The 5 Most Significant Soccer Transfers to America
Soccer is a game that has been played professionally for over 150 years, but has existed in some capacity for thousands of years. In recent years, Major League Soccer (MLS) has grown significantly in popularity throughout America, attracting high-profile players from different parts of the world. And with that, the standard of soccer in the United States has drastically improved. On the heels of Messi's official presentation that took place in Miami last night in front of a sold-out crowd, we will be outlining the five transfers to the MLS that shaped the league today, which eventually led to the sport's icon arriving to America.
1. David Beckham - Los Angeles Galaxy, 2007
David Beckham is arguably the most significant soccer player transfer in MLS history. The former English captain joined the Los Angeles Galaxy back in 2007, and his impact was felt almost immediately. With Beckham came worldwide media attention and a surge of fan turnout at games. More importantly, he played a significant role in improving the standard of soccer in America. Besides, he was instrumental in making the MLS a more recognizable brand, which has continued to attract great players years after he retired, none more notable than Lionel Messi. David Beckham's contract stipulated the purchase of an MLS expansion team at a discounted fee, which turned into Inter Miami. Despite skepticism from the commissioner of the league, the club landed the signing of the game's greatest player, furthering his immense impact on the league.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - LA Galaxy, 2018
Zlatan is undoubtedly one of the best transfers to have ever taken place in American soccer. In the short period he was with the LA Galaxy, he managed to score a massive 52 goals, which is an outstanding feat that very few have matched. His contribution to the league cannot be underestimated as he brought unmatched soccer skills that were highly appreciated by fans across the league. His antics and unmatched confidence spawned countless tales of legend, none more notable than returning a Lebron James Los Angeles Lakers jersey given to him by "The King," mailing it back to him with Zlatan's own signature on it. In a continent of giants, none were larger in stature than Zlatan "Ibra" Ibrahimović.
3. Thierry Henry - New York Red Bulls, 2010
Besides being one of the best players in the Premier League and La Liga, winning domestic titles, the Champions League, and the World Cup, Thierry also made a name in the MLS when he joined the New York Red Bulls in 2010. In his time there, he inspired his teammates and had a massive impact on their performance that saw them reach the playoffs for his two seasons there. His impact on the league is seen years after his official retirement, as he paved the way for other European greats to follow in his footsteps to play in the MLS.
4. Sebastian Giovinco - Toronto FC, 2015
The "little magician" from Italy, as he is known, joined Toronto FC, where he spent four fruitful seasons, scoring an impressive 83 goals. His impact on the league was almost immediate as he won the league's Most Valuable Player award in his first season. Giovinco's contribution was immense, leading his team to the playoffs and ultimately winning the championship. The Italian star left a significant mark on the league with some arguing that he could have been even better suited for a more prominent league. He showed that MLS was a league filled with top talent, playing for the national team and even being linked to teams like FC Barcelona. His elite performance helped change the narrative surrounding the league, as he helped lead his team to a dominant 4 year run filled with trophies and finals appearances.
5. Wayne Rooney - DC United, 2018 One of the more recent transfers in the league's history was Wayne Rooney, a Premier League icon. The Englishman played most of his career with Manchester United and Everton, winning 5 Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and is 3rd in the all time Premier League Scoring list with 208 goals in the competition. With DC United, he brought a new focus onto the league, as he made the playoffs both years with the club, and scored 23 goals in 48 games across all competitions. Although he did leave the club before his contract expired, he was another legend that joined the growing league and market present in America.
All of these players led significant careers that spanned across countless different top teams in many continents before landing in the MLS, many during the prime of their careers. This helped grow the popularity of the league, and have significantly improved the standard of soccer in the United States. These transfers ultimately helped the league land Lionel Messi, who is set to play his first match with his team (ranked last in the Eastern Conference), in a transfer that made both league and soccer history. With the MLS continuously attracting world-class players, the future is looking bright, and we can only see American soccer continue to grow in leaps and bounds.