MLS told how it can become ‘the biggest league in the world’ and attract top European players as ex-Arsenal and Colorado Rapids star sends Lionel Messi and Christian Pulisic message

Major League Soccer continues to see its global appeal grow, thanks in no small part to the arrival of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi in 2023. Manchester United and England legend David Beckham, who is now a co-owner at Inter Miami, was able to lure the Argentine superstar to South Florida.

Messi’s presence helps to generate headlines around the world, but will MLS ever be strong enough to retain the services of home-grown stars – having seen the likes of Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna head to Europe – while convincing more household names to chase the American dream?

When that question was put to ex-Arsenal and Colorado Rapids midfielder Limpar, the Swede – speaking in association with William Hill – told GOAL: “Of course. In that case, American business is 10 times bigger than the whole of Europe together. If they decide to make MLS big, that is going to be the biggest league in the world. If the richest people there decide that, then the European players would rather go to America than Saudi Arabia. It’s up to rich companies, rich individuals, to invest in American soccer. That’s up to them.”

The riches on offer elsewhere, particularly in the Middle East, are making it difficult for MLS to compete on a level playing field at present when it comes to recruitment. Limpar added: “It is impossible in that sense, when it comes to splashing out money. But the richest people in the world are American. They are buying big clubs in Europe because of the interest there.

“I’m not sure that the owners in Saudi Arabia are interested in making money. Nobody can compete with Saudi when it comes to splashing out ridiculous money, but we have to look at the whole picture. Is that the way to go? Should the Americans invest in European football or make their own league big?”

Messi is aiding efforts to build the MLS brand, but what happens when the all-time great moves on? Limpar said of hard work potentially going to waste: “Wow, that’s a tough question. I know, I played there 1999-2000 when I and Carlos Valderrama were the big names and the league was pretty young then, about three years old. There have been big names over the years to help it survive – Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] has been there and now Messi, [Luis] Suarez. American football is so stable nowadays that they can compete in the World Cup and so on.

“MLS, it still needs the biggest names there is to survive over the next 10 years. Otherwise it is going to fade away because we all know that soccer is the fifth sport in America behind ice hockey, baseball, basketball and American football. They are way, way ahead of soccer. It definitely needs the big names, for sure.”

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MLS has the biggest name for now, with the hope being that Messi – who has savoured Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield glory with Inter Miami – can be convinced to trigger an extension option in his contract that will take him through 2026.