In the USA, the euphoria is huge: A new superstar is coming to the country, which is by no means poor in terms of superstars. World champion Lionel Messi will join Inter Miami, he told Spanish newspaper Sport. One of the greatest soccer players of all time will soon be playing for a previously rather inconspicuous team in the US soccer league MLS – Miami is currently in last place in the Eastern Conference. At the age of 35, Messi, who comes from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, is once again breaking new ground.
However, this phenomenon is not new – on the contrary: soccer stars have been moving to the USA time and time again since the 1970s. And this, although the United States is not exactly known as a football country, sports such as basketball, football, ice hockey and baseball are much more popular with fans there. In our photo series we show a selection of football stars who went overseas at the end of their careers.
Soccer World Cup 2026 takes place in the USA
It started with some of the greatest legends in the sport ever. In the late 1970s, MLS launched its first major offensive to popularize soccer in the United States. In the course of this, legends such as Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Gerd Müller and Pelé were lured into the league. They lent their name and luster to MLS, while the US league offered high salaries and a new end-of-sports experience.
In the decades that followed, footballers liked to spend a few more years in the States after a successful career – including some Germans like Lothar Matthäus and Bastian Schweinsteiger. However, the stars rarely made a real sporting difference. That’s probably how it should look in the case of Messi: After 42 titles, there are now two more years of adventure – according to reports Messi’s contract should last that long – in Florida. For the USA, however, his move is a big coup: before the 2026 World Cup in his own country, the world star should dem Soccer bring another quantum leap in the United States.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
