Timo Werner has turn out to be a significant piece for a San Jose Earthquakes facet at the moment dominating the 2026 MLS season, with the German star claiming his first Participant of the Month award simply three months after becoming a member of. With such an instantaneous influence, Werner has managed to ascertain himself as a dominant drive on the pitch even sooner than Lionel Messi did upon becoming a member of Inter Miami.
After logging simply 13 minutes throughout three Bundesliga matches for RB Leipzig within the first half of the 2025-26 season, Werner sought a transfer away from Germany in the course of the winter switch window. On January twenty ninth, he was formally introduced as the most recent member of the SJ Earthquakes, taking one of many membership’s Designated Participant spots.
Whereas his league debut began slowly, tallying 200 minutes in his first 4 appearances and lacking three others, April proved to be his breakthrough. With a league-high seven aim contributions (4 targets and three assists) in April, Werner was voted the MLS Participant of the Month.
The Earthquakes loved a formidable run in April, pulling off 5 consecutive wins whereas outscoring opponents 16-5. The German star returned from damage in opposition to Los Angeles FC with a aim and an help in a 4-1 win, continued his streak in opposition to Austin FC, and at last netted a brace with an help to spark a 3-2 comeback highway victory over St. Louis Metropolis.
Simply three months since his January arrival, Werner has already etched his title into the MLS historical past books. By profitable the Participant of the Month award for April, he grew to become solely the second German participant to earn the consideration, becoming a member of Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar, who has received the award twice.
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Lionel Messi at the moment sits tied for fifth all-time with 5 MLS Participant of the Month awards, degree with Luciano Acosta and trailing solely legend Chris Wondolowski, who holds the document with seven. Nonetheless, by way of fast influence from his debut, Werner has really outpaced the Inter Miami ace.
Following the expiration of his PSG contract, Messi joined Inter Miami on July 15, 2023, with greater than half of the season already accomplished. The Argentine made his MLS debut in opposition to the New York Pink Bulls on August 26, however he was restricted to only 5 extra appearances that marketing campaign because of recurring accidents.
After regaining full health and settling in with Inter Miami, Messi’s first MLS Participant of the Month award arrived in April 2024. Throughout that month, he recorded a staggering six targets and 4 assists in simply 4 matches. Whereas Messi claimed his first award in his fifth month of energetic league competitors (accounting for the unified Feb/March window), Werner secured his in simply his second.
