5 Best New York Red Bulls MLS Players, Ranked

The New York Red Bulls have one of the most unique histories in Major League Soccer.

The club, which began play as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 1996 as one of the league’s charter franchises, underwent a significant transition after being acquired by Red Bull GmbH in 2006.

However, one club trait has remained constant. From Tab Ramos to Emil Forsberg, New York has always been able to attract some of the sport’s biggest stars.

I’ll touch on a few more high-profile names below in my list of the five best New York Red Bulls players of all time.

5 Best New York Red Bulls MLS Players, Ranked

New York Red Bulls All-Time Greatest Players

1. Bradley Wright-Phillips

As the son of Arsenal FC legend Ian Wright, Bradley Wright-Phillips had a goalscoring legacy to live up to.

While he enjoyed moderate success in his native England, Wright-Phillips thrived in New York after joining the Red Bulls in the summer of 2013.

BWP quickly became a fan favourite, matching the league’s single-season scoring record with 27 goals in 2014 to win the first of two career MLS Golden Boots. His 24-goal tally two years later saw him become the first player in MLS history to record multiple 20-goal seasons.

Wright-Phillips helped the Red Bulls to three MLS Supporters’ Shields and remains the club’s all-time leading scorer with 108 goals in league play.

2. Thierry Henry

An Arsenal legend in his own right, Henry made the seismic move to MLS from FC Barcelona in 2010, just a year after helping La Blaugrana win a historic treble.

The French forward showcased his talents in MLS for four-plus seasons, retiring as the Red Bulls’ all-time leader in assists (42) and second-leading scorer (51 goals). 

Henry made four MLS All-Star appearances, was a finalist for MLS MVP in 2012, and captained the 2013 team to the Supporters’ Shield, the franchise’s first trophy.

3. Luis Robles

Goalkeepers don’t typically affect the soccer odds at sports betting sites, but Robles was the calibre of netminder who could have. 

After spending the early part of his career in Germany, the Arizona native found a home in New York after signing with the club in August 2012.

The following month, Robles made his club debut in place of injured starter Ryan Meara, beginning what turned out to be an MLS-record run of 183 consecutive starts (201 including playoffs). The streak spanned nearly six seasons and more than 2,000 days.

The 2015 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year remains New York’s all-time leader in appearances and shutouts and is widely considered one of the top 10 goalies in the league’s history.

4. Dax McCarty

McCarty was a midfield fixture for the Red Bulls teams of the early 2010s, doing the dirty work so players like Henry, Wright-Phillips, and Tim Cahill could succeed. 

The Florida native played for six MLS clubs during his illustrious career but enjoyed his most success in New York, winning two Supporters’ Shields and earning MLS All-Star and Best XI recognition in 2015.

McCarty captained the Red Bulls following Henry’s departure, helping the team to back-to-back first-place finishes in the Eastern Conference, and retired as the club’s all-time leader in minutes played. 

5. Juan Pablo Angel

When I’m building my MLS betting card, I look to back strikers with Angel’s clinicality. 

The Colombian forward joined the Red Bulls from English Premier League side Aston Villa in 2007, bursting onto the scene with 19 goals in 24 games to earn nominations for MLS MVP and MLS Newcomer of the Year.

Angel scored 58 league goals across four MLS seasons to become the club’s all-time leading scorer, a record that stood until 2016.