It has been confirmed that Antoine Griezmann will be a new Orlando City player once the season is over. The Frenchman will join the long list of stars playing in MLS and joins a select group of World Cup-winning players playing in North American soccer.
Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller are the first names that come up when talking about World Cup winners in MLS. In addition, in Miami alone, Rodrigo de Paul and the recently retired Sergio Busquets are added to this list, however, in total there are more than 20 World Cup winning players who have played in MLS.
Which World Cup winners have played in MLS?
A total of 21 World Cup-winning footballers have played in Major League Soccer. Alongside Messi, other World Cup winners have decided to compete in the United States. Among the most well-known names still active are French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Argentine midfielder Rodrigo de Paul and German striker Thomas Muller.
- Lothar Matthäus (NY MetroStars) Champion with Germany in Italy 1990
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire) Champion with Germany in Brazil 2014
- Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps) World Champion with Germany in Brazil 2014
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022
- Thiago Almada (Atlanta United) World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022
- Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami CF) World Cup winner with Argentina
- Branco (NY MetroStars) Champion with Brazil in the United States 1994
- Denilson (FC Dallas) World Champion with Brazil in Korea-Japan 2002
- Kleberson (Philadelphia Union) World Champion with Brazil in Korea-Japan 2002
- Kaka (Orlando City) Champion with Brazil in Korea-Japan 2002
- Youri Djorkaeff (New York Red Bulls) Champion with France in 1998
- Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) Champion with France in 1998
- Hugo Lloris (LAFC) Champion with France in Russia 2018
- Blaise Matuidi (Inter Miami CF) Champion with France in Russia 2018
- Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City) Champion with France in Russia 2018
- Olivier Giroud (LAFC) World Champion with France in Russia 2018
- Alessandro Nesta (Montreal Impact) Champion with Italy in Germany 2006
- Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC) World champion with Italy in Germany 2006
- Giorgio Chiellini (LAFC) Champion with Italy in Germany 2006
- Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF) Champion with Spain in South Africa 2010
- David Villa (New York City FC) World Champion with Spain in South Africa 2010
Although MLS was founded in 1993, the United States had already been the destination of world soccer legends in the old NASL. Icons such as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer helped sow the seeds for the growth of the sport in the country.
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