Major League Soccer (MLS) has found itself in the headlines for all of the right reasons recently, thanks to Argentinian superstar and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi shunning a mega-money offer from Saudi Arabia and signing an equally ludicrous contract with Inter Miami. Many consider Messi to be the G.O.A.T of “the beautiful game,” and not many football supporters would argue with that statement. However, as brilliant as Messi is, he is not the first global superstar to compete in the MLS, as you are about to discover.
Carlos Valderrama
Colombian attacking midfielder Carlos Valderrama spent most of his professional career playing for South American and European teams. However, he spent the last seven seasons showcasing his silky skills in the MLS. Valderrama was the original international superstar of the MLS, joining Tampa Bay Mutiny during the competition’s debut season in 1996.
With Valderrama pulling strings from midfield, Tampa Bay went on to clinch the inaugural MLS Supporters’ Shield, the award given to the MLS team with the best regular season record. Valderrama being directly involved in a goal was one of the best MLS bets you could make for a long time because he is credited with 114 assists between 1996 and the end of the 2001-02 season. Valderrama, an icon of the game, paved the way for other international stars to play in North America.
Hristo Stoichkov
Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov caused a significant stir in football circles in 2000 when he put pen to paper and signed for Chicago Fire. The prolific forward scored 108 goals in 214 appearances for FC Barcelona during the first half of the 1990s and was the Golden Boot winner at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Although Stoichkov was 34 and nearing the end of his career when he joined Chicago Fire, he still scored 23 goals in 57 games across three seasons before moving to D.C. United in 2003, and finally hanging up his boots when the regular season concluded.
David Beckham
LA Galaxy pulled off the transfer coup of the century when they convinced England international David Beckham to join them after his contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid expired. LA Galaxy broke the bank to get Beckham on their books, paying the British icon a $6.5 million salary, by far the largest contract in MLS history at the time. In addition to his huge wages, Beckham reportedly received revenue share from his image rights and was given the option to purchase an MLS expansion franchise once he stepped away from the game. Inter Miami later became that team.
Beckham had it all. Dashing good looks, a pop star wife, incredible talent, and the ability to draw in crowds to football matches. Beckham, who represented his country 115 times, played 118 games in all competitions for LA Galaxy, scoring 20 goals.
After helping LA Galaxy retain the coveted MLS Cup in 2012, Beckham left the MLS and signed for French outfit Paris St. Germain on a short-term deal. He played ten games in SG’s colors before calling time on an illustrious playing career.
Theirry Henry
The previously mentioned Messi aside, Thierry Henry is the best international player to have ever set foot on an MLS pitch. The French star shot to superstardom in the English Premier League, where he is considered one of the great strikers in the competition’s history.
Premier League outfit Arsenal bought Henry from Juventus for what turned out to be a bargain £11 million. Initially a winger, then-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger converted Henry into a deadly striker who terrorized defenses in England and Europe. Through eight seasons with “The Gunners,” Henry played 377 games and scored 228 goals, a phenomenal record that made him Arsenal’s all-time top scorer.
A three-season spell at Barcelona followed before Henry made his way across the Atlantic and made New York Red Bulls his team. Henry shone in what was an otherwise poor Red Bulls team, finding the back of the net 52 times from 135 appearances.
Henry retired after the end of the 2014 MLS season but returned in 2019 as head coach of Montreal Impact.
Kaka
Brazilian Kaka had the most impressive resume when he shocked the footballing world by signing a contract with MLS newcomers Orlando City. Kaka headed to the States having won the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or.
Kaka has an almost unnatural ability to glide past players before splitting even the tightest of defenses with pinpoint passes. The Brazilian knew where the back of the net was, too, scoring 208 goals in 654 games at club level and another 29 goals in 92 games for his native Brazil. Although Kaka’s best yars were at Real Madrid and AC Milan before that, he was still a fantastic player for Orlando City, and many football pundits wished he had chosen to play for one of the more established MLS franchises because he could have achieved greatness.
Injuries plagued Kaka during his three seasons in the MLS, but he still turned out 78 times and scored 25 goals.
Honorable Mentions
This article could have dragged on for another few thousand words, praising some of the game’s greats. Who can forget about David Villa, who played for New York City FC from 2015-2018? Villa was crowned the MLS’ Most Valuable Player in 2016 thanks, in part, to scoring 23 goals in 35 games. He ended his NYCFC career with 80 goals from 126 appearances.
Then there was the powerful former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who may have only lasted one-and-a-half seasons with Montreal Impact but still scored 23 times in 41 games.
Throw into the mix the British quartet of Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, and Wayne Rooney alongside such luminaries as Andrea Pirlo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Javier Hernandez, and Gareth Bale, and you can see that the MLS has lured players to the United States for as long as the competition has existed.