The relationship between Liga MX and Major League Soccer (MLS) has grown in recent years. It is increasingly common for soccer players who played in American soccer to arrive in Mexico and vice versa. The most recent case is that of Jonathan Rodríguez, who would have everything ready to leave América and sign with the Portland Timbers.
Below we present the most emblematic and recent cases of Liga MX figures who emigrated to the MLS.
'Cabecita' Rodríguez is the most recent member of this list and probably one of the most notable cases. The Uruguayan winger had a great career in Mexican soccer and became champion with Santos Laguna, Cruz Azul and América. He decided to leave the Eagles in search of more minutes.
Raúl Ruidíaz is one of the best forwards in the last ten years in Liga MX. The Peruvian had an outstanding time with Monarcas Morelia, a club he joined in mid-2016. In July 2018, the lethal scorer received a great offer from the Seattle Sounders and decided to leave for the MLS, where he has had an outstanding time.
Pulido is remembered as the last great forward of Chivas de Guadalajara. The Tamaulipas forward had a great time with the Sacred Flock, but in January 2020 he decided to end his journey as a red-and-white element and left for Sporting Kansas City.
Rodolfo Pizarro had a very good performance in Pachuca and Chivas de Guadalajara, which is why he attracted the interest of Monterrey. Although he did not shine with Rayados, he was enough to win a Liga MX title. At the beginning of 2020, the Mexican forward caught the attention of Inter Miami and accepted his offer. He didn't have much luck in MLS.
The Argentine forward had a brief, but memorable time in Mexican soccer with Necaxa. After almost a year in Aguascalientes, Fernández caught the attention of the Portland Timbers, a team that paid close to 9 million dollars to sign him. Unfortunately the player could not shine in the MLS due to his personal demons.
Acosta arrived in Liga MX, with Atlas, in January 2020. The footballer had a slow start with the red and black, but as the games went by he became an important element. Just a year later, when he was showing the best version of himself, he received and accepted an offer from Cincinnati FC. He is currently one of the best players in MLS.
The Argentine midfielder was never an undisputed starter with Tigres, but he left a good taste in the mouth during his time in the UANL team. With the cats he won three league titles and three champions of champions. After four years at the feline institution, Zelarayán agreed to go to the Columbus Crew of the MLS. There he won a league title and was a figure.
Cuauhtémoc Blanco is one of the most popular players in the history of Mexican soccer. In 2007 he made the decision to leave Club América to try his luck in the MLS with the Chicago Fire. Blanco became a great figure in the Windy City team, but he was unable to crown his performances with any title.
Pável Pardo followed the same steps and in mid-2011 he signed with the Chicago Fire. The 'Baby' also arrived from Club América. He played for this team for a year and a half and retired there.
'Brody' was one of the pioneers in Liga MX-MLS signings. The Mexican goalkeeper left the Atlanta team in April 1996 to sign with the LA Galaxy. In April 1998 he again made a similar transfer, this time he left Pumas to sign with the Chicago Fire.
Players like William Yarbrough, Omar González, Maxi Moralez, Cristian Arango, Martín Rodríguez, Felipe Mora, Fernando Álvarez, Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, Carlos Darwin Quintero, Ramón Ramírez, Luis Ángel Landín, Gonzalo Pineda, Erick Torres, Damarcus Beasley, Víctor Vázquez, Carlos Salcedo, Francisco Palencia and Efraín Juárez are others who have made the transition from Liga MX to MLS.
#figures #Liga #decided #MLS
