Former U.S. men’s national team star Landon Donovan—who played 15 seasons in Major League Soccer, won six titles, and remains the league’s all-time assist leader—believes MLS has improved, but still has a perception issue among fans.
“It’s starting to change. And it’s not going to change overnight,” Donovan told Front Office Sports on the latest episode of Portfolio Players. “If you look around the league, there are now lots of players who are in their prime. They’re not mega mega stars like Messi, but they are good players, and the league has gotten a lot better. The problem is the perception still remains that the league is what it was before.”
Donovan believes MLS commissioner Don Garber has done a “really good job” of navigating the challenges of the top U.S. men’s pro league, which has always been dogged by a perception that it’s where the best global stars come to play out their final years. “20 years ago, they’re not coming here when they’re 25, they’re going to stay in Europe where all the money is, all the attention, the best competition.” Now, he argues, “It’s starting to change. And it’s not going to change overnight.”
And he believes the World Cup coming to North America in just one week can bring a longterm boost to MLS by compelling MLS owners to spend more money.
