Top 5 Iconic Figures in MLS History
Next to the NFL, there is one sport that we love immensely, and that’s Major League Soccer. This iconic game is popular globally, and there have been some pretty iconic moments in games through the years.
Of course, you can’t really have iconic moments without also having iconic figures too. You can bet that the MLS has some pretty amazing players that are worth mentioning. Before you check out Fanduel’s soccer odds, here is everything you need to know about the top 5 iconic figures in MLS history.
1. David Beckham
Beckham started his career in England, so if you mention his name to pretty much anyone in the UK they’re sure to know the name and the player’s legacy. He came to US soccer from Real Madrid back in 2007. He’s known for more than just his soccer career too – he’s married to a member of the band the Spice Girls, he was once a model and there’s even a movie named after him.
His soccer legacy continues here in the US, of course. He owns the club Inter Miami and played for LA Galaxy from 2007 to 2012. He’s scored in various world cups too, with 17 total goals. Quite the feat!
2. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry is yet another fantastic player that came from overseas. He initially played for Arsenal in the European premier league, winning the FA Cup twice. He was the leading goalscorer for Arsenal for many years too. When he came over to the US he joined the New York Red Bulls. He stayed with them from 2010 – 2014 and scored a huge 51 goals throughout five different seasons. Basically, he made a career for himself both in the US and in the European leagues. Iconic doesn’t even begin to describe his achievements!
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Now this is a player that’s definitely worth celebrating! Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic began his career in the European Premier League playing for AC Milan. Every year he gets better and better as a player, and it’s no surprise that he’s one of the best goal scorers for AC Milan. During his European Career, he scored 268 goals throughout 14 seasons. When he moved to LA Galaxy for the MLS in 2018, he scored 52 goals in just 56 games since he played from 2018 to 2020. These accolades are certainly impressive, making him one of the most iconic players in the MLS.
4. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is another big name that most people who watch European football would know about. Rooney made a name for himself as a player for Manchester United, scoring 253 goals during his time with the team. He’s won an FA Cup and Champions League title during his career, but that’s not all! He made his way into the MLS for DC United during 2018-2019, scoring a tremendous 23 goals in a mere 48 games. You’d be hard pressed to find many other players with a scorecard quite as impressive as Mr Rooney’s!
5. Frank Lampard
These days, former Chelsea player Frank Lampard is managing his old team, but he’s pretty well known for his accolades in the goalscoring department as a midfielder. While most of his career was in England, he had successes outside of the UK too. Just some things that he’s known for include his 176 goals and 105 assists throughout 20 seasons and his win of the 2005 FWA Footballer of the Year. Between 2015 and 2016, Lampard made his grand debut in the realm of MLS playing for NYCFC. During his time in the MLS, he scored 15 goals and made three assists over just two seasons of games. He was a major asset to the team during his time there.
Conclusion
Those are just a few of the most iconic players to make a debut in MLS in the US. There are a lot more out there too. Ready to watch a game yet?
