LA Galaxy are back! Ex-Barcelona wonderkid Riqui Puig leading MLS' most-storied franchise to the top

Before Lionel Messi arrived in MLS, there was a near decade of stardom in Los Angeles. First came David Beckham and Landon Donovan, then there was Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and - eventually - Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Beckham's 2007 arrival in MLS was transcendent, the first genuine superstar to sign for the league. The England legend scored 18 goals and notched 38 assists across six seasons and 98 appearances for the Galaxy, putting MLS on the map in Europe. Then came Keane, one of the greatest Tottenham strikers of all time. The Irishman played for the Galaxy for six seasons, starting in 2011, and Gerrard soon followed in 2015 for two years himself.

Donovan, meanwhile, began and ended his MLS career with the Galaxy, certifying himself as a U.S. men's national team legend with 145 goals across 340 appearances.

Of late, though, the biggest name pre-Puig was none other than Zlatan himself. In just two seasons, the mercurial forward scored and incredible 52 goals while also notching 17 assists, even if he did court controversy along the way.

Puig's reputation doesn't match those who came before him in L.A., but his upbringing in the game is difficult to match. He came up through the ranks of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and graduated into the senior team - playing alongside the likes of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and of course, Lionel Messi. The midfielder had joined Barca at the age of 13 in 2013, and five years on, made his senior debut at just 18-years-old. He signed a three-year contract with the Catalan club, which contained a $118 million release clause.

Puig had begun to turn heads even before that competitive debut, however, as during a preseason friendly with AC Milan in 2018, his performance left opposition manager Gennaro Gatusso purring: “Riqui is spectacular... Even though they [Barca] have players that look like kids, the way they handle the ball amazes me. It’s the beauty of football. It’s like poetry... I heard about him a while ago, and about some of the other kids at the club. It’s the kind of thing you can’t copy and paste. It’s something that takes years to do. It’s how they feel the game."

Puig went on to make 58 first-team appearances for Barca across four seasons. However, when financial hardship hit the club, he was one of the academy graduates sacrificed, and the Galaxy signed him on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

Going from playing alongside superstars in Spain with Barca to playing in MLS was never going to be an easy change. Puig knew that there would opportunities in Europe - he reportedly turned down offers from Wolves, Lyon and Monaco - but also knew that MLS would be a challenge.

He wasn't the only player to make the cross-Atlantic switch during a blockbuster transfer window, though. The likes of Gareth Bale and Federico Bernardeschi signed in MLS along with Lorenzo Insigne and Cucho Hernandez - all of whom had major European offers.

For his part, Puig was looking to reshape his career with a fresh start as the face of a fallen franchise. Two years on, it appears he's made the correct choice, even if his raw attacking statistics over his first season-and-a-half in the United States - 12 goals and six assists from 46 appearances in all competitions - weren't blowing anyone away.

Puig has taken his game to a new level in 2024, however, and is right at the forefront of the MLS MVP race after two months of action. However, it feels like if anyone wants to win that prize, they will have to get back another Masia product first in the shape of Messi.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has missed four matches for Miami this season across all competitions, but he's made up for it with his heroics on the pitch in recent weeks. The Argentine has seven goals and six assists in six appearances this season, including contributing to all three goals in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Nashville SC.

Puig, by comparison, has been sensational in the midfield for the Galaxy. He's led them to a near-perfect record this season, with three goals and four assists across nine appearances. He's completed over 80 percent of his passes from the midfield in every match so far, too, and so while there's a long way to go in this MVP race, Puig can certainly build a case to challenge his one-time teammate.

Puig's performances in 2023 - where he led the team in scoring and total goal-contributions - along with his start to 2024, are set to earn him a new contract, according to The Athletic. Puig's current deal is set to expire in 2025, but he's now set to be rewarded for his efforts - while the Galaxy also lock-in their best player for years to come.

That is, however, not to say a potential exit isn't on the cards. The 24-year-old still has a desire to return and make an impact in Europe, and it's just a matter of when, not how.

"We are in talks with the Galaxy for a contract extension, but personally and in terms of ambition, I would like to return to Europe," Puig stated in a March interview withEFE Agency. "I feel incredibly valued; the coach instills great confidence in me, as do my teammates. I feel like a vital part of the club."

It's not just Puig whose performances have lifted the Galaxy back towards the top of MLS in a season were they moved on from big names such as Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and Douglas Costa. In their place came unheralded $17m duo Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec, and they have ensured the pressure isn't solely on Puig to do the heavy lifting.

Ghana international Paintsil has been absolutely electric on the wing, scoring four goals and providing four assists in nine starts. Signed from Belgium club Genk, he's quickly become one of the must-watch players in MLS, with his brilliant footwork and flashy pace drawing viewers in every week.

Pec, meanwhile, looks like a huge upgrade over Brazilian compatriot Costa. Though his tally of two goals and one assist in eight appearances is nothing to write home about, he played a crucial role on the opposite wing to Paintsil in providing for central striker Dejan Jovelic. Their efforts have led to Galaxy being second-highest scoring team in MLS so far this season with 21 goals, only trailing Messi's Miami by a solitary strike.

And so while it's early in the campaign, and anything can happen in MLS, with Puig running the show and the trio of attackers ahead of him all in fine form, there is one certainty: The LA Galaxy are well and truly back!