Â鶹APP

By Steindy

15 Best Soccer Players Who Played In The MLS

Soccer, or Football as it is more commonly known, is a popular sport that has grown rapidly around the world. Great players can be found in the top European leagues. Other talented and great footballers, however, have gone on to grace the fields of Major League Soccer (MLS) in North America. As the title emphasizes MLS players, this context will look at both legends and players who are still lighting up the league. In this context, the listed players have left an indelible mark on the history of MLS and raised the profile of soccer in North America. The discussion will range from skills to spectacular goal-scoring. So let’s take a look at these fantastic players.

1. David Beckham

Picture By Soccer Aid for Unicef

We begin our list with this Manchester Legend, who, of course, is expected to do so. Without a doubt, David Beckham is the most famous player in Major League Soccer history. Following his success at Manchester United and Real Madrid, the English player moved to the United States to play for the LA Galaxy.

Beckham won two MLS Cups and two Supporters’ Shields with the Los Angeles-based club. As a co-owner of the South Florida expansion team Inter Miami, he continues to have an impact on the league.

David’s overall combination of skill, fame, and marketing appeal aided him in becoming the most famous player in MLS and a pivotal figure in the League’s growth and success.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is like fine wine in that he improves with each passing year. Ibrahimovic, who is now competing for the top goal scorer in Italy with AC Milan, will be remembered for his bold cockiness during interviews and Jimmy Kimmel appearances. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the best player in the MLS.

MLS career (LA Galaxy 2018-2020): With 52 goals in 56 games, Ibrahimovic should be remembered as the most talented player to ever play in MLS. His individual performances were nothing short of spectacular, as he routinely scored important and memorable goals.

3. Thierry Henry

Picture By Web Summit

Let’s take a look at this French football legend and all-time goal scorer. Thierry Henry, France’s legendary striker, joined the MLS in 2010 when he signed with the New York Red Bulls from FC Barcelona.

Interestingly, he returned to Arsenal for a brief loan period in 2012. Henry is considered a club legend at Arsenal, where he won two Premier League championships. In 122 MLS games, the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro winner scored 51 goals.

The Frenchman is one of the best hires in league history, with his world-class play earning the Red Bulls their first championship. His consistent efforts, skills, and celebrity earned him a spot as one of the best MLS players.

Read Top 10 Interesting Facts about Thierry Henry

4. David Villa

His time with Valencia and then FC Barcelona translated well to the MLS, where he became one of the league’s fiercest goal-scorers. David Villa, the Spanish striker who led New York City F.C. to its first playoff berth this season with 23 goals, has been named Major League Soccer’s most valuable player.

He finished four seasons with 77 goals in 117 MLS appearances and was named the 2016 Landon Donovan MLS MVP. Villa is regarded by pundits as one of the best forwards of his generation and one of the greatest Spanish strikers of all time.

He is currently the Technical Advisor and Head of Global Football Operations for the Indian Super League.

5. Steven Gerrard

By Biser Todorov

Steven Gerrard, known for keeping Liverpool relevant for nearly two decades until 2015, will appear on every reliable list of the greatest midfielders of all time. He didn’t retire after his English career ended, however, as he played for a season in Los Angeles.

Gerrard is regarded as one of the greatest Liverpool footballers of all time, as well as one of the best English players in the sport’s history, due to his talent and achievements for club and country.

He is currently making major moves to coach major football clubs after resigning from Aston Villa.

Read Top 10 English Soccer Players

6. Wayne Rooney

The only player from D.C. United to make the list is Wayne Rooney, who helped raise the quality during his time in the nation’s capital.

He’ll be remembered for his last-ditch tackle and cross-field assist to Luciano Acosta. Which helped the team win in dramatic fashion during the 2018 season. He is England’s youngest-ever goal scorer. England’s all-time top scorer and second most-capped player.

With Manchester United, he won 16 trophies, including five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and a Champions League title.

MLS career (DC United 2018-2019): Scored 23 goals in 48 appearances and contributed to the team’s victories.

Only one of two Englishmen to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup, Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup.

7. Kaka, Orlando city

Prior to Luka Modric winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018, Kaká was the only soccer player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award in 2008. In 2014, he brought that class to MLS. He was a member of the Brazilian teams that won the World Cup in 2002, the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2005, and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009.

Kaka has won Serie A, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League. He had 24 goals and 21 assists in three seasons with Orlando City.

Orlando City’s first player to make our list during his MLS career (2014-2017). Notable achievements: Footballer of the Year in Serie A twice. UEFA Midfielder of the Year in 2005. FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007, winner of the Ballon d’Or, UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, and IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker. One of only eight players in history to have won the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d’Or.

8. Andrea Pirlo

By Chensiyuan

Andrea Pirlo practically invented the phrase “playing at his own pace” during his illustrious career. For more than a decade, he was a top Italian midfielder, working as a deep-lying playmaker for AC Milan, Juventus, and the Italian national team. One of the world’s leading set-piece specialists.

Pirlo did not join NYCFC until he had completed his pursuit of a UEFA Champions League Final with Juventus, but he finished third in MLS in minutes per pass.

He has appeared in three World Cups for Italy (2006, 2010, and 2014) and has over 100 caps for the Azzurri. Won the Bronze Ball (third-best player) during Italy’s fourth World Cup victory in 2006.

Read Incredible Facts about Andrea Pirlo

9. Didier Drogba, Montreal Impact

During his Chelsea career, Drogba used power and speed to score at will, serving as an inspiration to many modern strikers. He scored some incredible highlight-reel goals for the Impact during his MLS career.

Didier Drogba only played for Montreal for a season and a half, but he displayed world-class skills game in and game out. The best of his 21 goals for the Impact, which led to two of the team’s best regular-season performances in MLS.

Among his notable accomplishments is Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup four times. The first African to reach 100 Premier League goals. African Player of the Year twice. Player of the Year in Ligue 1 in 2003-04.

10. Frank Lampard, NYCFC

By Cfcunofficial.

Frank Lampard is regarded as one of the greatest goal-scoring midfielders in the game’s history, and he demonstrated this during his two-year stint in New York. Frank Lampard, an England and Chelsea legend, had a rocky start in Major League Soccer.

Despite a delayed arrival and debut, he scored three goals in ten MLS games in 2015. Lampard will hope to show the form that earned him such acclaim throughout England and Europe during the preseason with his new teammates, as he works to help push NYCFC into an elite MLS team.

Ex-England international (106 caps, 29 goals). Lampard was a key member of England’s squad from 2003 to 2014, competing in the Euro 2004 and FIFA World Cups.

11. Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy

When the MLS MVP award is named after you, you know you’ve had a fantastic career. Landon is the Galaxy’s all-time leading scorer and is widely regarded as the best player in Major League Soccer history.

Donovan’s MLS career included six MLS Cups, a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, and two MLS Supporters’ Shields. Donovan also holds the record for most MLS All-Star goals (six) and has been named MLS All-Star MVP twice.

Aside from his success with the LA Galaxy and in Major League Soccer, Donovan leads the United States Men’s National Team in goals (57) and assists (58), and is the only American player to have more than 50 goals and assists in his career.

12. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Chicago Fire

Bastian Schweinsteiger is regarded as one of the greatest central midfielders of all time. Finished his career with Chicago and the MLS after an illustrious career for both club and country.

He is a composed central midfielder with the ability to both drop back and provide that extra bit of quality in the final third. Schweinsteiger made his German debut against Hungary, kicking off a national team career that would take him to three World Cups and four UEFA European Championships.

With 18 appearances as captain of Die Mannschaft, he holds the German record for most UEFA European Championship appearances. His resume also includes a World Cup victory in 2014. He has retired from international competition and last played for Germany on September 1, 2016. In 121 appearances for Germany, he has scored 24 goals.

13. Carlos Valderrama, Multiple Teams

The best hairstyle on this list and the most capped Colombian of all time brought class and skill to a league that was starting from scratch. Carlos Valderrama, a true trailblazer, laid the groundwork for future foreign stars to play in Major League Soccer.

Valderrama began his Major League Soccer career in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Mutiny. In 1996, he was named the league’s first Most Valuable Player after scoring four goals and assisting 17 others. With 114 assists, he currently ranks second all-time in MLS.
Valderrama was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005.

14. Gonzalo Higuain, Inter Miami

By Leandro Ceruti

The striker joined Inter Miami after a successful career at both the club and international levels. He has three LaLiga and three Serie A titles to his name, as well as one Copa del Rey, two Supercopa de Espana, three Coppa Italia, one Supercoppa Italiana, and one UEFA Europa League title.

Individually, Higuain has been named three times to the Serie A Team of the Year, twice to the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season, and twice to the Juventus Player of the Year. With 36 goals in a single Serie A season, he also holds the record.

Higuain has played for the Argentina national team on the international stage. The forward has appeared in 75 games for La Albiceleste and scored 31 goals in all competitions, which is the fifth-most in country history and the third-most among active players.

15. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, LA Galaxy

By Steindy

This Manchester United legend rounds out our list. Hernández, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer, joins the LA Galaxy after stints with Chivas de Guadalajara, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham, and, most recently, Sevilla. In total, the forward has scored over 200 goals for the club and country.

Hernández has played over 400 matches in top-flight leagues in Mexico, England, Spain, and Germany, as well as over 100 for Mexico. He has represented teams that have won two Premier League titles. The Mexican Primera División: Apertura, the FIFA Club World Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the Concacaf Cup since 2006.

Individually, he has been named Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year, Concacaf Best XI, Concacaf Gold Cup Golden Boot and MVP, and the Bundesliga Team of the Season.