MLS Player of Matchdday

Charlotte FC Midfielder Pep Biel Voted MLS Player of the Matchday for Matchday 5

NEW YORK (Monday, March 24, 2025) – Charlotte FC midfielder Pep Biel was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 5 of the 2025 MLS season.

Biel scored the opening goal of the match and added two assists as part of Charlotte’s 4-1 home victory against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night. Biel’s three goal contributions in the match were a career high and he is the first Charlotte player with at least one goal and two assists in a match since Patrick Agyemang on Sept. 21, 2024. In 2025, the Spanish midfielder has six goal contributions (two goals and four assists), which is tied for the most in MLS through Matchday 5. Biel’s four assists are tied for the second-most in MLS behind the Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner (five).

With the victory against San Jose, Charlotte extended their club record home winning streak to six regular season games at Bank of America Stadium. Through the first five games of a season, Charlotte’s 10 points are the most in club history. Including Biel, Charlotte has also had eight different goal scorers on the season, which is tied for the third-most in MLS history by any club in the opening five matches.

Biel opened the scoring in the 11th minute of the match after Brandt Bronico’s deflected cross fell into the path of the Spaniard who slotted his effort past the ‘Quakes goalkeeper with a one-timed finish from 19 yards out. Charlotte doubled their lead in the 36th minute and then made it a 3-0 advantage just four minutes later when Biel split two defenders with a diagonal pass to Bronico, who rounded the goalkeeper and tapped his finish into an empty net. Biel’s third and final goal contribution came in the 52nd minute as he played another lengthy ball to Kerwin Vargas, who did the rest with a right-footed shot that found the side netting.

Biel is the fifth different Charlotte FC player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra and first since Ashley Westwood last season (Matchday 26). Biel becomes the third Spaniard to win the award in the last three seasons, along with the LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig (Matchday 23, 2023) and New England Revolution’s Carles Gil (Matchday 17, 2023).

Charlotte FC will look to maintain their strong attacking form when they travel to face the Colorado Rapids at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, March 29 (4:30 pm. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an Instagram fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.

2025 MLS Player of the Matchday Winners

Matchday Player Club

Matchday 1 Anders Dreyer San Diego FC

Matchday 2 Tai Baribo Philadelphia Union

Matchday 3 Roman Bürki St. Louis CITY SC

Matchday 4 Tani Oluwaseyi Minnesota United FC

Matchday 5 Pep Biel Charlotte FC