GOAL takes a look at each team's star player ahead of the playoffs

Major League Soccer is a league based on stars and starpower, even if those two don't always lead to on-field success.

Since the league's inception, MLS has been a league driven by big names, with the league's roster rules lending themselves to teams featuring at least one easily-identifiable star man.

For some, those names are familiar: former European-based players that have long seen themselves play on the biggest stage. For others, the stars are less familiar, but no less vital, as one of the beautiful things about MLS is how teams can build in a variety of ways.

Even so, each team has at least one key player to look out for. GOAL has you covered when it comes to each team's star to watch on the road to MLS Cup.

GettyLAFC – Gareth Bale

We've only gotten a slight taste of how good Bale can be in MLS.

The former Real Madrid star arrived this summer, but has been somewhat eased in to life at LAFC. He has just two goals in 12 appearances, but it should be noted that he's only started in two of those matches.

Those matches, though, were during the regular season, and Bale wasn't brought in for the regular season. He was brought in to lead this team to the MLS Cup glory that it has been oh so close to since arriving in the league.

By many measures, LAFC are the best team in MLS, and Bale is that team's most talented player. He hasn't even scratched the surface of his abilities yet in MLS but, if he does, LAFC will be clear favorites to win it all.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesPhiladelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag

It could be easily argued that Gazdag should be the league's Most Valuable Player.

His stats are ridiculous: 22 goals and 10 assists in MLS play. He's only the ninth player in MLS history to hit the 30-goal contribution mark.

And the Union, for large stretches of the season, were the league's most entertaining and dominant team, regularly beating the snot out of opponents by multiple goals. Gazdag was vital to that and was vital to pretty much anything the Union did all through their run to the top of the East.

The Hungarian is a true monster of a midfielder, and one of the signings the Union have hit big on to supplement the homegrown core that has them right up there among the league's elite.

Getty ImagesAustin FC – Sebastian Driussi

Another MVP candidate that was at the top of his game this season.

Driussi was right up there in the Golden Boot race all year, finishing with 22 goals and seven assists to his name this season. And it was those goal contributions that saw Austin FC reach a different level after finishing as the third-worst team in MLS in their debut season.

There's nothing more valuable than a consistent difference-maker, and that's exactly what Driussi is. Every MLS team is hunting for a goalscorer like Driussi, and Austin FC sure has a good one to lead them into the postseason.

GettyCF Montreal – Djordje Mihailovic

This will be the midfielder's last go around in MLS, and there is a legitimate chance Montreal can make it a special one.

Mihailovic is bound for the Eredivisie this winter, having already signed a deal to move to AZ Alkmaar. But, before that, he'll finish off the season in Montreal, having helped the Canadian side seal the two seed in the East.

It's no wonder AZ wanted the midfielder, who has provided 13 goals and 22 assists since joining the Montreal before last season. His assist numbers dipped this season from 16 to six, but he more than doubled his goal tally from last year by scoring nine this season.

For Mihailovic, there's also the last-gasp hope of a World Cup spot looming large, even if he is unlikely to make the U.S. roster at this point.