Arif Kovac named MLS NEXT Pro MVP after 20-goal season

Arif Kovac’s 20-goal season puts Atlanta United 2’s development pathway in focus.

2026-10-29 · Atlanta United 2

A season that changed the picture

Arif Kovac was named MLS NEXT Pro’s 2026 Most Valuable Player after scoring 20 regular-season goals. Atlanta United’s announcement also records 23 goal contributions and a place in the league’s Best XI.

Repetition becomes opportunity

His first professional start came against Inter Miami CF II on April 10. In May, a five-goal match against Huntsville City showed how quickly a developing player can make an impact.

The Touchline view

A development league is more than a waiting room. Follow performances over time, understand the competition, and separate documented production from predictions about a player’s ceiling. Kovac’s next step remains a story to follow.