For the second time in his Major League Soccer career, Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner has earned Best XI honors, earning recognition from MLS club technical staff, media, and active players as the best in his position across all 32 teams.
“It’s a big recognition for the work you do all season long. I think it shows that you’re doing something right in the season and that you're in the right spot,” Wagner said, acknowledging the award.
“I mean, this team this year is unbelievable. How much success we’ve had this year, after bad losses too, how everybody just stood up and embraced the mentality all over the team. But I'm really, really happy to get the recognition.”
On October 4th, Wagner lifted the Supporters’ Shield with the Philadelphia Union for the second time since joining the team in 2019 – a culminating moment of one of the club’s best regular seasons in history.
The 28-year-old German left back was an essential piece in the puzzle that came together under Head Coach Bradley Carnell in his first year at the club, and using his veteran experience, prolific passing, and dedicated defending, Wagner helped bring the shield back to Philadelphia, all the while earning league-wide respect for his craft.
In his 2,769 minutes on the pitch, the most of any Philadelphia Union player this season, Wagner made an unmatched impact on both ends of the field. Offensively, he led the team with 18 big chances created, 90 key passes, 160 corner kicks, and 88 successful crosses, contributing two goals and 11 assists to the team’s 57-goal season. But when asked where he shined the most on the field this year, his answer was his defensive leadership. In his seventh year in Philly, Wagner anchored a best-in-class backline that allowed a league-low of 35 goals and secured 14 total clean sheets.
“I think I stepped a big way up on the defending side. A lot of people always say, he's really good offensively, but I think also it shows this year that I'm also a really, really good defender. We had the least goals against this year, so I'm really, really happy with how the season went. But, we're not done yet,” Wagner said.
His statistics speak volumes for the role he’s played in the Union’s system, but his impact is far more than numbers can measure. In 2025, Philadelphia Union welcomed two young defenders in Frankie Westfield and Olwethu Makhanya to the first team stage, and with help from fellow Best XI honoree Jakob Glesnes and longtime Union homegrown Nathan Harriel, the Union's quickly grew into one of the league’s most difficult to break down.
“When you saw Makanya stepping in all season, he didn't have the play time last year, and just stepped up in a big way. Frankie had a lot of minutes too. I think it didn't matter if Nate was playing or Frankie was playing. We always felt really safe in the back line. Makanya did an incredible job this year. I think just with the help from Jakob and me in the middle, I think it gives you a big push already to be confident,” Wagner said.
Iron sharpens iron has been a lingering theme for Philly in 2025, and with the consistent level Wagner has played at since joining the league, it’s unsurprising those around him have found success as well.
As for himself, he attributes his achievments to his goal-oriented and never-satisfied mentality, the commitment of the teammates around him, and to his family, who’ve been unwavering during his tenure at the club.
“I do it all for my family. I feel like my family pushes me every day the most. My wife Jenny helps me every step, everywhere we go,” Wagner said.
“And here, I think we just have a really, really good team – myself too. I want to win training games. I want to win the games in the season. I'm just like working in the offseason for the new season – that’s the thing that drives me. I want to get as much as I can out of my career.”
Wagner’s list of accolades is ever-growing, and he’s trending to add more in his Union career, which is guaranteed through 2026 with an option for 2027. But there’s one more he and his teammates hope to add by the year’s end.
“MLS Cup would be, of course, a really, really big step for us. We want to win that. We just go game by game, but I think that's, of course, the future,” Wagner said. “I just want to be the best version of myself, stay injury free, get more awards, and help this team in the best way possible.”
