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The biggest overseas stars ever to play in North America

tom hancock

Fri, 17 Jan 2025, 8:45 am

Here are the biggest names to ply their trade in the NASL and MLS

Rob Rensenbrink (Portland Timbers)

Vava (San Diego Toros)

David Villa (New York City)

Hristo Stoichkov (Chicago Fire, D.C. United)

Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami)

Johan Neeskens (New York Cosmos)

Andrea Pirlo (New York City)

Lothar Matthaus (New York/New Jersey MetroStars)

Frank Lampard (New York City)

Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy)

Gordon Banks (Fort Lauderdale Strikers)

Wayne Rooney (D.C. United)

Bobby Moore (San Antonio Thunder, Seattle Sounders)

George Best (Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, San Jose Earthquakes)

Carlos Alberto (New York Cosmos, California Surf)

Gerd Muller (Fort Lauderdale Strikers)

Eusebio (Boston Minutemen, Toronto Metros-Croatia, Las Vegas Quicksilvers)

Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)

Franz Beckenbauer (New York Cosmos)

David Beckham (LA Galaxy)

Johann Cruyff (Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats)

Pele (New York Cosmos)

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Here are the biggest names to ply their trade in the NASL and MLS

Top-level football in the USA and Canada has been graced by some of the game's all-time greats over the years.

The influx of elite European and South American talent into North America began with the birth of the old NASL in 1968 – and another wave came as MLS got underway in 1994.

Here, in FourFourTwo's humble opinion, are the biggest overseas stars ever to play in the NASL and MLS...

Getty Images

Here are the biggest names to ply their trade in the NASL and MLS

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