Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union's forward, Tai Baribo, has been selected as the MLS Player of the Month for February and March 2025. Baribo is the first player from the Union to receive this accolade since 2013, following a remarkable run of performances.

During the initial six matches of the 2025 season, Baribo showcased his scoring prowess by netting six goals, driving Philadelphia to secure 12 points with four wins and two losses by the end of March. He logged impressive performances, highlighted by scoring five goals in the opening two matches, including a hat trick against FC Cincinnati on Matchday 2. This achievement made him only the fourth player in MLS history to score at least five goals in a club's first two games of a season, joining the ranks of Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, Ayo Akinola, and Brian Ching.

Since June 2024, Baribo has been one of the league's standout scorers, tying for the MLS lead with 15 goals. His knack for finding the back of the net is further underscored by four multi-score games and multiple hat tricks, leading the league in these categories.

At 27 years old, Baribo becomes only the third Union player ever to earn the Player of the Month title. The last to receive this honor was Jack McInerney in 2013, with Sébastien Le Toux winning in September 2011.

Upcoming, Baribo and the Union will host Orlando City SC at Subaru Park on Saturday night. Philadelphia currently holds second place in the Eastern Conference standings, boasting a plus-five goal differential.

The MLS Player of the Month award is decided through votes from a select panel of national media members, as organized by MLS Communications.