Since 2007, Major League Soccer's leadership has taken steps to further internationalize the league in an effort to raise the level of play. Among the first moves in this regard was the
Designated Player Rule, which helped MLS bring international stars into the league, despite the relatively meager MLS salary cap, and the creation of the
SuperLiga, which places top MLS clubs against top Mexican clubs in an effort to provide more meaningful competition for both leagues. MLS changed the rules regarding foreign players in the league to allow a total of 8 per team.
[2] This period also saw expansion reach beyond the United States' borders into Canada, beginning with
Toronto FC.
The
2007 season witnessed the MLS debut of
David Beckham, whose signing had been seen as a coup for American soccer. Beckham's contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy was made possible by the Designated Player Rule. Players such as
Cuauhtémoc Blanco of
Club América signed for the Chicago Fire, and
Juan Pablo Ángel, who moved from
Aston Villa to the
New York Red Bulls, are some of the first Designated Players who have made major contributions to their clubs.
The departures of
Clint Dempsey and
Jozy Altidore, coupled with the return of former U.S. national team stars
Claudio Reyna and
Brian McBride to New York and Chicago, respectively, highlight the exchange of top prospects to Europe for experienced veterans to MLS. Several other well-known foreign players have followed Beckham and Blanco to MLS, including
Guillermo Barros Schelotto to Columbus and
Freddie Ljungberg to Seattle.
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