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

Former MLS star Anders Limpar has explained how the most ambitious of American sporting enterprises can become “the biggest league in the world”.

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• Argentine icon has helped to raise profile
• USMNT stars still head to Europe
• Big businesses urged to invest in league

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  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.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  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?

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  WHAT ANDERS LIMPAR SAID

  When that question was put to ex-Arsenal and Colorado Rapids midfielder Limpar, the Swede – speaking in association with – 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.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  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?”