MLS Week 29 best players - ranked

Another week is in the books and the MLS Cup playoffs are racing into view.

It's at this time of the season where teams need their very best players to step up. Whether they're battling for Supporters' Shield or just scrapping over the playoff line, difference-makers, well, they make all the difference.

So, looking back at Week 29, who are the best individual performers in MLS? Let's rank the top five.

5. Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

It's easy for a good performance to go under the radar in a 0-0 draw. But Walker Zimmerman deserves huge credit for his role in Nashville's clean sheet on the road at NYCFC on Sunday.

Recently recalled to the USMNT, Zimmerman was a colossus at the heart of Gary Smith's defence, making a team-high five tackles as well as registering match-highs for clearances (7) and successful aerial duels (7) - winning 78% of the latter.

His solidity and threat from set-pieces will be key to Nashville's chances in the post-season.

4. Phelipe Megiolaro (FC Dallas)

The bottom has fallen out of FC Dallas' season but they were at least able to take a point at home to Minnesota United on Saturday. That simply wouldn't have been possible without the performance of Phelipe Megiolaro, who pulled out six stunning saves to earn his first MLS clean sheet.

The Brazilian was so impressive that he earned praise from his opposite number, Tyler Miller, who wasn't too shabby himself.

“I think he did a tremendous job, he made some big-time saves," Miller told reporters of Phelipe. "He was able to keep his team in the game.

"It was definitely a tough game, they had their opportunities in the first half and early on and they were able to keep us under pressure and then we were able to flip it at half-time and put them under pressure, but he did well to keep his team in the game and give them an opportunity to go and grab three points."

3. Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City)

It's been a great week for Johnny Russell, who signed a contract extension with Sporting KC, then become just the second player in club history to score in five consecutive MLS appearances with a brace against the Houston Dynamo.

His first was a coolly dispatched penalty, his second was one of the goals of the week, shifting through the gears to glide past the Dynamo defence.

By the end of Sunday's 4-2 win, Russell had attempted more shots (5) and completed more dribbles (3) than any other player on the pitch in another truly talismanic performance from the Scotland international.

2. Joao Paulo (Seattle Sounders)

Joao Paulo has pretty much been the best central midfielder in MLS this season. On Sunday, he presented his case perfectly.

It's easy to get blinkered by that stunning goal. We've had it on repeat all day! But aside from his Messi-esque heroics, the Brazilian flicked the ball on perfectly to set up Jimmy Medranda for 2-0, one of four chances he created on the night.

On the other side of the ball, no Sounders player made more tackles (4), while he also had more touches (69) than any other teammate.

Joao Paulo is the beating heart of yet another impressive Seattle team. But he's not quite Player of the Week this time...

1. Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps)

That honour simply has to go to Brian White, who fired the Vancouver Whitecaps to a huge 3-0 win over San Jose on Saturday with his first-ever MLS hat-trick.

White's turnaround since joining the 'Caps from New York Red Bulls has been astounding and in his last nine games alone, he's netted eight goals.

His first on Saturday was a true poacher's effort, being in the right place at the right time to tap home a rebound. White's second and third strikes were bulldozing headers from set-pieces, with Quakes defenders standing no chance of stopping him.

“Coming into a team where I felt valued, it meant a lot to me," White said after the match. "And being able to slot in and really just get a lot of games in right away, it just meant a lot to me to have so much trust with the club, with the players.

“Being able to grow in that role was very important for me personally. And I’m just glad that I can help contribute to the team and help get three points.”

Vancouver have a genuine chance of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and White - perhaps one of the most shrewd signings in MLS this season - is front and centre of their efforts.

Honourable mentions: Romell Quioto, Cecilio Dominguez, Daryl Dike, Tyler Miller, Ryan Gauld, Daniel Salloi, Gadi Kinda, Jack Elliott, Leon Flach, Steve Clark.