The Designated Player Rule (nicknamed the Beckham Rule), came into existence ahead of the 2007 MLS Season.

Whenever a Major League Soccer team looks to construct its roster, the most renowned spots on their roster are often Designated Players.

The rule, which is informally named after David Beckham (the first ever Designated Player), is one of two mechanisms where MLS teams may exceed their salary cap (the other being allocation money) and allow them to acquire and retain world-class talent

Here at Spotrac, we’re breaking down the rules, current, all-time & history of Designated Players.

Before 2007, MLS clubs were heavily restricted when it came to spending big on international stars due to their very low budgets & strict salary cap, however, prior to the start of the 2007 season, things changed.

With rumors circulating in Spain that legendary English midfielder David Beckham was rumored to join MLS side LA Galaxy, the league had to reformat many of the rules.

In November of 2006, the league approved new rules that gave MLS teams the authority to acquire one player per team outside of the $2,000,000 per-team salary cap.

On July 13, 2007, David Beckham became the first player in Major League Soccer history to sign as a Designated Player in MLS. Beckham agreed to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy with over $6,500,000.

This monumental decision opened the door for international stars to join MLS, boosting the league’s profile on the world stage.

Since the Designated Player Rule’s inception in 2007, the league has undergone plenty of changes, including evolutions of the rule, now allowing multiple DPs, an increased salary budget cap (now at $5,950,000), and plenty more. Below, we go into detail on the current rules and how they affect MLS rosters.

Designated Player Rules

Designated Players

The number of Designated Player Slots available to each team is based on the club’s roster construction model they choose at the beginning of the respective season. For the 2025 season, clubs had to declare their path by February 21, 2025, which was the MLS roster compliance date.

A player's Salary Budget Charge, and therefore Designated Player status, is generally determined by averaging all guaranteed amounts payable over the guaranteed term.

In 2025, a Designated Player who is at least 24 years old during the League Year will carry the Maximum Salary Budget Charge ($743,750) unless the player joins his club after the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window, in which case his budget charge will be $371,875.

Clubs may "buy down" the Salary Budget Charge of a Designated Player with General Allocation Money. The reduced budget charge may not be less than $150,000.

Clubs may trade a Designated Player or U22 Initiative Player, remain responsible for some or all future out of pocket costs, and shed the Designated Player or U22 Initiative Player slot designation under the following limitations:

  • Up to one Designated Player traded per year (two total “active” at any given time)

  • Up to one U22 Initiative Player traded per year (two total “active” at any given time)

  • Player may only be traded beginning in his second MLS season

  • Roster Slot Designation (Designated Player or U22 Initiative slot) must be held by one of the two trading teams

Transfer of a Designated Player:

If a Designated Player, who is eligible to be bought down, is transferred out of MLS, the club may convert the transfer fee to General Allocation Money only after all prior out-of-pocket amounts are recouped. If the Designated Player is not eligible to be bought down, then General Allocation money may not be taken from the transfer. This also applies to Young Designated Players.

Young Designated Players

A Designated Player who is 23 years old (or younger than the age of 23) during the League Year (the age of the player is determined by year - not date - of birth) will carry the following Young Designated Player Salary Budget Charge:

  • Ages 20 and younger: ($150,000)

  • Ages 21-23: ($200,000)

If a Young Designated Player joins the club after the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window, he will carry the Mid-Season Young Designated Player Salary Budget Charge of $150,000.

Each club will be allotted up to three Designated Player roster slots based on the roster construction model they choose at the beginning of the year. Clubs with two Designated Players may add a third Designated Player by paying $150,000 to the League, which shall be split among clubs with two or fewer occupied Designated Player slots for use as General Allocation Money in the following MLS season. Clubs must pay the $150,000 fee every year in which a third Designated Player slot is occupied on the club's roster.

If a club uses the third Designated Player slot to sign a Young Designated Player, then the club will not be obligated to pay the $150,000 charge.

One important note: Designated Player slots are not tradable.

As of January 1, 2026, there have been 373 Designated Players in MLS history. Currently, there are 63 Active Designated Players in MLS.

Active Designated Players & their 2025 guaranteed salaries

Quick Caveat: All Salaries are based on the information provided on the MLSPA Salary Guide (as of October 1, 2025). 

Players that have recently been signed to DP deals will be listed but will have their salary as N/A

  1. Lionel Messi - $20,446,667

  2. Son Hueng-Min - $11,152,852

  3. Miguel Almirón - $7,871,000

  4. Hirving “Chucky” Lozano - $7,633,333

  5. Emil Forsberg - $6,035,625

  6. Riqui Puig - $5,779,688

  7. Jonathan Bamba - $5,581,806

  8. Hany Mukhtar - $5,311,667

  9. Evander - $4,736,411

  10. Carles Gil - $4,702,083

  11. Joseph Paintsil - $4,182,000

  12. Emmanuel Latte Lath - $4,030,546

  13. Luis Muriel - $4,003,333

  14. Kévin Denkey - $3,810,000

  15. Denis Bouanga - $3,709,500

  16. Ryan Gauld - $3,675,000

  17. Nicolás Fernández - $3,650,000

  18. Jonathan Rodríguez - $3,627,500

  19. Rodrigo De Paul - $3,619,320

  20. Brandon Vázquez - $3,551,778

  21. Eric Maxim Chuopo-Moting - $3,530,667

  22. Hugo Cuypers - $3,528,044

  23. Diego Rossi - $3,426,827

  24. David Da Costa - $3,425,000

  25. Dejan Joveljić - $3,306,250

  26. Sam Surridge - $3,182,639

  27. Kristoffer Velde - $3,027,000

  28. Ezequiel Ponce - $2,852,200

  29. Wilfried Zaha - $2,751,667

  30. Petar Musa - $2,680,000

  31. Dániel Gazdag - $2,597,643

  32. Albert Rushnak - $2,575,000

  33. Liel Abada - $2,548,500

  34. Gabriel Pec - $2,459,000

  35. Anders Dreyer - $2,434,314

  36. Manu Garcia - $2,325,313

  37. Djordje Mihailovic - $2,278,335

  38. Jordan Morris - $2,260,000

  39. Paxten Aaronson - $2,228,063

  40. Myrto Uzuni - $2,225,000

  41. Cristian “Chico” Arango - $2,216,667

  42. Marcel Hartel - $2,183,113

  43. Thiago Martins - $2,162,000

  44. Wessam Abou Ali - $2,157,375

  45. Iván Jaime - $1,991,200

  46. Rwan Cruz - $1,858,426

  47. Diogo Gonçalves - $1,797,108

  48. Marco Pašalić - $1,650,667

  49. Kelvin Yeboah - $1,447,200

  50. Rafael Navarro - $1,449,600

  51. Thomas Müller - $1,436,956

  52. Pedro de la Vega - $1,379,000

  53. João Klauss - $1,370,284

  54. Andres Cubas - $1,146,375

  55. Talles Magno - $1,065,000

  56. Tomás Chancalay - $1,060,000

  57. Martín Ojeda - $1,032,600

  58. Artur - $893,375

  59. Ondřej Lingr - $888,082

  60. Joaquin Pereyra - $754,800

  61. Bruno Damiani - $726,700

  62. Tai Baribo - N/A

  63. Guilherme - N/A

Designated Player History by Club

Quick Caveat: The below list indicates players who have had their contract assigned as a Designated Player (DP) contract during their time in MLS. Players may have not always had a DP contract, or have later had their contract negotiated below a DP level. Similarly, some players have been in MLS whose salary has been at a DP level, but the club has opted to bring their salary below the DP threshold using General Allocation Money or Targeted Allocation Money.

Former MLS Sides Miami Fusion & Tampa Bay Mutiny were dissolved prior to the introduction of the Designated Player Rule, hence their non-involvement in this article.

Players in bold are currently signed to a DP contract by their club. Players highlighted in yellow have won MLS MVP in their career.

Atlanta United FC

  • Héctor Villalba (2017)

  • Miguel Almirón (2017-18, 2025 - Present)

  • Josef Martínez (2017-22)

  • Ezequiel Barco (2018-21)

  • Pity Martínez (2019-20)

  • Marcelino Moreno (2020)

  • Alan Franco (2021)

  • Luiz Araújo (2021-23)

  • Thiago Almada (2022-23)

  • Giorgos Giakoumakis (2023-24)

  • Saba Lobzhanidze (2023)

  • Stian Rode Gregersen (2024)

  • Aleksei Miranchuk (2024 - Present)

  • Emmanuel Latte Lath (2025 - Present)

Austin FC

  • Cecilio Domínguez (2021-22)

  • Tomás Pochettino (2021)

  • Sebastián Driussi (2021-24)

  • Alexander Ring (2022-24)

  • Emiliano Rigoni (2022-24)

  • Osman Bukari (2024-25)

  • Brandon Vázquez (2025 - Present)

  • Myrto Uzuni (2025 - Present)

Charlotte FC

  • Jordy Alcívar (2022)

  • Karol Świderski (2022-23, 2024)

  • Kamil Jóźwiak (2022-23)

  • Enzo Copetti (2023-24)

  • Liel Abada (2024 - Present)

  • Pep Biel (2024)

  • Wilfried Zaha (2025 - Present)

Chicago Fire FC

  • Cuauhtémoc Blanco (2007-09)

  • Freddie Ljungberg (2010)

  • Nery Castillo (2010)

  • Álvaro Fernández (2012-13)

  • Sherjill MacDonald (2012-13)

  • Federico Puppo (2012-14)

  • Egidio Arévalo Ríos (2013)

  • Juan Luis Anangonó (2013-14)

  • Gilberto (2015-16)

  • David Accam (2015-17)

  • Shaun Maloney (2015)

  • Kennedy Igboananike (2015-16)

  • Nemanja Nikolić (2017-19)

  • Bastian Schweinsteiger (2017-19)

  • Aleksander Katai (2019)

  • Robert Berić (2020-21)

  • Ignacio Aliseda (2020-21)

  • Gastón Giménez (2020-22, 2024)

  • Xherdan Shaqiri (2022-24)

  • Jairo Torres (2022-23)

  • Ousmane Doumbia (2023)

  • Hugo Cuypers (2024 - Present)

  • Jonathan Bamba (2025 - Present)

Chivas USA (defunct)

  • Juan Pablo Ángel (2011-12)

  • Oswaldo Minda (2012-14)

  • Shalrie Joseph (2012)

  • Erick Torres (2013-14)

  • Mauro Rosales (2014)

FC Cincinnati

  • Fanendo Adi (2019)

  • Allan Cruz (2019-20)

  • Yuya Kubo (2020, 2021-22)

  • Jürgen Locadia (2020-21)

  • Brenner (2021-23)

  • Luciano Acosta (2021-24)

  • Obinna Nwobodo (2022-24)

  • Aaron Boupendza (2023-24)

  • Kévin Denkey (2025 - Present)

  • Evander (2025 - Present)

Colorado Rapids

  • Gabriel Torres (2013-15)

  • Juan Ramírez (2015-17)

  • Kevin Doyle (2015-16)

  • Shkëlzen Gashi (2016-18)

  • Tim Howard (2016-19)

  • Younes Namli (2020-21)

  • Gyasi Zardes (2022)

  • Kévin Cabral (2023-25)

  • Andreas Maxsø (2023)

  • Rafael Navarro (2023 - Present)

  • Djordje Mihailovic (2023-25)

  • Paxten Aaronson (2025 - Present)

Columbus Crew

  • Guillermo Barros Schelotto (2009-10)

  • Andrés Mendoza (2010-11)

  • Federico Higuaín (2012-19)

  • Kei Kamara (2016)

  • Jonathan Mensah (2017)

  • Pedro Santos (2017-19)

  • Gyasi Zardes (2019-22)

  • Darlington Nagbe (2020-25)

  • Lucas Zelarayán (2020-23)

  • Cucho Hernández (2022-24)

  • Diego Rossi (2023 - Present)

  • Dániel Gazdag (2025 - Present)

  • Wessam Abou Ali (2025 - Present)

FC Dallas

  • Denílson (2007)

  • David Ferreira (2009-13)

  • Fabián Castillo (2011-15)

  • Julian de Guzman (2012)

  • Eric Hassli (2013)

  • Mauro Díaz (2013-16)

  • Andrés Escobar (2014)

  • David Texeira (2014-15)

  • Carlos Gruezo (2016-18)

  • Aníbal Chalá (2017)

  • Cristian Colmán (2017-18)

  • Santiago Mosquera (2018-20)

  • Bryan Acosta (2019-21)

  • Pablo Aránguiz (2019)

  • Franco Jara (2020-22)

  • Jesús Ferreira (2022-24)

  • Alan Velasco (2022-24)

  • Petar Musa (2024 - Present)

  • Luciano Acosta (2025)

D.C. United

  • Luciano Emílio (2008-09)

  • Marcelo Gallardo (2008)

  • Branko Bošković (2010-12)

  • Dwayne De Rosario (2011-13)

  • Hamdi Salihi (2012)

  • Rafael Gladiador (2013)

  • Eddie Johnson (2014-15)

  • Fabián Espíndola (2015-16)

  • Paul Arriola (2017-21)

  • Wayne Rooney (2018-19)

  • Lucas Rodríguez (2019)

  • Edison Flores (2020-22)

  • Taxiarchis Fountas (2022-23)

  • Victor Pálsson (2022)

  • Christian Benteke (2022-2025)

  • Mateusz Klich (2023-25)

  • Matto Peltola (2024)

  • Tai Baribo (2026 - Present)

  • Louis Munteanu (2026 - Present)

Houston Dynamo FC

  • Luis Ángel Landín (2009-10)

  • Boniek García (2012-14)

  • Giles Barnes (2012-16)

  • Alexander López (2013-14)

  • DaMarcus Beasley (2014-16)

  • Mauro Montas (2015-16, 2020)

  • Erick Torres (2015-17)

  • Alberth Elis (2017-20)

  • Tomás Martínez (2017-19)

  • Darwin Quintero (2020-21)

  • Teenage Hadebe (2021-23)

  • Sebastián Ferreira (2022-24)

  • Héctor Herrera (2022-24)

  • Ezequiel Ponce (2024 - Present)

  • Artur (2025 - Present)

  • Ondřej Lingr (2025 - Present)

Inter Miami CF

  • Matías Pellegrini (2020)

  • Rodolfo Pizarro (2020-23)

  • Gonzalo Higuaín (2020-22)

  • Blaise Matuidi (2021)

  • Gregore (2021-23)

  • Alejandro Pozuelo (2022)

  • Leonardo Campana (2023-24)

  • Lionel Messi (2023 - Present)

  • Sergio Busquets (2023-25)

  • Jordi Alba (2025)

  • Rodrigo De Paul (2026 - Present)

Sporting Kansas City

  • Claudio López (2008)

  • Omar Bravo (2011)

  • Jéferson (2011)

  • Claudio Bieler (2013-14)

  • Matt Besler (2014-16)

  • Graham Zusi (2014-17)

  • Roger Espinoza (2015-18)

  • Diego Rubio (2016)

  • Gerso Fernandes (2017)

  • Yohan Croizet (2018-19)

  • Felipe Gutiérrez (2018-20)

  • Johnny Russell (2019-24)

  • Alan Pulido (2020-24)

  • Gadi Kinda (2021-23)

  • Nemanja Radoja (2024)

  • Dániel Sallói (2024)

  • Dejan Joveljić (2025 - Present)

  • Manu Garcia (2025 - Present)

Los Angeles Galaxy

  • David Beckham (2007-12)

  • Landon Donovan (2010-14)

  • Juan Pablo Ángel (2011)

  • Robbie Keane (2011-16)

  • Omar Gonzalez (2013-15)

  • Steven Gerrard (2015-16)

  • Giovani Dos Santos (2015-18)

  • Jelle Van Damme (2016-17)

  • Romain Alessandrini (2017-19)

  • Jonathan dos Santos (2017-21)

  • Zlatan Ibrahimović (2019)

  • Cristian Pavón (2020)

  • Javier Hernández (2020-23)

  • Kévin Cabral (2021-22)

  • Douglas Costa (2022-23)

  • Riqui Puig (2023 - Present)

  • Gabriel Pec (2024 - Present)

  • Joseph Paintsil (2024 - Present)

Los Angeles FC

  • Carlos Vela (2018-23)

  • Diego Rossi (2018-21)

  • André Horta (2018-19)

  • Brian Rodríguez (2019-21)

  • Denis Bouanga (2022 - Present)

  • Eduard Atuesta (2024)

  • Olivier Giroud (2024-25)

  • Cengiz Ünder (2025) 

  • Son Heung-min (2025 - Present)

Minnesota United FC

  • Darwin Quintero (2018-19)

  • Ángelo Rodríguez (2018-19)

  • Ján Greguš (2019-21)

  • Thomás Chacón (2019-20)

  • Emmanuel Reynoso (2020-24)

  • Adrien Hunou (2021-22)

  • Luis Amarilla (2022-23)

  • Ménder García (2022-23)

  • Teemu Pukki (2023-24)

  • Kelvin Yeboah (2024 - Present)

  • Joaquín Pereyra (2024 - Present)

  • Tomás Chancalay (2026 - Present)

CF Montréal

  • Marco Di Vaio (2012-14)

  • Hernán Darío Bernardello (2013-14)

  • Ignacio Piatti (2014-19)

  • Didier Drogba (2015-16) 

  • Lucas Ontivero (2016)

  • Blerim Džemaili (2017)

  • Saphir Taïder (2018-20)

  • Victor Wanyama (2020-24)

  • Aljaž Struna (2021)

  • Djordje Mihailovic (2021)

  • Giacomo Vrioni (2025)

  • Iván Jaime (2025 - Present)

Nashville SC

  • Hany Mukhtar (2020 - Present)

  • Randall Leal (2020-21)

  • Jhonder Cádiz (2020-21)

  • Aké Arnaud Loba (2021-23)

  • Walker Zimmerman (2022-25)

  • Sam Surridge (2023 - Present)

New England Revolution

  • Milton Caraglio (2011)

  • Shalrie Joseph (2012)

  • Jerry Bengston (2012-14)

  • Jermaine Jose (2014-15)

  • José Gonçalves (2016)

  • Xavier Kouassi (2016-17)

  • Kei Kamara (2016-17)

  • Claude Dielna (2018)

  • Carles Gil (2019 - Present)

  • Gustavo Bou (2019-23)

  • Adam Buksa (2020-22)

  • Giacomo Vrioni (2022-24)

  • Tomás Chancalay (2024-25)

  • Matt Turner (2025)

New York City FC

  • David Villa (2014-18)

  • Frank Lampard (2015-16)

  • Andrea Pirlo (2015-17) 

  • Maximiliano Moralez (2017-21)

  • Jesús Medina (2018-21)

  • Alexandru Mitriță (2019-20)

  • Talles Magno (2021 - Present)

  • Thiago Martins (2022 - Present)

  • Santiago Rodríguez (2023-25)

  • Nicolás Fernández (2025 - Present)

Red Bull New York

  • Claudio Reyna (2007-08)

  • Juan Pablo Ángel (2007-10)

  • Thierry Henry (2010-14)

  • Rafael Márquez (2010-12)

  • Frank Rost (2011)

  • Tim Cahill (2012-14)

  • Bradley Wright-Phillips (2015-16, 2017-19)

  • Gonzalo Verón (2015-17)

  • Sacha Kljestan (2016-17)

  • Omer Damari (2016)

  • Kaku (2018-21)

  • Josh Sims (2019-20)

  • Dru Yearwood (2020-21)

  • Patryk Klimala (2021-22)

  • Luquinhas (2022-23)

  • Dante Vanzeir (2023-24)

  • Emil Forsberg (2024 - Present)

  • Felipe Carballo (2024)

  • Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (2025 - Present)

Orlando City SC

  • Kaká (2014-17)

  • Carlos Rivas (2015-17)

  • Bryan Róchez (2015-16)

  • Matías Augusto Pérez (2017)

  • Giles Barnes (2017)

  • Yoshimar Yotún (2017)

  • Dom Dwyer (2018-20)

  • Sacha Kljestan (2018)

  • Josué Colmán (2018-19)

  • Nani (20219-21)

  • Mauricio Pereyra (2019-22)

  • Facundo Torres (2022-24)

  • Ercan Kara (2022-23)

  • Martín Ojeda (2023 - Present)

  • Luis Muriel (2024 - Present)

  • Marco Pašalić (2025 - Present)

Philadelphia Union

  • Freddy Adu (2011-12)

  • José Kléberson (2013)

  • Cristaian Maidana (2014-15)

  • Maurice Edu (2014-17)

  • Fernando Aristegueita (2015)

  • Alejandro Bedoya (2016-19)

  • Bořek Dočkal (2018)

  • Marco Fabián (2019)

  • Jamiro Monteiro (2020-21)

  • Julián Carranza (2022-24)

  • Mikael Uhre (2022-25)

  • Dániel Gazdag (2023-25)

  • Bruno Damiani (2025 - Present)

Portland Timbers

  • Diego Chará (2011-13)

  • Kris Boyd (2012)

  • Diego Valeri (2013-19)

  • Fanendo Adi (2014-15, 2016-18)

  • Liam Ridgewell (2014-16)

  • Lucas Melano (2015-16, 2019)

  • Sebastián Blanco (2017-23)

  • Brian Fernández (2019)

  • Yimmi Chará (2020-23)

  • Jarosław Niezgoda (2020-23)

  • Evander (2023-24)

  • Jonathan Rodríguez (2024-25)

  • David da Costa (2025 - Present)

  • Kristoffer Velde (2025 - Present)

  • Felipe Carballo (2025 - Present)

Real Salt Lake

  • Álvaro Saborío (2011-15)

  • Javier Morales (2011-15)

  • Kyle Beckerman (2015)

  • Joao Plata (2015-16)

  • Sebastián Jaime (2014-15)

  • Juan Manuel Martínez (2015-16)

  • Yura Movsisyan (2016-17)

  • Albert Rusnák (2017-21)

  • Jefferson Savarino (2017-19, 2022-23)

  • Sam Johnson (2019-20)

  • Jeizon Ramírez (2020-21)

  • Damir Kreilach (2010-23)

  • Cristain “Chico” Arango (2023-24)

  • Diogo Gonçalves (2024 - Present)

  • Rwan Cruz (2025 - Present)

St. Louis City SC

  • João Klauss (2023 - Present)

  • Eduard Löwen (2023-24)

  • Marcel Hartel (2024- Present)

San Diego FC

  • Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (2025 - Present)

  • Anders Dreyer (2025 - Present)

San Jose Earthquakes

  • Geovanni (2010)

  • Chris Wondolowski (2013-19)

  • Matías Pérez García (2014-16)

  • Innocent Emeghara (2015-16)

  • Simon Dawkins (2016-17)

  • Valeri Qaziashvili (2017-20)

  • Magnus Eriksson (2018)

  • Cristian Espinoza (2020-2025)

  • Javier Eduardo López Ramírez (2021-22)

  • Jamiro Monteiro (2022-23)

  • Carlos Gruezo (2023-25)

  • Hernán López (2024-25)

  • Cristain “Chico” Arango (2025 - Present)

Seattle Sounders FC

  • Freddie Ljungberg (2009-10)

  • Álvaro Fernández (2010-12)

  • Blaise Nkufo (2010)

  • Fredy Montero (2011-12)

  • Mauro Rosales (2011-13)

  • Christian Tiffert (2012-13)

  • Shalrie Joseph (2013)

  • Obafemi Martins (2013-15)

  • Clint Dempsey (2013-18)

  • Osvaldo Alonso (2014-18)

  • Nelson Valdez (2015-16)

  • Nicolás Lodeiro (2016-23)

  • Raúl Ruidíaz (2018-24)

  • Víctor Rodríguez (2019)

  • Xavier Arreaga (2019)

  • João Paulo (2020-21)

  • Albert Rusnák (2022 - Present)

  • Pedro de la Vega (2024 - Present)

  • Jordan Morris (2025 - Present)

Toronto FC

  • Julian de Guzman (2009-12)

  • Mista (2010)

  • Danny Koevermans (2011-13)

  • Torsten Frings (2011-12)

  • Eric Hassli (2012)

  • Matías Laba (2013)

  • Gilberto (2014)

  • Michael Bradley (2014-19)

  • Jermaine Defoe (2014-15)

  • Sebastian Giovinco (2015-18)

  • Jozy Altidore (2015-21)

  • Alejandro Pozuelo (2019-22)

  • Pablo Piatti (2020)

  • Yeferson Soteldo (2021)

  • Carlos Salcedo (2022)

  • Lorenzo Insigne (2022-25)

  • Federico Bernardeschi (2022-25)

  • Jonathan Osorio (2023-24)

  • Richie Laryea (2024)

  • Djordje Mihailovic (2025 - Present)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

  • Eric Hassli (2011-12)

  • Mustapha Jaru (2011)

  • Barry Robson (2012)

  • Kenny Miller (2012-14)

  • Matías Laba (2014-17)

  • Mauro Rosales (2014)

  • Pedro Morales (2014-16)

  • Octavio Rivero (2015-16)

  • Fredy Montero (2017, 2019)

  • Brek Shea (2017-18)

  • Kendall Watson (2018)

  • Hwang In-beom (2019-20)

  • Joaquín Ardaiz (2019)

  • Ali Adnan Kadhim (2019-21)

  • Lucas Cavallini (2020-22)

  • Ryan Gauld (2021 - Present)

  • Andres Cubas (2022 - Present)

  • Sergio Córdova (2023)

  • Stuart Armstrong (2024)

  • Thomas Müller (2026 - Present)

Designated Player History by Nation

Argentina: 58 - Luciano Acosta, Ignacio Aliseda, Thiago Almada, Esequiel Barco, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Hernán Bernardello, Claudio Bieler, Sebastián Blanco, Gustavo Bou, Milton Caraglio, Julián Carranza, Tomás Chancalay, Enzo Copetti, Pedro de la Vega, Rodrigo De Paul, Mauro Díaz, Sebastián Driussi, Fabián Espíndola, Cristian Espinoza, Brian Fernández, Nicolás Fernández, Alan Franco, Marcelo Gallardo, Federico Higuaín, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sebastián Jaime, Franco Jara, Matías Laba, Claudio López, Hernán López, Cristian Maidana, Juan Manuel Martínez, Pity Martínez, Tomás Martínez, Lucas Melano, Lionel Messi, Javier Morales, Maximiliano Moralez, Marcelino Moreno, Martín Ojeda, Lucas Ontivero, Cristian Pavón, Matías Pellegrini, Joaquín Pereyra, Matías Pérez García, Ignacio Piatti, Pablo Piatti, Tomás Pochettino, Ezequiel Ponce, Juan Edgardo Ramírez, Emanuel Reynoso, Emiliano Rigoni, Lucas Rodríguez, Mauro Rosales, Diego Valeri, Gonzalo Verón, Milton Valenzuela, Alan Velasco

United States: 29 - Paxten Aaronson, Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Paul Arriola, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Dom Dwyer, Maurice Edu, Jesús Ferreira, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Howard, Eddie Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Djordje Mihailovic, Jordan Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Claudio Reyna, Brek Shea, Matt Turner, Brandon Vázquez, Chris Wondolowski, Gyasi Zardes, Walker Zimmerman, Graham Zusi

Brazil: 22 - Luiz Araújo, Artur, Brenner, Douglas Costa, Rwan Cruz, Denílson, Luciano Emílio, Evander, Geovanni, Gilberto, Guilherme  Rafael Gladiador, Jéferson, Kaká, João Klauss, José Kléberson, Luquinhas, Talles Magno, Thiago Martins, Rafael Navarro, João Paulo, Gabriel Pec

Mexico: 18 - Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Omar Bravo, Nery Castillo, Marco Fabián, Javier Hernández, Héctor Herrera, Luis Ángel Landín, Javier Eduardo López, Hirving Lozano, Rafael Márquez, Rodolfo Pizarro, Alan Pulido, Carlos Salcedo, Giovani dos Santos, Jonathan dos Santos, Erick Torres, Jairo Torres, Carlos Vela

Columbia: 16 - Juan Pablo Ángel, Cristian Arango, Eduard Atuesta, Fabián Castillo, Diego Chará, Yimmi Chará, Andrés Ramiro Escobar, David Ferreira, Ménder García, Cucho Hernández, Mauro Manotas, Fredy Montero, Santiago Mosquera, Luis Muriel, Darwin Quintero, Ángelo Rodríguez

Uruguay: 16 - Joaquín Ardaiz, Felipe Carballo, Thomás Chacón, Bruno Damiani, Álvaro Fernández, Nicolás Lodeiro, Mauricio Pereyra, Federico Puppo, Egidio Arévalo Rios, Octavio Rivero, Brian Rodríguez, Jonathan Rodríguez, Santiago Rodríguez, Diego Rossi, David Texeira, Facundo Torres

Paraguay: 12 - Miguel Almirón, Luis Amarilla, Cristian Colmán, Josué Colmán, Andrés Cubas, Cecilio Domínguez, Sebastián Ferreira, Gastón Giménez, Kaku, Jesús Medina, Nelson Valdez, Héctor Villalba

Spain: 11 - Jordi Alba, Pep Biel, Sergio Busquets, Manu García, Carles Gil, Iván Jaime, Mista, Alejandro Pozuelo, Riqui Puig, Víctor Rodríguez, David Villa

England: 10 - David Beckham, Jermain Defoe, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Liam Ridgewell, Wayne Rooney, Josh Sims, Sam Surridge, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Dru Yearwood

France: 9 - Romain Alessandrini, Kévin Cabral, Yohan Croizet, Claude Dielna, Olivier Giroud, Eric Hassli, Thierry Henry, Adrien Hunou, Blaise Matuidi

Ecuador: 8 - Jordy Alcívar, Juan Luis Anangonó, Xavier Arreaga, Leonardo Campana, Aníbal Chalá, Carlos Gruezo, Oswaldo Minda, Joao Plata

Germany: 8 - Torsten Frings, Marcel Hartel, Eduard Löwen, Hany Mukhtar, Thomas Müller, Frank Rost, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Christian Tiffert

Honduras: 7 - Bryan Acosta, Jerry Bengtson, Alberth Elis, Roger Espinoza, Boniek García, Alexander López, Bryan Róchez

Ivory Coast: 7 - Jonathan Bamba, Ousmane Doumbia, Didier Drogba, Xavier Kouassi, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Aké Arnaud Loba, Wilfried Zaha

Scotland: 7 - Stuart Armstrong, Kris Boyd, Ryan Gauld, Shaun Maloney, Kenny Miller, Barry Robson, Johnny Russell

Venezuela: 7 - Fernando Aristeguieta, Jhonder Cádiz, Sergio Córdova, Josef Martínez, Jeizon Ramírez, Jefferson Savarino, Yeferson Soteldo

Italy: 6 - Federico Bernardeschi, Marco Di Vaio, Sebastian Giovinco, Lorenzo Insigne, Andrea Pirlo, Kelvin Yeboah

Poland: 6 - Adam Buksa, Kamil Jóźwiak, Mateusz Klich, Patryk Klimala, Jarosław Niezgoda, Karol Świderski

Portugal: 6 - David da Costa, Diogo Gonçalves, José Gonçalves, André Horta, Nani, Pedro Santos

Canada: 5 - Lucas Cavallini, Julian de Guzman, Dwayne De Rosario, Richie Laryea, Jonathan Osorio

Costa Rica: 5 - Allan Cruz, Luis Díaz, Randall Leal, Álvaro Saborío, Kendall Waston

Albania: 4 - Shkëlzen Gashi, Hamdi Salihi, Myrto Uzuni, Giacomo Vrioni

Belgium: 4 - Christian Benteke, Hugo Cuypers, Jelle Van Damme, Dante Vanzeir

Chile: 4 - Pablo Aránguiz, Felipe Gutiérrez, Pedro Morales, Diego Rubio

Denmark: 4 - Anders Dreyer, Andreas Maxsø, Younes Namli, Mikael Uhre

Ghana: 4 - David Accam, Osman Bukari, Jonathan Mensah, Joseph Paintsil

Israel: 4 - Liel Abada, Tai Baribo, Omer Damari, Gadi Kinda

Nigeria: 4 - Fanendo Adi, Kennedy Igboananike, Obafemi Martins, Obinna Nwobodo

Peru: 4 - Edison Flores, Andrés Mendoza, Raúl Ruidíaz, Yoshimar Yotún

Sweden: 4 - Magnus Eriksson, Emil Forsberg, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Freddie Ljungberg

Switzerland: 4 - Blerim Džemaili, Innocent Emeghara, Blaise Nkufo, Xherdan Shaqiri

Croatia: 3 - Damir Kreilach, Petar Musa, Marco Pašalić

Finland: 3 - Matti Peltola, Teemu Pukki, Alexander Ring

Hungary: 3 - Dániel Gazdag, Nemanja Nikolić, Dániel Sallói

Serbia: 3 - Dejan Joveljić, Aleksandar Katai, Nemanja Radoja

Armenia: 2 - Yura Movsisyan, Lucas Zelarayán

Czechia: 2 - Bořek Dočkal, Ondřej Lingr

Gabon: 2 - Denis Bouanga, Aaron Boupendza

Georgia: 2 - Saba Lobzhanidze, Valeri Qazaishvili

Greece: 2 - Taxiarchis Fountas, Giorgos Giakoumakis

Ireland: 2 - Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane

Jamaica: 2 - Giles Barnes, Simon Dawkins

Netherlands: 2 - Danny Koevermans, Sherjill MacDonald

Norway: 2 - Stian Rode Gregersen, Kristoffer Velde

Slovakia: 2 - Ján Greguš, Albert Rusnák

Slovenia: 2 - Robert Berić, Aljaž Struna

South Korea: 2 - Hwang In-beom, Son Heung-min

Algeria: 1 - Saphir Taïder

Australia: 1 - Tim Cahill

Austria: 1 - Ercan Kara

Cameroon: 1 - Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Cape Verde: 1 - Jamiro Monteiro

Cuba: 1 - Osvaldo Alonso

Curaçao: 1 - Jürgen Locadia

Gambia: 1 - Mustapha Jarju

Grenada: 1 - Shalrie Joseph

Guinea-Bissau: 1 - Gerso Fernandes

Iceland: 1 - Victor Pálsson

Iraq: 1 - Ali Adnan Kadhim

Japan: 1 - Yuya Kubo

Kenya: 1 - Victor Wanyama

Liberia: 1 - Sam Johnson

Montenegro: 1 - Branko Bošković

Palestine: 1 - Wessam Abou Ali

Panama: 1 - Gabriel Torres

Romania: 1 - Alexandru Mitriță

Russia: 1 - Aleksei Miranchuk

Sierra Leone: 1 - Kei Kamara

Togo: 1 - Kévin Denkey

Turkey: 1 - Cengiz Ünder

Zimbabwe: 1 - Teenage Hadebe