The Major League Soccer (MLS) has been seen as an emerging and growing league. It has also attracted a strong crowd of superstars, who came and lifted up the MLS with their skills and flair. Who are the top 25 most famous MLS players of all time?
In this post, we look at the top 25 most famous MLS players of all time. We select these players based on their careers before entering the MLS and their performance with their national team. If they transcend soccer and enter popular culture, we rank them higher too.
25. Nigel De Jong
Nationality: Dutch
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: –
De Jong spent his career playing for top European clubs. These include Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan. However, he may be most remembered during his time in Manchester City. He has 81 Dutch national caps, scoring a goal.
After finishing his contract in Milan, he signed with the LA Galaxy on a free transfer. He played 18 games in the MLS, scoring no goals, but established himself as a formidable central midfielder in the MLS. He later left LA Galaxy to play in Turkey.
24. Jorge Campos
Nationality: Mexican
Position: Goalkeeper
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire
MLS Honors: MLS Cup (1998)
Campos may be one of the most entertaining goalkeepers in the history of MLS. He excelled in playing the keeper-sweeper role, frequently coming out of the goal lines to pick up balls behind the defenders. He has 129 national caps, with the last in 2003.
Campos played with Mexican clubs before joining the MLS. He first played for the LA Galaxy in 1996 before transferring to Chicago Fire. With the Fire, he lifted the MLS Cup in 1998 and US Open Cup the same year.
23. Xherdan Shaqiri
Nationality: Swiss
Position: Right Winger
Notable MLS Team(s): Chicago Fire
MLS Honors: –
Shaqiri is of Swiss-Albanian heritage and spent most of his professional career playing in top European leagues. These include Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, and Lyon. He represented Switzerland 114 times, scoring 27 goals.
He joined the Chicago Fire in 2022 and has lit up the MLS with his skills. In his 50 appearances with the Fire, he has scored 10 goals. He is known for his technique and ability to use his left foot to execute laser-sharp passes, crosses, and shorts.
22. Carlos Valderrama
Nationality: Colombian
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): Tampa Bay Mutiny
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (1996), MLS MVP (1996), MLS All-Time Best XI Midfielder, MLS Assist Leader (2000)
Valderrama was one of the first MLS superstars, winning the MVP award in the inaugural season. He spent a large part of his club career playing in Colombia and Europe before joining the Tampa Bay Mutiny.
He is most remembered for his thick afro hair, bouncing around on the field as he tries to dribble and outrun his opponents. He later joined the Colorado Rapids in 2001 before hanging his boots in 2002.
21. Riqui Puig
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (2023)
Puig was touted as a promising youngster and was a product of La Masia, FC Barcelona’s youth academy. He gradually earned a promotion from playing for feeder teams to eventually playing with the senior team in 2019.
However, in 2022, he made a shocking decision to join the LA Galaxy. Upon joining, he became the mainstay of the team. He recorded an average of 75 passes in his first 10 games and helped LA Galaxy lose only a single game in that stretch.
20. Carlos Vela
Nationality: Mexican
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): LA FC
MLS Honors: MLS Cup (2022), MLS MVP (2019), MLS Golden Boot (2019)
Vela spent much of his career playing in Europe, with Arsenal and Real Sociedad in Spain. He was also a regular with the Mexican national team, with 72 caps and 19 goals. He later joined the LAFC in 2018.
In the MLS, Vela is remembered for his excellent flair and creativity with the ball. That led to many trophies and awards. Vela won the MLS Cup in 2022 with LAFC and the MVP and Golden Boot in 2019.
19. Gonzalo Higuain
Nationality: Argentinian
Position: Striker
Notable MLS Team(s): Inter Miami
MLS Honors: MLS Comeback Player Of The Year (2022)
A prolific striker with deadly touches, Higuain first played in Argentina before moving to play with the best European clubs. These include Real Madrid, Napoli, Juventus and Chelsea. He also played 75 times for the national team and scored 31 goals.
Higuain later joined Inter Miami in 2020. Before retiring in 2022, he racked up 67 appearances in MLS, with 29 goals scored. That earned him the MLS Comeback Player of The Year award in 2022.
18. Christian Benteke
Nationality: Belgian
Position: Striker
Notable MLS Team(s): DC United
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (2023)
Benteke first built his reputation as a prolific striker with Belgian clubs before transferring to England. He spent a large part of his career there, for clubs such as Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Crystal Palace. He also played regularly for the national team, with 18 goals.
Benteke later joined DC United in 2022 as a designated player. In his 29 appearances so far, he has scored 9 goals, including one beautiful bicycle kick goal against Charlotte FC. He should continue to light up the MLS with his dazzling skills.
17. Federico Bernardeschi
Nationality: Italian
Position: Winger, Attacking Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): Toronto FC
MLS Honors: –
Before coming to the MLS, Bernardeschi was a superstar in the Italian Serie A. He played with Fiorentina and Juventus and won the league several times. He also gets regular call-ups to the Italian national team, playing 39 times and scoring 6 goals.
In 2022, Bernardeschi signed with Toronto FC, joining the MLS as a designated player. He formed a strong trio with his Italian teammate, Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito. He also scored a goal directly from a corner kick (an Olympic) against Charlotte FC.
16. Gareth Bale
Nationality: Welsh
Position: Left Winger
Notable MLS Team(s): LAFC
MLS Honors: MLS Cup (2022), MLS Supporter’s Shield (2022)
Bale first built his name with the English club Southampton before later transferring to Tottenham Hotspur. That was followed up with a move to the Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he spent over 8 seasons. He has 111 Welsh caps, scoring 41 goals.
He later joined the LAFC in 2022 on a 12-month contract. LAFC claims to sign him using the Targeted Allocation Money. In his short 12-game career with LAFC, he was able to lift the MLS Cup and the Supporter’s Shield. He retired from soccer after the 2022 World Cup.
15. Kaka
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): Orlando City
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (2015, 2016, 2017)
Kaka first played with Sao Paulo FC in Brazil before taking his career to the next level in Europe. There, he was a mainstay with AC Milan and Real Madrid. He was also a regular with the Selecao (Brazilian national team), with 92 caps and 29 goals.
Kaka later joined the MLS as a designated player, signing with Orlando City. At the time, he was the highest-paid player in MLS, with a base salary of $6.6 million, not including bonuses. He decided to retire in 2017, despite getting offers to continue playing.
14. Giorgio Chiellini
Nationality: Italian
Position: Center Back
Notable MLS Team(s): LAFC
MLS Honors: MLS Cup (2022), MLS Supporter’s Shield (2022)
Chiellini may be synonymous with the Italian giant Juventus, as he played almost all of his professional career there. In 18 seasons, Chiellini totaled 425 appearances with 17 goals. He also lifted the European Championship with the Italian national team in 2020.
He joined the LAFC in 2022, with the club using the Targeted Allocation Money. He was the mainstay in the defense and helped the club to win the MLS Cup and Supporter’s Shield in his first season there.
13. Landon Donovan
Nationality: American
Position: Forward
Notable MLS Team(s): San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: MLS Cup (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014), MLS Supporters’ Shield (2010, 2011), MLS Best XI (2002, 2008 – 2012, 2014), MLS All-Star (2001 – 2005, 2007 – 2014), MLS MVP (2009), MLS Golden Boot (2008), MLS 100 Goals Club, MLS Greatest Player Of All Time, National Soccer Hall Of Fame (2023 Inductee)
A Hall of Famer, Donovan spent almost all of his career playing in the MLS, with a brief spell in Germany early on. He blossomed to become one of the best soccer players US ever produced, earning 157 national caps and 57 goals.
Aside from multiple MLS honors with LA Galaxy, Donovan is also part of the 100 goals club. Only 13 players have managed to do so. He also was named the MLS Greatest Player of All Time and had the MLS MVP award named after him.
12. David Villa
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Striker
Notable MLS Team(s): New York City FC
MLS Honors: MLS MVP (2016), MLS All-Star (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), MLS Best XI (2016, 2017)
David Villa was a prolific striker in La Liga, scoring 200+ goals for several clubs, notably Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. He was also a European Championship and World Cup winner in 2009 and 2010. He later joined the MLS, playing with the NYCFC.
He became even deadlier in the MLS. From 124 appearances for the NYCFC over 4 seasons, he scored 80 goals. That earned him MVP awards, as well as multiple all-star appearances. He later went to play in Japan.
11. Bastian Schweinsteiger
Nationality: German
Position: Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): Chicago Fire
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (2017, 2019)
Schweinsteiger spent the large majority of his career playing in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich before transferring to Manchester United in 2015. However, when Jose Mourinho took over the club, he was deemed a surplus and left for Chicago Fire in 2017.
With the Fire, Schweinsteiger lit up the MLS. He guided the team back to a mid-table finish and into the playoffs after a 5-year drought. His steady performances also earned him two All-Star mentions. He retired from soccer in 2019.
10. Lorenzo Insigne
Nationality: Italian
Position: Winger
Notable MLS Team(s): Toronto FC
MLS Honors: –
Insigne can be considered a one-club man, having played almost all of his club career with Napoli. In 12 seasons, he played 337 times for the club, scoring 96 goals. He is also a mainstay with the Italian national team, with 54 caps and 10 goals.
He later joined the MLS after signing with Toronto FC in 2022. There he is reunited with his Italian teammate, Federico Bernardeschi and Domenico Criscito. His reported annual salary of $15 million makes him the highest-paid player in MLS.
9. Douglas Costa
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: –
Costa can be quite a journeyman in his career. He was a regular in Ukraine before joining Bayern Munich and Juventus later in his career. He later joined the LA Galaxy in 2022, first as a loanee and then as a permanent player.
He is known as The Flash for his exceptional speed and agility on the field. He is also versatile, capable of playing as an attacking midfielder in the center or as a winger.
8. Thierry Henry
Nationality: French
Position: Striker
Notable MLS Team(s): New York Red Bulls
MLS Honors: MLS Supporters’ Shield (2013), MLS All-Star (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), MLS Best XI (2011, 2012, 2014)
Henry is best remembered during his time in Arsenal, where he was part of the squad that finished the 2003-04 season undefeated. He later played with Barcelona before joining the NY Red Bulls in 2010.
In his 122 appearances spanning 4 seasons, Thierry scored 51 goals. That earned him multiple honors, such as the First XI and All-Star mentions.
7. Wayne Rooney
Nationality: English
Position: Forward, Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): DC United
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (2019), MLS Best XI (2018)
Rooney exploded into the soccer world as a talented youngster from Everton before being snapped up by Manchester United. There he contributed to multiple Premier League and Champions League titles. He also has 120 caps for the English team, with 53 goals.
Rooney later signed with DC United. In his 50 appearances there, he scored 25 goals and 15 assists. He later returned to England, playing as a player-manager for Derby Country.
6. Steven Gerrard
Nationality: English
Position: Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: –
Steven Gerrard came through Liverpool’s youth system and then played his entire professional career with Liverpool. In his 504 appearances for the club, he netted 120 goals. He was also a regular with the English national team, with 114 caps and 21 goals.
He later joined the LA Galaxy towards the end of his playing career. He played 34 games, scored 5 goals, and helped the team into the MLS Cup playoffs. He retired and became a club manager.
5. Andrea Pirlo
Nationality: Italian
Position: Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): New York City FC
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (2016)
Andrea Pirlo is considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders of all time in soccer. Pirlo spent most of his career with two Italian giants, AC Milan and Juventus. He was also a mainstay with the Azzurri (Italian national team), with 116 caps and 13 goals.
He joined the MLS by signing with New York City FC in 2015 and played for three seasons. He announced his retirement from soccer in 2017 at the age of 38.
4. Robbie Keane
Nationality: Irish
Position: Striker
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: MLS Cup (2011, 2012, 2014), MLS MVP (2014), MLS Best XI (2012-2015)
Robbie Keane developed his soccer skills in England and debuted with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1997. He then made his mark in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur before transferring to LA Galaxy in 2014.
He signed with LA Galaxy as a designated player alongside David Beckham and Landon Donovan. The partnership resulted in multiple championships, including MLS Cups and the Supporter’s Shield. Keane later went back on loan to Aston Villa in England.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Nationality: Swedish
Position: Striker
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: MLS All-Star (2018, 2019), MLS First XI (2018, 2019)
Zlatan is one of the greatest strikers of his generation and is known for his career longevity. Before joining LA Galaxy, he played for European giants such as Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Paris Saint Germain.
Despite spending only two seasons in the MLS, he scored 52 goals in 56 games, an amazing scoring rate for a striker. That also earned him multiple mentions in All-Star and First XI lists.
2. Lionel Messi
Nationality: Argentinian
Position: Forward, Attacking Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): Inter Miami
MLS Honors: –
Lionel Messi needs no introduction. He is one of the few popular soccer players that non-soccer fans know who he is. Before joining the MLS, he was the mainstay in Barcelona. In his 18 seasons there, he played 520 games and scored an astonishing 474 goals.
Messi then played in France with Paris Saint Germain before signing a deal to play with Inter Miami in 2023. He is expected to light up the MLS with his dazzling skills.
1. David Beckham
Nationality: English
Position: Midfielder
Notable MLS Team(s): LA Galaxy
MLS Honors: MLS Cup (2011, 2012), MLS Supporters’ Shield (2010, 2011)
David Beckham is probably the first soccer player equally known in the sport and popular culture. He built his name with Manchester United and Real Madrid before moving to the MLS to join the LA Galaxy.
In the MLS, Beckham won multiple championships, honors, and mentions. Beckham is also one of the best players to have played in the MLS. After retirement in 2013, Beckham established his own MLS club, Inter Miami.
