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The MLS is home to the world champions: Messi, Griezmann, Müller and many more!
Mar 25 2026 12:11 · By RYAN MITCHELL · 27 Reads
I t 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 .
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.