First Mega-star To Come To Mls In His "prime" & Team

[Midas Mulligan]

recognizing that all media will say the player is old and out of his prime immediately upon his signing, but put that aside. Who will be the first mega-star or even superstar to bolt for MLS at the peak of his powers?

I think a guy like Zlatan would have done it had MLS been what it is now a few years ago. Ronaldo is definitely coming in my mind, but he's already off his peak.

Some crazy bastard owner in MLS is going to offer someone something insane they can't turn down. Who will be the player and what club will do it? Is the player someone playing now?

To me, there probably 4 megastars in the world right now. And that's not based on quality, because I consider Suarez and Aguero to be the top strikers in the world and wouldn't include them.

 

[BxLio91]

Are your Megastars Messi, Ronaldo, Ibra and Grabavoy?

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Ronaldo is definitely coming in my mind, ... RONALDO IS DEFINITELY COMING IN MY MIND... COMING... COMING... in my mind, in my mind... in my...

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Are your Megastars Messi, Ronaldo, Ibra and Grabavoy?

Make it five, then. Forgot about Grabavoy. My four would include Neymar. While he's not nearly so established as 3 out of the other 4, he's so widely recognized and such a big star in the Americas.

To rephrase, I actually think Suarez is the better player, but he's not a star on the level of Neymar. However, I think I may have overly limited the question. Really, we should make it more like top 10-15 players, so Suarez & Aguero would be included.

I think the first signing like that will come from Orlando (ugh), but I don't know who it will be, although Neymar might be a good shout. The only other options club-wise I'd see would be us and the LA clubs. You could maybe throw Seattle in there. Miami is a non-factor for me, as I'll believe that club is happening whenever I see them take the field.

 

[Calmness Personified]

I don't see any superstar player joining an MLS team in his prime.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Well okay then. A little conclusive, don't you think?

You're not going to help pass the time for the next 4 months with posts like that. I'm going to have to ask for a little more effort.

 

[LionNYC]

Jordan Morris

 

[sbrylski]

I don't think we'll be able to guess which superstar in his prime is the first to play here. He might be 16 years old right now or younger. He might not even be born.

Besides throwing gobs and gobs of money at a player, I think the only way to convince a superstar in their prime to play here is if either MLS or the CCL reach the level of the Champions League. Maybe not 1:1, but reasonably close such that it's a real discussion whether certain CCL teams could compete for the title in the Champions League.

That's a tall order for North American soccer right now. Fast forward to 2022-ish, hopefully the conversation turns from what MLS can become to what MLS is now (in 2022). At that point, with money greasing the wheels, maybe the spigot turns on to attract any player at any age to the league.

 

[TabascoDiva]

I am looking at my crystal ball...
...
....
nothing...I do not see anyone one coming in their prime for the next 5 -7 years.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I could totally see Neymar coming here after 2018. Imagine the fanfare. Not calling it. Just saying that there is that element of being the new and improved Pele.

Plus, his Barca boys will be headed here then anyway. Not predicting it, but Neymar to Orlando In 2018-19-20 ish is pretty interesting and logical.

 

[joe]

Who owns LAFC?

It would have to be one of them, Galaxy, NYCFC or Miami. And I'm guessing it's 5+ years away, someone we haven't heard of yet.

 

[BxLio91]

About 50 people.

 

[LionNYC]

Haven't we forgotten about the Mega-Star that already came and went in MLS: Freddy Adu, I choose you.

 

[MagnusPax]

Who owns LAFC?

It would have to be one of them, Galaxy, NYCFC or Miami. And I'm guessing it's 5+ years away, someone we haven't heard of yet.

24 people including Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm and the owners of the Dodgers, Warriors, Cardiff, QPR and Roma.

 

[joe]

24 people including Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm and the owners of the Dodgers, Warriors, Cardiff, QPR and Roma.

Vincent Tan!

It's hard to tell, but there doesn't seem to be a clear majority owner. With that many people involved in the decision, I think it will be hard for LAFC to really open their wallet for someone.

 

[LionNYC]

Who owns LAFC?

It would have to be one of them, Galaxy, NYCFC or Miami. And I'm guessing it's 5+ years away, someone we haven't heard of yet.

Henry Nguyen is the Managing Partner and Peter Guber is the Executive Chairman. People like Magic Johnson are just the face of the franchise, like he is with the Dodgers.

Vincent Tan!

It's hard to tell, but there doesn't seem to be a clear majority owner. With that many people involved in the decision, I think it will be hard for LAFC to really open their wallet for someone.

There won't be a player that everyone agrees upon to open the wallets for, but they're sharing the costs which is easier for them.

 

[danger]

I could totally see Neymar coming here after 2018.

I do not see anyone one coming in their prime for the next 5 -7 years.

I think it would be a testament to the growth of the league and league reputation catching up to that. But I tend to think it won't happen that soon/agree with TabascoDiva. In 2015, the comments from stars coming over seem to all be some version of being surprised by the quality or trying to convince others of the quality, e.g.:

• England legend Steven Gerrard "surprised" by quality of MLS since joining LA Galaxy
• Sebastian Giovinco says Pirlo contacted him about MLS, Speaks Highly of League's Future

If MLS can't lure someone like Chicharito in 2015 (who only started 23 league matches for Man U and Real Madrid from over 3 seasons, and instead went to Bundesliga) I'm not hopeful that MLS could snag Neymar (or a similar mega star) three years from now

 

[FredMertz]

Ronaldo is definitely coming in my mind, but he's already off his peak.

On pace for another 60-goal season is some over the hill, but I sort of get what you mean.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I think it would be a testament to the growth of the league and league reputation catching up to that. But I tend to think it won't happen that soon/agree with TabascoDiva. In 2015, the comments from stars coming over seem to all be some version of being surprised by the quality or trying to convince others of the quality, e.g.:

• England legend Steven Gerrard "surprised" by quality of MLS since joining LA Galaxy
• Sebastian Giovinco says Pirlo contacted him about MLS, Speaks Highly of League's Future

If MLS can't lure someone like Chicharito in 2015 (who only started 23 league matches for Man U and Real Madrid from over 3 seasons, and instead went to Bundesliga) I'm not hopeful that MLS could snag Neymar (or a similar mega star) three years from now

I think it will be more 2020 in my 18,19,20.

Also, if that Qatar shit actually happens, the MLS schedule might be a factor.

 

[danger]

I think it will be more 2020 in my 18,19,20.

5 years could also be a light year for a league that is just over 20 years old (I started casually following MLS toward the end of the 2012 season, so I don't even have the perspective of 5 years of growth in this league)