Major League Soccer is in the midst of a new era of youth development and investment in exciting stars from South America, but there will always be a place in the league for a big-name veteran.
David Beckham’s arrival in the league in 2007 was transformative, prompting the creation of the Designated Player rule — dubbed the ‘Beckham Rule’ — to facilitate the signing of more big-name stars.
Since then, a deluge of icons have followed suit, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, and Thierry Henry, to name a few. Right now, we have Son Heung-min, Thomas Muller and the GOAT himself, Lionel Messi, tearing up MLS.
But who could be the next names to light up MLS and add their name to the proverbial Walk of Fame? Here are 10 possibilities for 2026.
1. Robert Lewandowski
The most lethal No.9 in Europe over the past decade and more, Robert Lewandowski is still going strong at 37 years old, netting 11 goals across all competitions this season for Barcelona, including nine in 15 La Liga appearances.
However, Lewa’s contract is up at the end of this season, and rumors are starting to gather pace that MLS could be his next destination.
Chicago Fire, LAFC, and Sporting KC have been named as the most likely clubs to push for his signing. The former feels most likely given the massive Polish diaspora in Chicago, while the Fire have had great success with players of Polish descent in the past, including Gabriel Slonina (now at Chelsea), Piotr Nowak, and Przemyslaw Frankowski.
2. Casemiro
News broke recently that Casemiro will depart Manchester United at the end of this season, with interim manager Michael Carrick confirming reports.
The Brazilian is enjoying an improved campaign after some struggles at Old Trafford, proving there’s life in his 33-year-old legs yet.
MLS is naturally high on the list of Casemiro’s next moves, and it’s now understood that the LA Galaxy have already been actively pursuing a move. The Galaxy have never been shy of signing a big name, and their interest is further fuelled by Riqui Puig being sidelined for the whole of 2026 with a second devastating knee injury.
3. Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann’s contract at Atletico Madrid doesn’t expire until the summer of 2027, but if he doesn’t go to MLS soon, it would be some kind of sick joke.
The Frenchman has been fluttering his eyelashes at Major League Soccer for years now, while constantly declaring his admiration for American sports and culture.
“I’ve always said it, my target is to end up [in MLS],” Griezmann told ESPN in 2023. “It’s my objective, to be there and end my career there, to be able to enjoy the sports there. I’m a big fan.”
Griezmann reportedly received a ‘dream offer’ from Charlotte FC last year that would see him arrive in MLS in 2026, but whether or not that comes to fruition remains to be seen. The 34-year-old hasn’t played for France since 2024, and may see this summer as the ideal time to finally make the switch, once the La Liga campaign is over.
4. Mohamed Salah
It’s been a turbulent year at Liverpool for Mohamed Salah, amid public clashes with the club and manager Arne Slot. The Egyptian still has 18 months left on his contract at Anfield, but given his drop-off this season, could Liverpool be more content to finally sell?
MLS commissioner Don Garber has certainly left the door open to Salah.
“Obviously, if [Salah] ever decides to come to Major League Soccer, we’d welcome him with open arms,” he said in December. “I’d say he should reach out to Leo [Messi] and reach out to Thomas Muller and see how happy they’ve been and how successful they’ve been and how much they’ve really embraced being in Major League Soccer.”
San Diego were linked with a January move for Salah last year, though that now feels extremely unlikely. But who knows what the summer could bring.
5. Bernardo Silva
Returning to Chicago, the Fire have also been linked with an ambitious swoop for Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva.
The Portugal international is still only 31 years old and remains a vital player for Pep Guardiola. However, his contract at the Etihad Stadium is up this summer, and the Fire are thought to be ready to battle European suitors for his signature when he becomes a free agent.
Chicago currently have just one free DP spot, so if they want Silva and Lewandowski, they’ll have to make some adjustments.
6. Neymar
Neymar is another name who has been heavily linked with MLS over the years, and many thought it would happen last year, before he returned to Santos to help his boyhood club avoid relegation.
Brazil’s record goalscorer hasn’t played for the national team in two-and-a-half years, but will still be looking to force his way into the picture for the World Cup this summer.
After that? Well, according to fellow Brazilian and former Man Utd and Philadelphia Union star Kleberson, he could finally arrive in MLS.
“Messi wants to bring everyone to MLS! He wants to make a private MLS league!” said Kleberson.
“There are some rumors. I think that Neymar probably only signed with Santos because he can stay in Brazil and have a chance to play in the World Cup. I believe, 100 per cent, that if he needs to move, then the only league he can go to is MLS. I don’t think Neymar is going to put himself into another league.
“After the World Cup, probably in his mind it will be different in terms of the level he is playing. He is thinking now only about the World Cup. Think if he doesn’t go, or he goes, and Brazil don’t do well, he is not going to be ‘Santos, Santos, Santos’ and his career there. It’s impossible to see that for a personality like Neymar. I believe he will try to move to MLS.”
It’s hard not to be excited by the prospect of Inter Miami fielding the ‘MSN’ front three for one last dance.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
This one would be the most outlandish of them all. For the last couple of years, the Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry has evolved into an MLS vs Saudi Pro League battle, with CR7 the poster boy for the latter.
There were some loose whispers that MLS could still happen for Ronaldo, despite him turning 41 in February. He will continue to lead the line for Portugal at the World Cup this summer, which would admittedly be a great opportunity for those within the league to try and turn his head.
However, Ronaldo still has 18 months left on his contract, and it would take something staggering to get Al-Nassr to agree to a sale. Not to mention the monumental salary Ronaldo would command, eclipsing even the $20.4m that Messi pocked in 2025.
But that hasn’t stopped anyone from trying to make the case.
‘Everybody in the world will watch’
“Nobody thought Lionel Messi would come, and yet he did. What did it take? It took ownership, and I think it’s going to be a similar package [to recruit Ronaldo to MLS],” ESPN analyst and former United States international Hercules Gomez said on Futbol Americas last summer. “American owner John Textor (owns Botafogo and American Eagle Football Group), they want, as per reports, to offer a similar package for Cristiano Ronaldo to join Botafogo, or one of the teams, ahead of the Club World Cup.
“Do I see someone within Major League Soccer with the ability to do that? Maybe. Should they do that? Absolutely. There is no absolute way you have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing in the same league, and you’re not going to pay attention. Whether you’re a hater of what they have become now, or whether you’re a lover of what they’ve done to the game. Two players who have played at the highest of levels for so long, who have competed against one another.
“Everybody in the world will watch the league, will watch this match-up, and I almost feel like you have to make an intent, you have to try to get Cristiano Ronaldo to MLS.”
Gomez added: “Because 936 goals that Cristiano is at right now, it’s very well documented that he wants 1000 goals, so he’s not going to go to La Liga, he’s not going to go to Serie A, and he’s not going to go to the Premier League.
“But he’s going to go to a Saudi Pro League or an MLS, one of these leagues, because he wants his goals. He wants the 64 goals that are left to hit a 1000, and I think it’s doable.”
8. John Stones
John Stones is out of favor at Manchester City, where his contract expires this summer. All of the talk is already that he’ll leave the Etihad this summer, with the Bundesliga his most likely destination.
However, there is also reported interest from the Premier League — including former club Everton — and the Saudi Pro League, while officials from MLS clubs are understood to have registered their interest.
Saudi Arabia or Major League Soccer could suit Stones at this stage of his career, especially given how much his body has suffered from injuries over the years.
9. Manuel Neuer
Thomas Muller has enjoyed great success in MLS so far with the Vancouver Whitecaps, so could he turn the head of his friend and former teammate, Manuel Neuer?
They have shared so much together with Bayern Munich and the German national team, and Neuer’s contract in Bavaria is up in the summer.
The 39-year-old doesn’t appear to be done yet, and MLS would be a logical next step for him — especially given how much fellow goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has enjoyed his time there so far.
Former Bayern and Germany midfielder Stefan Effenberg, who now lives in Florida, has tipped Neuer to make a move to MLS. What’s more, the player himself has admitted he now has to think about ‘what happens next’.
“The decisive factor will be how I feel in the second half of the season,” he said. “Towards March, during the national team break, I’ll have to think about what happens next.”
10. Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala feels like he’s on a perfect collision course with MLS.
The Argentine is past his peak, but still performing at a high enough level to genuinely improve the league. He is just about young enough at 32 years old to arrive with some longevity. Not to mention that his contract at Roma expires this summer.
Inter Miami have surrounded Messi with a host of fellow Argentines, and with open DP spots to fill, how they’d love to add another like Dybala.
The Athletic’s Felipe Cardenas named Dybala as his top pick among the next European stars to come to MLS last summer after Kevin De Bruyne decided to move to Napoli, so let’s see what the summer holds.