NEW YORK - Two Missouri State men's soccer players are listed as eligible players for MLS SuperDraft 2025 taking place on Friday. Forward Jesus Barea and midfielder Alex Matthews are among the 477 players representing 150 different schools on the list released by Major League Soccer on Wednesday.

"Missouri State University is thrilled that Jesus and Alex are on the draft list for 2025," Missouri State head coach Michael Seabolt said. "We believe Jesus should be a top pick and is MLS first-team ready. Alex has a few years yet with the Bears but with the new rules teams can select a college player and watch them develop at the university level and Alex is certainly at that level. It is a great testament to the team, the staff and the school that we can promote so many top student-athletes every year."

Barea (Cádiz, Spain) ended the 2024 season tied for fourth in the nation in goals (15), which is tied for the second-most goals in a single season in Missouri State history. He led Division I in shots on goal per game (2.78). He was also third nationally in shots per game (4.50), fourth in points per game (1.89) and fifth in goals per game (0.83). Barea scored at least one goal in 11 of Missouri State's 18 matches and opened the 2024 campaign with eight goals in the first five matches. He earned a brace in four matches this season, including consecutive outings against Pacific (Aug. 26) and Kansas City (Sept. 2). 

Barea was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America first team and has been an All-Region player for the last three years. He won his second career Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year award to become the first Missouri State player to earn the distinction twice (2022, 2024). Barea is a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and was also named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American. This will be the second straight year Barea will be on the SuperDraft Eligibility List. He participated in the 2024 MLS College Showcase in San Diego last week where scouts from each MLS club evaluated players ahead of the draft.

Matthews (Derbyshire, England) makes his first appearance on an MLS SuperDraft eligibility list after being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America third team. The All-MVC first-team player led Missouri State with 1,593 minutes on the field — playing all but 27 minutes for the whole season — and had a career-high two assists in 2024. He contributed to the team's 239-109 shot differential and its +22 goal differential, which was tied for the 12th-highest in DI. He also made the 2024 MVC All-Tournament Team.

Barea and Matthews led Missouri State to a 12-4-2 record, including a 7-0-1 conference record to secure an undefeated MVC regular season championship. The Bears earned a national seeding in the NCAA Tournament and a first-round bye for the second time in team history. Missouri State's winning percentage of .722 was the 15th-highest among DI teams.

The first round of MLS SuperDraft 2025 begins Friday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. CT. It will consist of three rounds of player selection. The MLS SuperDraft order is set by taking the reverse order of the club standings at the end of each MLS season, taking postseason performance into account, with new expansion club San Diego FC holding the top selection in each round.