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Messi to Miami: How Have Other World-Class Stars Fared in the MLS?

13 June, 2023

USA Flag Football in MotionOnce upon a time, America’s Major League Soccer was the go-to destination of choice for football stars seeking one final handsome payday in the sun prior to retirement.

Nowadays, Saudi Arabia has become the destination de jour with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and others rumoured to be the latest pieces in the nation’s sportswashing jigsaw.

But Lionel Messi has pulled one back for team old school by signing a contract with Inter Miami – apparently rejecting the overtures of Saudi suitors along the way.

You can hardly blame the Argentine for favouring a swansong under the Miami sun, and besides at 35 a player that has won every accolade in the game and sackfuls of trophies has nothing left to prove to anybody.

And it’s not as if he will be short-changing Inter Miami either. The MLS franchise will enjoy a boost in popularity and commercial gain from shirt and ticket sales, and they may yet to be able to winkle another stellar season from Messi – in 2022/23, he won the World Cup’s Golden Ball and served up 32 goal involvements in PSG’s romp to the Ligue 1 title.

His game is certainly in better shape than some other world-class stars who have made a late career move to the MLS, while others thrived in the rather less competitive league….

Pele

The brilliant Brazilian was, like Messi, 35 when he decided to leave boyhood club and enjoy a swansong at the New York Cosmos.

But Pele wasn’t there to simply make a few quid, and ultimately ended up in NYC for three seasons – making 56 appearances and scoring 31 goals.

In 1977, Pele guided the Cosmos to the Soccer Bowl – the biggest prize in American ‘soccer’ at the time, and set the wheels in motion for a number of stars of that time, including Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, George Best and Bobby Moore, to make their own moves to the United States.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry at the New York Red Bulls
Image Credit: Francis Bourgouin, flickr

Having won everything that matters in club and international football, Thierry Henry said au revoir to Europe and bonjour to New York – the New York Red Bulls, to be precise – back in 2010 at the age of 33.

A player whose game was built around his dazzling pace and movement, Henry initially struggled in his first season in the MLS as his speed began to elude him in his advancing years.

But he changed his game in 2011 and started getting amongst the goals again, and all told the Frenchman would net 51 times in 122 games for New York.

Sadly, Henry was unable to win any silverware with the club with whom he would end his playing career….

Johan Cruyff

Would the originator of ‘total football’ be able to translate his skills to total soccer too?

Johan Cruyff was a relatively young 32 when he launched his career in America, taking in stints with the Los Angeles Aztecs and Washington Diplomats. The Dutchman had technically retired from football, but rumours were that a series of investments gone wrong meant that Cruyff had to return to the beautiful game.

He would later admit his regret at previously retiring from football, and it was obvious that he was still blessed with the natural talent of a three-time Ballon d’Or winner. Cruyff won the NASL Player of the Year in his first season in America and played for two more years Stateside, before making an emotional return to his first love, Ajax.

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney at DC United
Image Credit: All-Pro Reels, flickr

One of the greatest English footballers in history caused quite a stir when he moved to DC United, and while some of his sharpness had gone Rooney still very much wanted to win trophies – evidenced by the six yellow and three red cards he picked up in just two seasons in America.

Sadly for Rooney, the rest of the DC United squad lacked the quality to compete for honours, but with 38 goal involvements – including the screamer below – from just 48 games he will always be fondly remembered in Washington….he has since returned as the club’s head coach.

David Beckham

David Beckham at LA Galaxy
Image Credit: Photo Works, Bigstockphoto

Given the metaphorical kicking he used to get from the press, you can hardly blame David Beckham for heading to Los Angeles at a relative sprightly 32 years of age.

He was *only* on £5 million or so per season at the LA Galaxy, which is a crazy amount of money, of course, but not so much when compared to other big-money deals, but Beckham had a trick up his sleeve – instead, he asked for a share of all the club’s revenue during his time there.

Given that they began raking in huge sponsorship deals – Herbalife paid them a reported £16 million to get on the front of their shirt, it wasn’t long before Becks had effectively paid for himself and trousered a handsome profit into the process.

On the pitch, he served up stacks of assists as the Galaxy won two MLS Cups and the Supporters’ Shield – money well spent, you might say.

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