- Chad Marshall was the MLS Defender of the Year twice during his time with the Crew.
- Brian McBride is Columbus’ all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in all competitions.
- Guillermo Barros Schelotto was the best player on the 2008 domestic double-winning side.
The Columbus Crew was one of the 10 charter MLS franchises and has been one of the most successful teams in the league’s history.
Columbus has won the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield three times apiece and has also claimed the U.S. Open Cup and the recently formed Leagues Cup.
The club perennially is a contender in the soccer odds to win the MLS Cup at the BetMGM online sportsbook and has produced some of the league’s best players.
It was difficult to narrow this list to the five best, but here are my top Columbus Crew players of all time.
5 Best Columbus Crew MLS Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Columbus Crew Years |
| 1 | Chad Marshall | Defender | 2004-2013 |
| 2 | Brian McBride | Forward | 1996-2003 |
| 3 | Guillermo Barros Schelotto | Midfielder | 2007-2010 |
| 4 | Frankie Hejduk | Defender | 2003-2010 |
| 5 | Jeff Cunningham | Forward | 1998-2004 & 2011 |
Columbus Crew All-Time Greatest Players
1. Chad Marshall
The American centre back is one of the greatest players in league history and expertly marshalled the back line during his decade in Columbus.
Marshall helped the Crew to three Supporters’ Shields and its first MLS Cup triumph in 2008. He earned MLS Defender of the Year honours in 2008 and 2009, becoming the second player to win the award in back-to-back campaigns after Carlos Bocanegra.
Marshall was a two-time All-Star, served as the club captain for two seasons, and remains the Crew’s all-time leader in MLS appearances (253).
2. Brian McBride
If MLS betting were widely available in its early days, I would’ve been on the lookout for Brian McBride’s goal props most weeks.
The No. 1 pick in the MLS Inaugural Draft made an instant impact in Columbus, netting 17 goals and providing three assists in his debut campaign, and remains the club’s all-time leading goal scorer with 79 strikes across all competitions.
McBride was a five-time All-Star during his time with the Crew and helped the franchise lift the first trophy in its history.
3. Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the shortest-tenured Crew player to make the list, but his impact over four seasons was significant.
The Argentine midfielder scored 33 goals and provided 41 assists in 102 MLS appearances, and his standout 2008 campaign (seven goals, 19 assists) earned him MLS MVP and Best XI honours. He polished that season off by winning MLS Cup MVP after assisting on all three goals in Columbus’ 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
GBS was unquestionably the best player on the best team in franchise history and deserves his flowers after joining from Boca Juniors.
4. Frankie Hejduk
The former USMNT defender was an important contributor across eight seasons with the Crew and captained the side from 2006-2010.
Hejduk won three Supporters’ Shields and the 2008 MLS Cup, which he put the finishing touches on by scoring the third goal with a looping header late in the second half.
He continues to play a role with the Crew post-retirement, working in the front office in the strategic partnerships department.
5. Jeff Cunningham
The Jamaican forward ranks in the top five in goals, assists, and appearances across all competitions for the Crew and is its all-time scoring leader in MLS play with 64 goals.
Cunningham was included in the 2002 MLS Best XI after a 16-goal, five-assist campaign that saw Columbus finish second in the East and win the Open Cup. He also played a key part in the team that won the 2004 Supporters’ Shield.
Although his best days were behind him when he returned to the Crew for a final run in 2011, Cunningham made history in his second stint with the Yellow and Black, passing Jaime Moreno to become MLS’ all-time leading scorer with 134 goals. He now sits fourth on the list behind Chris Wondolowski, Kei Kamara, and Landon Donovan.
