IIt has been confirmed that Antoine Griezmann will become Orlando City’s new player at the end of the season. The Frenchman joins a long list of stars to play in MLS and joins a select group of World Cup winners to play in North American soccer.
When talking about MLS World Cup winners, the first names that come to mind are Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller. Additionally, Miami alone has more than 20 World Cup winners who have played in MLS, with Rodrigo de Paul and the recently retired Sergio Busquets joining this list.
Which World Cup winner played in MLS?
A total of 21 World Cup-winning soccer players played in Major League Soccer. In addition to Messi, other World Cup winners have also decided to compete in the United States. Some of the most famous players still active today include French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Argentine midfielder Rodrigo de Paul and German striker Thomas Muller.
Lothar Matthäus (New York MetroStars) 1990 Winner with Germany in Italy Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire) Winner with Germany in Brazil 2014 Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps) World Winner with Germany in Brazil 2014 Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) 2022 World Cup win with Argentina Thiago Almada (Atlanta United) World Cup Winner Argentina 2022 Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami CF) World Cup Winner with Argentina Blanco (New York Metrostars) Winner with Brazil in the United States 1994 Denilson (FC Dallas) World Winner with Brazil in Japan-Korea 2002 Kleberson (Philadelphia Union) World Winner with Brazil in Japan-Korea 2002 Kaka (Orlando City) Wins with Brazil in Japan and Korea 2002 Youri Djorkaev (New York Red Bulls) 1998 French national champion Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) 1998 French national champion Hugo Lloris (LAFC) 2018 Russian national team Blaise Matuidi (Inter Miami CF) 2018 Russian and French champions Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City) 2018 Russian and French national champions Olivier Giroud (LAFC) 2018 Russian and French champions Alessandro Nesta (Montreal Impact) 2006 German and Italian champions Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC) 2006 German and Italian champions Giorgio Chiellini (LAFC) Champion with Italy in Germany in 2006 Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF) Champion with Spain in South Africa in 2010 David Villa (New York City FC) Champion with Spain in the World Cup in South Africa 2010
MLS was founded in 1993, but the United States was already a destination for world soccer legends in the former NASL. Icons such as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer helped sow the seeds of the growth of the sport in this country.
