Major League Soccer (MLS) is the highest-level men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, managed by the United States Soccer Federation. MLS is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. The history of MLS has seen the participation of many famous stars from top soccer backgrounds worldwide. Most recently, this includes Leo Messi, the former star of Barca and PSG. Besides Messi, do you know any other notable names? Let's take a look at the Top 10 best player in MLS ever with Wintips right below.
The best players in MLS history you don't know
1. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is a retired English footballer regarded as one of the finest players of his generation. He is the all-time leading goal scorer for both Manchester United and the England national team. Rooney is also the second-highest goal scorer in the history of the Premier League.
Rooney joined DC United in 2018, scoring 23 goals in 48 appearances. He is also the youngest player to debut in an official match for the England national team at the age of 17 years and 160 days. A true legend of football and one of the most celebrated players in Premier League history.
2. Alexandre Pato - Best player in MLS
Alexandre Pato is a Brazilian footballer who has had a stellar career since a very young age. He made his debut at just 16 years old and helped his team, Internacional, win the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006 before joining Milan in 2007.
At Milan, he won the Golden Boy award and the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year award, and he was the top scorer for his team as they won the league title in the 2010/11 season. Pato also played for Chelsea in the Premier League and in 2021 moved to Orlando City.
3. David Beckham - Best player in MLS
David Beckham was once the most famous player in MLS history until Messi forever changed the league. He has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe such as Manchester United and Real Madrid. He is also the first English player to compete in 100 matches in the UEFA Champions League.
Beckham is a legend in the football world and also extremely famous as a celebrity. He joined LA Galaxy in 2007 and won two MLS Cups and two Supporter's Shields. Beckham is currently the owner of Inter Miami FC and continues to have a significant impact in MLS.
4. Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole is a former English defender most remembered for his time at Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League. He made 399 appearances in the Premier League and is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation.
Cole was a member of the "Invincibles" team with Arsenal, a team that went undefeated throughout the season and also won 3 FA Cups with the club. He then won the Champions League with Chelsea, and in 2016, he joined the MLS team LA Galaxy. Cole was also named England's Player of the Year in 2010.
5. Andrea Pirlo - Best player in MLS
Andrea Pirlo is a former Italian footballer renowned for his class and creativity. He was a crucial player in helping Italy win the 2006 World Cup and is the fifth-most capped player for the national team. He has won numerous titles throughout his career and is one of the greatest deep-lying playmakers the sport has ever seen.
Pirlo won two Champions League titles and a FIFA Club World Cup with Milan. He also claimed six Serie A championships and two Coppa Italia titles. In 2015, he moved to MLS team NYCFC and played for four years. He has been honored in both the Italian Hall of Fame and Juventus' All-time Best XI.
6. Lorenzo Insigne - Best player in MLS
Lorenzo Insigne made waves worldwide when he announced his departure from Napoli at the age of 30 as a free agent to join Major League Soccer club Toronto FC in the summer of 2022.
Insigne is a dynamic winger who has played over 300 matches for Napoli and has also shone brightly with the Italian national team, playing a key role in their success at Euro 2020. His move to Toronto holds significant importance for MLS as he is still at the peak of his career.
7. Gonzalo Higuain
Gonzalo Higuain is a former Argentine striker renowned as an excellent goal scorer. He played for Real Madrid, Napoli, and Juventus before joining Inter Miami in 2020. In 2016, he became the highest transfer ever for an Italian club when Juventus signed him for €90 million.
Higuain holds the record for most goals in a single Serie A season with 36 goals and has been named in the Serie A Team of the Year three times. While his time with Inter Miami didn't start well, he left with a high note, contributing to the team's qualification to the playoffs in 2022.
8. Steven Gerrard - Best player in MLS
Steven Gerrard is a former English footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. He was the Man of the Match in the 2005 Champions League final when his team staged a remarkable comeback from being 0 - 3 down in a match famously known as the "Miracle of Istanbul."
Gerrard is the only player to score in an FA Cup final, a UEFA Cup final, a League Cup final, and a UEFA Champions League final, winning all of them. He is the fourth-most capped player for the England national team and holds the record for the most appearances as captain of Liverpool with 473 matches. Gerrard joined LA Galaxy in 2015 and retired from professional football a year later.
9. Frank Lampard - Best player in MLS
Frank Lampard is a former English footballer, regarded as one of the greatest players of Chelsea and one of the finest midfielders of his generation. He spent 13 years playing for Chelsea and is the club's all-time leading goal scorer with 211 goals.
Lampard is a football legend and the only midfielder to score over 150 goals in the Premier League. He joined New York City FC in 2015, playing 29 matches and scoring 15 goals before retiring at the club.
10. Lionel Messi
Although figures like Becks and Henry played significant roles in putting MLS on the football map, nothing compares to the arrival of Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar still had plenty left in the tank to shine in Europe, but instead, he decided to bring his talents to the United States.
Lionel Messi was unveiled as the latest signing for Inter Miami. At the age of 36 and after World Cup success, Messi immediately changed the fortunes of Inter Miami by leading the club to their first title at the Leagues Cup in 2023. His presence has generated an unprecedented impact both on and off the pitch, driving fans wild just to watch him play or get their hands on his jersey. As an exceptionally gifted player, he has won the most prestigious honors in the sport.
Conclude
With the "Messi effect," many things have also been improved off the pitch. Now, the club Messi is associated with, Inter Miami, is valued at a whopping $1.03 billion USD. According to Forbes, the average value of an MLS club has increased by 14% since Messi's arrival. The above is a detailed list of "best player in MLS" compiled by the bookmaker list website. Thank you for your interest and taking the time to read and reference.
