining in the summer window, but Dean Smith's team still lacks what it takes.

Previous classification: 16

Since Oscar Pareja reverted to his 4-2-3-1 (but with Martin Ojeda as the No. 10 and Facundo Torres firmly in the middle spaces), things have improved for Orlando City. Saturday's 3-0 win over Nashville took them to five wins in their last seven MLS games.

Previous classification: 13

This year, the Sounders just can't seem to crack the offensive code. They failed to score at Providence Park this weekend, failing to register many dangerous attacking sequences. Oh, and Stefan Frei had to exit early in the first half due to a head injury. It wasn't good.

Previous classification: 19

My bingo card for the year didn't have the phrase “Union won't really miss Julian Carranza when he leaves for the Dutch top flight,” but here we are. Tai Baribo and Mikkel Uhre each scored a goal in Philadelphia's 2-0 win over the Red Bulls.

Previous classification: 18

This Minnesota United team is fun. Kelvin Yeboah looks perfect on offense, Robin Lod remains one of the most underrated players in MLS, and they've found new depth on every line of the field after the summer window. Beating the Quakes isn't a very difficult goal, but the Loons did it in style.

Previous classification: 27

St. Louis City's moves came too late for them to be legitimate contenders in the Western Conference this year. Even after their 2-1 win over the Galaxy, they still find themselves nine points below the playoff line. But the new pieces are paying off. Cedric Teuchert and Marcel Hartel both scored on Sunday.

Marcel Hartel puts St. Louis City SC back ahead with spectacular goal

Marcel Hartel scores a right-footed shot into the top right corner, giving St. Louis City SC a 2-1 lead over the LA Galaxy.

Previous classification: 20

The midfield? Impressive. Asier Illarramendi is a gem and needs to stay healthy forever, if only for my own pleasure. But the defense? Uh, it's still tough. Conceding three goals to the Colorado Rapids is just the latest example of that.

Previous classification: 21

Sebastian Driussi's experience as a striker has not been to everyone's liking. Osman Bukari made a mess of things. Dani Pereira was bad at the base of midfield. Austin FC's defeat to Vancouver was very bad.

Previous classification: 23

It was certainly good for DC United to avoid having to deal with Federico Bernardeschi thanks to his suspension for accumulated cards. Facing a toothless Toronto team, Troy Lesesne's team took all three points on the road.

Previous classification: 17

Lorenzo Insigne has not been good enough to carry Toronto FC on his own this year. It's that simple. Without Bernardeschi, Insigne's Toronto failed to pick up a single point this weekend.

Previous classification: 22

Nashville did a lot of things right in the penalty area against Orlando City on Saturday, but ended up losing 3-0. Even when things go right, they go wrong for Nashville.

Previous classification: 24

Today, the least surprising news in the world: the Chicago Fire couldn't keep up with Inter Miami. The Fire don't have enough top-level talent to cause problems for the best teams. That's the reality.

Previous classification: 25

After securing their spot in the US Open Cup final with a win over USL Championship side Indy Eleven, SKC enjoyed a weekend off. Winning the Open Cup against LAFC is the last hope for Kansas City's year.

Previous classification: 26

Dylan Borrero and Luca Langoni should be starters. It's that simple. Without them both in Caleb Porter's lineup, the 4-2-31 is obsolete and powerless, as it was in the loss to RSL.

Previous classification: 28

Allowing nine goals in two games? Yeah, that's not good at all. Montreal couldn't handle FC Cincinnati this weekend. They've done a lot to keep up in 2024.