GOAL looks at the biggest storylines to follow in MLS this year, with more than Inter Miami on must-watch list
Another MLS season, and plenty of intrigue. It's not just Lionel Messi here. Yes, the Argentine has raised the profile of the league enormously, but look beyond him and there are plenty of compelling soccer storylines.
Miami have, effectively, forced everyone else to reevaluate how they approach the league. More money than ever is being spent, with Atlanta, Cincinnati and others spending big. Meanwhile, the new cash-for-player rule has helped cultivate something like a European transfer market within MLS.
Yes, both Los Angeles teams have big name Europeans in their ranks, while everyone else seems to be making smart moves to acquire talent that might actually be more effective in this league than the high-end DPs that sell shirts. Seattle Sounders will, as ever, be there. And there is another expansion franchise, San Diego FC, to think about – will they be any good?
GOAL takes a look at the five biggest storylines heading into the 2025 MLS season.
IMAGNHave Inter Miami retooled enough?
Was Miami's loss to Atlanta United last year in the playoffs really big of an upset? Sure, on star power and talent alone, it really shouldn't have been close. And yes, when you have Lionel Messi, you really win every game. But this sport doesn't work like that.
Anyone who'd watched Miami consistently could see that this was a star-laden team, but also frighteningly vulnerable on the break. Atlanta exploited what was hiding in plain sight, got the most out of a 40-year-old goalkeeper, and made this expensively assembled side look, well, average.
But changes have come. Diego Gomez, one of Miami's most potent attacking weapons – who also offered some valuable defensive legs – is gone. Leo Campana, a valuable do-it-all striker and diligent runner has left for New England.
The new faces, meanwhile, all offer a mixture of off-ball work and extra legs in crucial positions. There appears to be an understanding that USMNT youngster Benjamin Cremaschi can make a leap. Miami will also be hoping that Yannick Bright's breakout season was more than just a fluke.
Piece it all together, and some needs have been addressed, while new manager Javier Mascherano should bring the good vibes. Will it be enough to make good on MLS Cup dreams?
AdvertisementImagnAre Cincinnati good enough to win it all?
Something must be established: Miami are the clear favorites to win MLS Cup. Talent alone dictates that. But FC Cincinnati might have a thing or two to say about that. The worst happened this winter, when they lost MVP candidate Lucho Acosta.
Their response? Sign Evander – the closest thing in MLS available to him in terms of talent. Throw in the massive outlay on Kevin Denkey, a proven goalscorer at all levels in Europe, and Cincinnati have enjoyed the kind of offseason that suggests they have serious ambitions.
Last year, it was their defense that ultimately collapsed. And that would make sense. Matt Miazga was immense before sustaining a serious knee injury that ended his season. By the time they got to the playoffs, they were running on fumes.
But the USMNT defender should be back at some point this season, and if Denkey is anything like his European self, they now have a 20 goal per year striker in their ranks – to go alongside the kind of magical, mercurial playmaker to get them through the tight games. No, they don't have the same star power as Miami. But they might be more balanced.
@sandiegofcHow far can expansion San Diego FC go?
San Diego FC face a tough task in MLS. First, they have to cultivate a fan base in a city suspect of its sports teams. Then, they have to put a decent product on the pitch – ideally, one that can stay afloat in the Western Conference. So far, they have fought well on both fronts. There is a real buzz about the team, while the signings of Luca de la Torre and Chucky Lozano offer a mixture of star power and European flair.
The question remains, though: will it be enough? History tells us that expansion franchises have it rough. Cincinnati were poor for a few years before coming anywhere near success. St. Louis won the West in their first year before turning in a fairly miserable season in their second. Austin FC still haven't got it right.
The Southern California team will likely end up somewhere in between the two. Lozano will score some goals, while a decent base around him should pace them well. If the faint – yes, faint – chatter around Kevin De Bruyne and a July move is to be believed, then they look a lot more like a playoff side.
Right now, though, no one seems to know. And therein lies the fun of it all.
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AFPWhich big European name arrives next?
For a brief moment, it seemed possible: Neymar was coming to MLS. We all dreamed for a second. There he was, the brilliant Brazilian, potentially in the Windy City, making a mockery of defenders and shaking off the midwestern cold to lead Gregg Berhalter's side back to MLS relevance.
So much for that. Neymar is now a Santos player. Fast forward six months, and he could well be wearing the pink of Inter Miami.
But there will be someone to come next. It has been assumed, for some time, that Antoine Griezmann will play in MLS. He loves America, and has made it clear that he wants to do his thing here. The De Bruyne rumors just won't go away.
The return of Miguel Almiron to Atlanta and arrival of Wilfried Zaha in Charlotte both prove that this remains an appealing league. Throw in Marco Reus and Olivier Giroud last year, and there is no doubt that MLS still has a pull – even with Saudi Pro League money floating about.