Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo – 2025 MLS all-star game MVP

July 25, 2025

Chester, PA

A fan group at The River End of Subaru Park has a celebratory song when Tai Baribo scores. They swap Tai Baribo’s name for the opening phrase of “Hava Nagila,” a traditional Jewish folk song. If you are a singer, and you wonder “does he hear the chant”? According to Baribo, he “hear[s]everything.”

Baribo’s success with the Philadelphia Union started slowly, but once it began, the trajectory was steep. He joined the Union to fanfare in August, 2023, but saw little playing time that first year. It wasn’t until the Union transferred striker Julian Carranza to Feyenoord Rotterdam in June, 2024 that Baribo saw any consistent time as a starter. Coach Jim Curtin tried a number of formations up top before starting Baribo against FC Cincinnati. While the Union lost the Cincinnati game 4-3, Baribo’s 2 goals made an immediate impact. His form continued with a hat trick against New England in July, 2024. With less than a full schedule of playing time, Baribo’s 9 goals landed him in third place goals scored for Philadelphia in 2024.

Fast forward to 2025, Baribo is a settled starter as striker for the Union under Coach Bradley Carnell. Given past performance, it comes as no surprise that he has continued his scoring ways. For several weeks before injury sidelined him, Baribo led the tally for the 2025 MLS Golden Boot race. His game absences due to injury set him back only slightly, as he now is in fourth place, with 4 fewer games played than the leaders Sam Surridge and Lionel Messi.

Baribo’s early placement in the Golden Boot race landed him as a selection for the MLS All-Star game against the all-stars of Liga MX on July 23, 2025. He subbed in for Surridge in the 34th minute, and scored in the 51st minute with what ended up as the game-winning goal. Off of a picture-perfect pass from Diego Rossi, Baribo shot left of the advancing Liga MX keeper, Kevin Mier. For his efforts, Baribo was given the MVP award for the game.

Through Baribo’s slow beginnings to his meteoric rise, he just seems to enjoy playing. Whether scoring, assisting or supporting a score by his teammates, his smile is infectious. He recounts that enjoying his playing time is important, as is paying homage to team, family, friends and faith. If he continues his scoring, he’ll be hearing a lot more singing at Subaru Park.