MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER is no longer simply a retirement home for players on their way down.
American football has exploded in terms of popularity, turbocharged by the arrival of Lionel Messi, and is attracting more and more players with Premier League experience.
ReutersMajor League Soccer is stacked full of talent who have played in the Premier League[/caption]
AFPLionel Messi is the face of MLS football[/caption]
As the 2024 season gets underway in Miami this week, SunSport takes a look at a few former Prem players making a living Stateside.
Luis Suarez, Inter Miami
ReutersFormer Liverpool star Luis Suarez joined Inter Miami ahead of this season[/caption]
A Liverpool great, Suarez has joined the Barcelona tribute act at David Backham’s Inter Miami, alongside Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
The club is even managed by former Barca boss Tata Martino.
This year is Suarez’s first in MLS as the South Florida side look to back up their first ever trophy, last season’s Leagues Cup, with a tilt at winning the MLS Cup in 2024.
Hugo Lloris, Los Angeles FC
AFPHugo Lloris left Tottenham in December to head to the States[/caption]
The French World Cup winner, 37, is also gearing up for his first season in MLS.
Lloris made an emotional exit from Tottenham in December having failed to secure a move away from North London last summer.
LAFC, who are part-owned by Hollywood star Will Ferrell, joined MLS in 2018 and won last season’s Play-Offs.
Victor Wanyama, CF Montreal
AlamyFormer Southampton and Spurs star Victor Wanyama has been in the MLS since 2021[/caption]
The Kenyan midfielder made his name in English football with Southampton and Tottenham before heading to MLS.
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Wanyama, who starred for Celtic before moving to the Premier League, now has more than 100 appearances for Canadian side CF Montreal.
While Montreal have not threatened to win much in MLS, Wanyama did win the Canadian Cup in 2021.
Christian Benteke, DC United
GettyChristian Benteke joined DC United under Wayne Rooney[/caption]
The former Aston Villa, Liverpool and Crystal Palace striker could be unplayable on his day in the Premier League, but also went through notorious dry spells in front of goal.
Benteke joined DC United in 2022 when former England captain Wayne Rooney was in charge.
The Belgian scored a stunning bicycle kick against Charlotte in April last year and took part in the annual MLS All Star game in Washington.
DeAndre Yedlin, Inter Miami
ReutersDeAndre Yedlin starred at Newcastle before finding his way to the USA[/caption]
The American international right-back as gone from lining-up behind Jeff Hendrick or Ayoze Perez at Steve Bruce‘s Newcastle to sharing a flank with Messi in South Florida.
Quite the rise for the full-back, who also played for Sunderland and, very briefly, Tottenham during his time in England.
The 30-year-old started his career in MLS with Seattle Sounders before crossing the Atlantic to spend seven years in Europe. Yedlin spent a season at Galatasaray before making the move to Inter Miami.
Inter Miami 2-0 Real Salt Lake
DAVID BECKHAM’S biggest season yet at Inter Miami got off to a fine start as Lionel Messi inspired their win over Real Salt Lake.
Beckham flew into Florida for the curtain raiser of the 2024 Major League Soccer season, watching his star-studded side alongside Hollywood icon Will Smith among other celebrities.
The former England captain needed a performance to live up to the glitz and hype ahead of the game. Fireworks shot above the Chase Stadium as Beckham introduced new signing Luis Suarez ahead of kick-off.
While Messi did not score the opening goal, he was still putting on a show, playing with swagger and a smile.
Having hit the bar trying to score directly from a corner, the World Cup winner setup Robert Taylor to grab the first after 39 minutes with a fine through ball.
Then the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner really started showing off.
Messi drove towards goal but found the injured Andrew Brody sprawled out in his path.
Whereas for anyone else the move would end there, the Argentine showed supreme touch to lift the ball over Brody, tip-toe around him and get a shot off.
There was a sign of the new Stateside circus around Messi, who was stalked from the touchline by his own personal bodyguard, as he shared a hug with Smith in the pitchside hospitality seats as he headed down the tunnel.
Miami, who won their maiden trophy following Messi’s arrival last season, are looking to claim the MLS Cup – effectively the league title – for the first time in the club’s history.
With their capture of Messi followed by the arrival of former Barcelona teammates Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, Beckham’s boys are clear favourites with the bookies to storm MLS this season.
There were a few mistakes from the hosts dotted throughout the second half which went unpunished to prove that stardust alone won’t get them across the line.
But on occasion it does. After a second half on the back foot, a tired looking Messi and Suarez burst back into life to combine and set up Diego Gomez to score a stunning second with a scintillating break from the halfway line.
Seconds later Suarez was denied his first goal for the club when Zac MacMath made a stunning near post save from the Uruguayan’s close range strike which came at the end of another Messi break.
The Argentine then almost got his own name on the scoresheet with a seamless run from the right, before seeing his effort stopped.
At full time the fireworks went up again into the South Florida sky and Beckham will be praying they can continue all season long.
Teemu Pukki, Minnesota United
GettyEx-Norwich ace Teemu Pukki joined Minnesota United last June[/caption]
The Finnish striker has swapped Norfolk for the Twin Cities on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.
Pukki joined Minnesota United in June last year after scoring 88 goals in more than 200 appearances for the Canaries in the Premier League and Championship.
The 33-year-old has a fine strike rate of 10 goals in just 14 MLS appearances.
Bryan Oviedo, Real Salt Lake
GettyBryan Oviedo has already played 41 times for Real Salt Lake[/caption]
The former Everton and Sunderland man returned to former club FC Copenhagen after leaving English football, but has been with Real Salt Lake since 2022.
A versatile left-back, Oviedo scored twice in 60 Premier League appearances but is yet to register a goal in 41 outings for Salt Lake.
He begins his season with the biggest task of all, up against Messi in Miami in front of Beckham.
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