A constellation of stars who defined the modern era of American soccer have been officially recognised for their contributions to the game. Icons including David Beckham and Megan Rapinoe lead the latest class of inductees to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. These legendary figures will be celebrated for their massive impact on both the international stage and the growth of the domestic game.
Lionel Messi has been named an MLS MVP finalist for the third consecutive season, while Philadelphia Union star Cavan Sullivan has become the youngest player ever shortlisted for the award. The 17-year-old USMNT midfielder joins Messi, Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar, FC Cincinnati’s Evander and Houston Dynamo’s Guilherme among the five finalists announced by MLS on Thursday.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi continues to draw massive crowds across North America after the Florida club featured in eight of the 10 highest-attended MLS fixtures of 2026. Official regular-season figures released by the league also revealed that two of the Herons' road trips rank among the three largest single-match attendances in history.
Major League Soccer reported a 93 percent increase in weekly live match viewership in 2026, averaging an estimated 7.2 million gross viewers across streaming and TV. The league also recorded 838 million social media engagements and drew more than 11.2 million fans, while younger audiences on FOX and FS1 grew following the World Cup.
