**The 2026 MLS Defender of the Year market remains tightly bunched near the top because no center back has separated himself through the first third of the season.** Inter Miami’s Micael, acquired on loan from Palmeiras to bolster a back line transitioning after key departures, has helped stabilize the Herons’ defense amid a strong Eastern Conference start. Nashville SC’s early Supporters’ Shield pace and clean-sheet contributions from multiple options keep several names in play, while established performers like Kevin Long continue logging consistent minutes on competitive sides. Roster depth across the league, varying team results, and the award’s emphasis on overall defensive impact rather than isolated stats have prevented any candidate from building a decisive lead, leaving trader consensus reflecting a wide-open race.
Experimental AI-generated summary referencing Polymarket data. This is not trading advice and plays no role in how this market resolves. · UpdatedWalker Zimmerman 42.6%
Brendan Hines-Ike 42.5%
Yevhen Cheberko 42.1%
Miguel Tapias 40.7%
$899,799 Vol.
$899,799 Vol.
Walker Zimmerman
43%
Brendan Hines-Ike
43%
Yevhen Cheberko
42%
Miguel Tapias
41%
Joel Waterman
41%
Stian Gregersen
39%
Micael
26%
Sean Nealis
25%
Zac McGraw
16%
Dany Rosero
5%
Sebastien Ibeagha
5%
Joakim Nilsson
4%
Jalen Neal
4%
Lucas Bartlett
3%
Eddie Segura
3%
Jackson Ragen
2%
Lalas Abubakar
21%
Gabriele Corbo
1%
Erik Sviatchenko
18%
Yeimar Gómez Andrade
1%
Michael Boxall
20%
Jack Maher
15%
Matt Miazga
8%
Adilson Malanda
14%
Thiago Martins
16%
Andrés Reyes
7%
Henry Kessler
22%
Tim Parker
20%
Maya Yoshida
<1%
Ranko Veselinović
<1%
Kevin Long
<1%
Miles Robinson
26%
Tristan Blackmon
40%
Birk Risa
41%
Robin Jansson
42%
David Brekalo
31%
Andreas Maxsø
43%
Justen Glad
38%
Dave Romney
33%
Jakob Glesnes
43%
Jack Elliott
40%
Donovan Pines
37%
Rodrigues
43%
Robert Voloder
42%
Sigurd Rosted
43%
Aaron Long
43%
Enea Mihaj
40%
Rudy Camacho
39%
Maximiliano Falcón
34%
Tomás Avilés
41%
Oleksandr Svatok
37%
Christopher McVey
39%
Kamal Miller
40%
Carlos Terán
38%
Mauricio Pineda
41%
Marcelo Silva
37%
Andrew Privett
38%
Nkosi Tafari
40%
Noah Eile
41%
Daniel Munie
40%
Walker Zimmerman 42.6%
Brendan Hines-Ike 42.5%
Yevhen Cheberko 42.1%
Miguel Tapias 40.7%
$899,799 Vol.
$899,799 Vol.
Walker Zimmerman
43%
Brendan Hines-Ike
43%
Yevhen Cheberko
42%
Miguel Tapias
41%
Joel Waterman
41%
Stian Gregersen
39%
Micael
26%
Sean Nealis
25%
Zac McGraw
16%
Dany Rosero
5%
Sebastien Ibeagha
5%
Joakim Nilsson
4%
Jalen Neal
4%
Lucas Bartlett
3%
Eddie Segura
3%
Jackson Ragen
2%
Lalas Abubakar
21%
Gabriele Corbo
1%
Erik Sviatchenko
18%
Yeimar Gómez Andrade
1%
Michael Boxall
20%
Jack Maher
15%
Matt Miazga
8%
Adilson Malanda
14%
Thiago Martins
16%
Andrés Reyes
7%
Henry Kessler
22%
Tim Parker
20%
Maya Yoshida
<1%
Ranko Veselinović
<1%
Kevin Long
<1%
Miles Robinson
26%
Tristan Blackmon
40%
Birk Risa
41%
Robin Jansson
42%
David Brekalo
31%
Andreas Maxsø
43%
Justen Glad
38%
Dave Romney
33%
Jakob Glesnes
43%
Jack Elliott
40%
Donovan Pines
37%
Rodrigues
43%
Robert Voloder
42%
Sigurd Rosted
43%
Aaron Long
43%
Enea Mihaj
40%
Rudy Camacho
39%
Maximiliano Falcón
34%
Tomás Avilés
41%
Oleksandr Svatok
37%
Christopher McVey
39%
Kamal Miller
40%
Carlos Terán
38%
Mauricio Pineda
41%
Marcelo Silva
37%
Andrew Privett
38%
Nkosi Tafari
40%
Noah Eile
41%
Daniel Munie
40%
In the event of a tie, this market will resolve according to the official winner as determined by MLS rules. If multiple winners are announced then this market will resolve to the player whose listed last name comes first alphabetically.
If the 2026 MLS season is cancelled, postponed after December 31, 2026 ET, or there is otherwise no winner declared within that timeframe, this market will resolve to “Other”.
The resolution source for this market will be official information from Major League Soccer; however, a consensus of credible reporting may also be used.
Market Opened: Feb 17, 2026, 2:56 PM ET
Resolver
0x2F5e3684c...In the event of a tie, this market will resolve according to the official winner as determined by MLS rules. If multiple winners are announced then this market will resolve to the player whose listed last name comes first alphabetically.
If the 2026 MLS season is cancelled, postponed after December 31, 2026 ET, or there is otherwise no winner declared within that timeframe, this market will resolve to “Other”.
The resolution source for this market will be official information from Major League Soccer; however, a consensus of credible reporting may also be used.
Resolver
0x2F5e3684c...**The 2026 MLS Defender of the Year market remains tightly bunched near the top because no center back has separated himself through the first third of the season.** Inter Miami’s Micael, acquired on loan from Palmeiras to bolster a back line transitioning after key departures, has helped stabilize the Herons’ defense amid a strong Eastern Conference start. Nashville SC’s early Supporters’ Shield pace and clean-sheet contributions from multiple options keep several names in play, while established performers like Kevin Long continue logging consistent minutes on competitive sides. Roster depth across the league, varying team results, and the award’s emphasis on overall defensive impact rather than isolated stats have prevented any candidate from building a decisive lead, leaving trader consensus reflecting a wide-open race.
Experimental AI-generated summary referencing Polymarket data. This is not trading advice and plays no role in how this market resolves. · Updated



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