Remembering some of the finest MLS players ever

While it undoubtedly can’t ever compete with the Premier League, Major League Soccer has experienced some notable growth in more recent times. Some of the competition’s current and former players have helped increase its exposure, with some top professionals plying their trade in American football over the years.

These days, the likes of Lionel Messi and Christian Benteke are two of the league’s top performers, although it’s a competition that has featured plenty of star professionals in the past. Despite this, though, the MLS still has plenty of room to grow. In a country where fans tend to watch big baseball encounters in the flesh, and Super Bowl betting is a preference for many, the beautiful game simply struggles to rise to the very top. Still, things could change in the future, particularly if MLS clubs acquire more world-famous names to bring more eyes to the league.

With players everywhere still being lured by the all-round appeal of playing in the country, its opportunity to experience further growth is still there. Impressive performances from talented individuals certainly help. So, with that in mind, let’s remember some of the finest MLS players ever.

Bradley Wright-Phillips

Despite showing plenty of promise when coming through the ranks at Manchester City, Bradley Wright-Phillips never fulfilled his potential in English football. After signing for the New York Red Bulls, though, he didn’t look back. In fact, his progress was clear, with the forward managing to score 108 goals in 195 MLS games for the club. Also burying eight goals in 19 games for LAFC, Bradley Wright-Phillips is one of the MLS’ best-ever goal-getters.

Landon Donovan

As the face of American football for so many years, Landon Donovan clearly had something about him. As seen at times during his stint in England with Everton, Donovan had plenty of ability in attacking areas. It was in the MLS where he showcased it on a more consistent basis, though. Donovan won the MLS Cup six times, he scored 144 goals in 340 games for both the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy, and he possessed the type of star quality that hadn’t been seen before in the States. A true icon of American soccer, Landon Donovan will never be forgotten.

Sebastian Giovinco

Adored by the Toronto FC faithful, acquiring the services of Sebastian Giovinco was certainly a coup for the club when the tiny Italian joined their project in 2015. The former Juventus and Parma striker loved life in America, scoring 68 goals in 114 games. From his technical ability to his evident pace, Giovinco was unstoppable at the level.

Brian McBride

A legend at Premier League club Fulham, Brian McBride was a consummate professional who seemed to impress fans wherever he went. The physical striker’s goalscoring exploits stretched far beyond England’s top flight, with McBride scoring hatfuls for both Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire. One of the finest goal machines the league has witnessed, the former American international scored 62 goals in 161 league games for Columbus while also managing to register 18 goals in 59 league games after returning to the States with Chicago Fire following his exploits in England. Simply put, Brian McBride just loved to score goals.

Chris Wondolowski

Yet another striker on the list, Chris Wondolowski’s ability in front of goal was quite remarkable. The forward never got an opportunity to play abroad, but that didn’t matter to a player who simply loved to register match-winning strikes in American football. Wondolowski officially holds the record for the most goals scored in the entire competition’s history, with 171 goals in 413 games to his name.