Do those big-name transfers make sense for MLS clubs, and could any of the three have a Messi-like impact on the league?
Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami in MLS in July 2023 was earth-shattering. The Argentine, coming off of lifting the 2022 FIFA World Cup and en route to his eighth Ballon d'Or, launched a movement the likes of which the league has never seen.
His move from Europe to MLS was unquestionably the most impactful, but there were predecessors: David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and David Villa, among others. They all found relative success in the league, even if not to the level of Messi – not only has he led the Herons to the inaugural 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield and the No. 1 overall seed in the 2024 MLS Playoffs, he's also been core to record attendance, streaming growth, revenues and overall interest in the league.
Other ex-European stars such as Xherdan Shaqiri, Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, Ruud gullit and Rafa Marquez – they did not find success in MLS. Rather, they were disastrous signings that, in retrospect, are absolute head-scratchers.
As a result of those moves, front office members around the league are now more judicious when considering bringing in aging European talent. Even in 2024, the Olivier Giroud experiment with LAFC is off to a underwhelming start, while Marco Reus has yet to find a spot in the LA Galaxy's starting XI.
Looking ahead to 2025, there's even more questions about how to pursue European stars, and if they're worth the flyer for a potential transfer. Notably, the three in regular consideration are Manchester city star Kevin De Bruyne, Al Hilal and Brazil attacker Neymar and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann. There are positives and negatives for each, though there's no doubting their talent. But do they make sense for MLS clubs to pursue? And could any of the three make a Messi-like impact on the league?
The rumor mill, as is always the case in soccer, is swirling. Neymar recently bought a house in Florida, while De Bruyne's agent has already held talks with 2025 expansion franchise San Diego FC, and both are out of contract at the end of the 2024-25 season. Griezmann, meanwhile, is a U.S. sports fanatic – from the NBA to the NFL, he has stated multiple times he is appreciative of sporting culture and wants to end his career stateside.
Which might be a good fit? How might it all go wrong? GOAL examines the pros and cons of each potentially making a move to MLS.
Getty Images SportPro: Neymar is a global superstar with Messi-esque reach
Arguably the greatest Brazilian attacker since Pele, Neymar is a genius on the pitch. On his best day, he is a top-three player in the world, and his impact for club and country has never gone unnoticed.
Since his emergence on the world's stage as a teenager in Brazil with Santos, to his brilliance with Barcelona, PSG and on the international stage with the Selecao, he has been an absolute joy to watch. Wherever he goes, wherever he plays, fans follow and he puts on a show. When he takes to the pitch, he's a pure entertainer, with delightful footwork, maddening ball-skills and a soccer IQ that's second only to Messi among present-day footballers.
If he were to come to MLS, it would be a must-watch event week-in and week-out. He's a player made for the stage, for the limelight. He wants the cameras, the chants and the fans – and so does MLS. He is a name that sells, from jerseys to tickets to sponsorships – there is no better "next step from Messi" than the 32-year-old winger.
That, and MLS could provide the spark to get him the competitive games he needs ahead of leading his nation in the 2026 World Cup.
AdvertisementCon: Neymar's injury history is troublesome
Since his transfer to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, the Brazilian has barely played. After tearing his ACL on international duty in a 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier in the fall of 2023 with Brazil, he's only recently returned – only to walk off the pitch with a hamstring injury, ruling him out for an additional 4-6 weeks.
Factor in his other-wordly salary of $3,225,125per-week in Saudi Arabia, and there are some red flags over recruiting his services in MLS. For any team to take a flyer on him, they would have to offer him a contract to become one of the league's top-earners, but with his injury history, would it be worth it?
With a handful of MLS teams still playing on artificial turf surfaces, there are even more questions that come with his arrival. Would he avoid those stadiums? Is he healthy enough to play in the congested schedule of the league that includes domestic and continental cup competitions? What about the salary cap – could any club actually afford him?
The Brazilian has been the darling of the for over a decade, and is widely-regarded as one of the greatest performers of the 21st century on the pitch, but it's been a few years since he's been at his best. Is he worth the risk? Those are the questions front offices have to ask if they consider recruiting the 32-year-old.
Getty Images SportPro: Griezmann actively wants to join MLS
Fascinated will all things American sports, Griezmann is a no-brainer signing for MLS. He's already gone on the record saying he wants Atletico Madrid to be his "last club" before a stateside transfer, and he recently retired from international duty with France.
World Cup winner with in 2018, runner-up in 2022 and with two third-place finishes in Ballon d'Or, the Frenchman should be at the top of every team's shopping list. A brilliant forward who can play in a two-striker or single forward formation – and can be adaptable to the No. 10 role, too – the 33-year-old is the ideal forward for any MLS club looking to elevate their attack.
It's not often a player comes forward and expresses desire to play elsewhere while under a contract with a club in a different country, and MLS should capitalize on his willingness.
With a contract expiring in 2026, the question is how to recruit his services before that deal runs out, and then of course – where he lands. Could it be Los Angeles, or even Sporting Kansas City, after the Frenchman was pictured swapping signed shirts with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes last November?
Getty Images SportCon: Griezmann is not a classic superstar
The thing about playing for France, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – while winning trophies with all three of them – is that other people win trophies too. And sometimes, you get overshadowed by teammates – at times deservingly, and at times for no reason other than pure fame.
At Barcelona, Griezmann was second to Messi, and with Atletico, a mix of Joao Felix, Alvaro Morata and the manager, Diego Simeone. With , it was the Mbappe show every single time they took the pitch, even though Griezmann has been their most consistent performer for the past eight years on the international level. And if it wasn't him, it was another star, such as Giroud or Paul Pogba. There was always a bigger name in the headlines.
As a result, there's skepticism around a potential move for the 33-year-old, as he never had the draw of those he was surrounded by. Will he sell jerseys? Tickets? A move for someone of his caliber takes more into account than his performances on the pitch, which ultimately prompts all of those questions.
There's no worries if he will perform, but rather, can he live up to expectations in being the face of the club domestically?
