With the 2025 MLS season complete, SoundersFC.com begins the countdown of the Top 10 plays of the year, unveiling each moment from No. 10 through No. 1 over the coming days. Check them out below:
NOTE: These plays were voted on by multiple SoundersFC.com staffers and compiled on a point system.
No. 1 - Pedro de la Vega's lights-out banger vs. Cruz Azul | July 31, 2025
Pedro de la Vega was one of six Sounders players to score in the team’s 7-0 Leagues Cup victory over reigning Concacaf Champions Cup victors Cruz Azul. He ended the 90 minutes with two goals to show for, but it was his golazo in the first minute of stoppage time that made headlines. The winger’s first-time volley off a cross-field ball from Alex Roldan was a sight to be seen, earning one of the most profound nominations in the world of soccer — the Puskas Award — for its beauty and precision.
No. 2 - Paul Rothrock's Leagues Cup Final finish vs. Inter Miami | Aug. 31, 2025
The Sounders’ Leagues Cup title victory will go down as one of the most memorable nights in club history, and Paul Rothrock’s final goal of the night was the icing on the cake. Up 2-0 in the closing minutes of the match, defender Alex Roldan played a perfectly placed pass toward the top of the eighteen where Rothrock took a touch past Miami’s Sergio Busquets and rocketed the ball into the far left corner of the net.
No. 3 - Alex Roldan's defensive block vs. Sporting Kansas City | July, 12, 2025
In a tight match on the road vs Sporting Kansas City, Alex Roldan made an unbelievable save with the back heel of his left foot to prevent a goal from the Midwest side. In a series of ricochets beginning with a sliding block from Nouhou, to a shot that hit the post, Roldan finished the chaotic moment in the Sounders’ box with an on-the-line block that landed safely in the hands of Andrew Thomas to end the play. The Rave Green left Mercy Children’s Park with three points, with the help of Roldan’s relentless defensive effort.
No. 4 - Cristian Roldan scores Sounders first-ever FCWC goal vs. Botafogo | June 15, 2025
The Sounders’ first match of FIFA Club World Cup 25 was as thrilling as it gets. From the electric atmosphere of fans, to the competitive play on the pitch, it was the perfect start to the team’s experience in the world renowned tournament. What made it even more special was Cristian Roldan’s goal in the 75th minute. Paul Rothrock played a perfect cross across the face of the goal where Roldan managed to get a head on it and redirect the ball into the back of the net.
No. 5 - Osaze De Rosario's Leagues Cup Semifinal strike vs. LA Galaxy | Aug. 27, 2025
In the 57th minute of the Leagues Cup Semifinals, Osaze De Rosario extended the Sounders lead to two after receiving a ball from a throw in, flicking the ball over his head, and finding his way through multiple Galaxy players before producing a beautifully laced shot into the back of the net. This marked De Rosario’s third goal of four from the tournament.
No. 6 - Pedro de la Vega's golazo from distance vs. The San Jose Earthquakes | July 19, 2025
Pedro de la Vega tallied the game-winner for the Rave Green over the San Jose Earthquakes after producing an absolute laser into the corner. The Argentine’s dribbling skills found him space to take a shot just outside the eighteen, giving his team the 3-2 lead in the 69th minute.
No. 7 - Osaze De Rosario's Leagues Cup Final header vs. Inter Miami | Aug. 31, 2025
It all came down to the match between the Rave Green and Inter Miami to determine the winner of Leagues Cup, and first-year Sounder Osaze De Rosario wasn’t leaving Lumen FIeld without a trophy under his belt. A little over halfway into the first 45, the forward came up clutch with a powerful header goal off a cross from Alex Roldan to make it 1-0 for the home side. This kickstarted the dominant performance the Sounders displayed over Miami, with the team finishing the match with a 3-0 victory and a first-ever title in the regional tournament.
No. 8 - Andrew Thomas' game-winning save vs. The San Jose Earthquakes | July 19, 2025
Following a set piece attempt from San Jose that hit the cross bar, the NorCal side had another opportunity to put it away with a bicycle kick from inside the eighteen yard box. But, it was no match for goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, who pushed the ball over the net to prevent the goal.
No. 9 - Paul Rothrock's rocket vs. LAFC | March 8, 2025
Tied at 1-1 in the second half, Albert Rusnák found Paul Rothrock at the top of the box, where the midfielder had time to take a touch and place a scorcher into the left corner of the goal to give the Sounders the lead. Not only did this mark Rothrock’s first MLS goal of the year, but it also altered the trajectory of the match with the Rave Green finishing the 90 minutes with 5 goals to LAFC’s 2.
No. 10 - Stefan Frei’s stoppage time save vs. The Colorado Rapids | April 26, 2025
Four minutes into stoppage time and tied at 1-1, Colorado receives a golden opportunity to come away with a win when a cross gets roped into the box and manages to get redirected toward goal off the head of a Rapids player. But with Stefan Frei holding down the fort in goal, Colorado was unable to come away with three points in the final moments of the match. As the ball got headed in the direction of the top left corner of the goal, Frei came up clutch with a diving effort that pushed the attempt out of bounds.
