SAN JOSE, Calif. – MLS NEXT Pro announced today that Earthquakes midfielder Cruz Medina has been named to the Best XI after a breakthrough season with The Town FC.
Medina, 19, has been a standout player for the Quakes’ MLS NEXT Pro team, The Town FC. This campaign, the San Francisco native tallied career highs in goals (7) and assists (5) en route to his first career nod on the league’s Best XI. The Town FC, coming off back-to-back Pacific Division Championships, will face defending champions North Texas SC in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday at PayPal Park.
Overall, Medina has tallied 16 goal contributions (12g/7a) across 68 appearances (55 starts). One of only three Americans named to The Guardian’s 2023 Top 60 Best Young Talents in the World list, he signed a first-team contract as a Homegrown Player with San Jose in June 2022.
Internationally, Medina is coming off participation in back-to-back camps with the U.S. U-20 National Team in September and early October. He was also called up to the U.S. U-19 team’s training camp in Morocco in 2024 before playing in the Concacaf U-20 Championships, scoring a goal and notching an assist as the U.S. were finalists. The midfielder starred for the U-17 United States Men’s Youth National Team in 2023, making the Concacaf U-17 Championship Best XI. He subsequently served as U.S. team captain in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup group stage in Indonesia. Mexico’s Youth National Team has also showed interest in Medina, calling him up to their U-20 training camp which he attended in March 2024.
MLS NEXT Pro MVP presented by adidas, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year will be announced in the coming weeks.
2025 MLS NEXT PRO BEST XI
Goalkeeper (1):
Eldin Jakupović – Chattanooga FC
Honorable Mention: Pedro Cruz – Houston Dynamo 2
Defenders (3):
Gabriel Mikina – St Louis CITY2
Neil Pierre – Philadelphia Union II
Tate Robertson – Chattanooga FC
Honorable Mention: Jordan Knight – Huntsville City FC; Harbor Miller – Ventura County FC
Midfielders (4):
Nehuén Benedetti – New York Red Bulls II
Alan Carleton – Huntsville City FC
Marcos Dias – New England Revolution II
Cruz Medina – The Town FC
Honorable Mention: Miguel Perez – St Louis CITY2
Forwards (3):
Mykhi Joyner – St Louis CITY2
Sam Sarver – North Texas SC
Jason Shokalook – Chicago Fire FC II
Honorable Mention: Yu Tsukanome – Tacoma Defiance
About MLS NEXT Pro
Launched in 2022 by Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro is a professional men’s soccer league in the United States and Canada that completes the pro player pathway from MLS NEXT to MLS first teams. MLS NEXT Pro continues to grow the game through innovation and inclusion, bringing professional soccer to new communities and creating opportunities both on and off the field. MLS NEXT Pro celebrates its fourth season in 2025 with 29 teams, 27 MLS-affiliated and two independent, Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC. Additional MLS-affiliated and independent clubs will join in the years ahead, including Cleveland, Jacksonville Armada FC, Connecticut United FC, AC Grand Rapids, and The Island F.C. MLS NEXT Pro matches are broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV as part of the groundbreaking partnership between Apple and MLS. For more information about MLS NEXT Pro, visit mlsnextpro.com.
