Philadelphia Union Forward Tai Baribo Named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 13

NEW YORK (Thursday, May 15, 2025) – Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 13 of the 2025 MLS season.

Baribo fueled an impressive second-half comeback for Philadelphia against the LA Galaxy, netting the equalizer and game-winner late in stoppage time to secure a 3-2 victory for the Union on Wednesday (Watch MLS Wrap-Up Discuss Baribo’s Performance Here). The brace boosts the Israeli forward to the top of the Golden Boot presented by Audi race with a league-leading 10 goals in 12 games as he became the fastest player to double-digit tallies in Union history, surpassing the previous record of 10 goals in 14 games by Jack McInerney in 2013. Last year marked Baribo’s first full campaign with Philadelphia and saw him take home the AT&T Top Scorer Award at Leagues Cup with seven goals. This year, he won MLS Player of the Month for February and March after scoring six goals in the Union’s first five matches and his 11 goal contributions are now tied for third in the league.

Wednesday night marked just the second time in club history that the Union have come back from a two-goal, second-half deficit to win. The victory came in dramatic fashion as Baribo’s deciding goal came in the sixth minute of stoppage time, the second-latest game-winning goal in MLS this season. Philadelphia’s 26 points mark its best-ever start through 13 matches, surpassing the previous high of 25 in 2020.

Despite falling behind 2-0 in the first half, the Union came roaring back after the break, starting with a goal from U.S. international defender Nathan Harriel in the 48th minute (Watch Here). Baribo netted his first just two minutes later to draw Philadelphia level (Watch Here). Working down the left flank, Danley Jean Jacques put a ball in the air for Baribo just beyond the six and the forward squared a header to the near left post for the equalizer. The decider came in the game’s final moments as the Union kept the ball alive in the box following a later corner. Driving to the end line just yards from the net, Mikael Uhre cut it back across goal for Baribo at the opposite post and he cleanly headed it home to send Subaru Park into pandemonium (Watch Here).

It’s the second time this season that Baribo has been awarded Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra and he’s the first player to be recognized twice in 2025. The forward was first honored following Matchday 2 after netting his second career MLS hat trick during a 4-1 victory against FC Cincinnati. It’s the striker's third career Player of the Matchday award, winning for Matchday 27 last season following a hat trick against the New England Revolution.

Next up, the Union will visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, May 17 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) for a showdown with Atlanta United. Then, it’s a midweek Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match-up with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Wednesday, May 21 (7:30 p.m. ET, Paramount+) and a clash of Eastern Conference contenders when Philadelphia hosts Inter Miami CF on Saturday, May 24 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an Instagram fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.