The 2024 Major League Soccer season is here! All 29 teams enter the new campaign with dreams of success, but some are more likely than others to achieve it.
As always, a number of new star players have joined the league ahead of the 2024 season. While Lionel Messi might still be the main attraction after arriving in Miami last summer, there are number of other new additions to keep an eye on this year. Here are five of the best.
By Graham Ruthven
Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire)
2023 was another disappointing season for the Chicago Fire as they finished a lowly 13th in the Eastern Conference, missing out on the play-offs. They were one of the lowest scorers in the league – netting just 39 goals in 34 games – and so Hugo Cuypers has arrived at Soldier Field to address this as the most expensive signing in Fire history.
Cuypers scored an impressive 27 goals for Gent last season and had notched six times in 20 games this season before making the $12m switch to MLS. The 27-year-old is known for his intelligent movement and willingness to work hard off the ball from the front, but it’s Cuypers’ finishing ability that Chicago need most of all.
Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls)
Emil Forsberg is the most notable new signing made by the New York Red Bulls for a long time. The Swedish international is entering the twilight of his career, but still has plenty to offer having scored in his final Champions League appearance and his penultimate Bundesliga game for RB Leipzig where he was something of an icon.
Forsberg is accustomed to the Red Bull style of play and that gives him a good chance of success under new RBNY head coach Sandro Schwarz. Last season’s signing of Dante Vanzeir was a bust (for more than one reason), but Forsberg arrives with a much stronger pedigree and is ready to make a major contribution for his new team in 2024.
Đorđe Mihailović (Colorado Rapids)
Đorđe Mihailović is a familiar figure to MLS fans having starred over two seasons for CF Montreal. A move to AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie didn’t work out and so the USA international is back in MLS as a key part of the Colorado Rapids’ ambitious rebuild alongside international teammates Zack Steffen and Sam Vines.
Mihailović registered 11 goals and five assists in his final MLS season before making the move to the Netherlands and that’s the sort of attacking output Colorado will need from him to push themselves up the standings after finishing rock bottom of the Western Conference last season. A lot of moving parts will have to settle for the Rapids to enjoy a successful year, but Mihailović could be a genuine difference-maker.
Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
Everything came together for FC Cincinnati last year as they surged to the Supporters’ Shield. Pat Noonan’s team also made a run to the Eastern Conference final where they were dumped out by eventual MLS Cup winners the Columbus Crew, and so the aim for 2024 couldn’t be clearer – Cincy want to go all the way in the play-offs.
The signing of Miles Robinson could help them do that. The 26-year-old is well-established as one of the best central defenders in MLS and will go straight into the FC Cincinnati lineup following the return of Yerson Mosquera to Wolves. Along with USA teammate Matt Miazga, Robinson will form the defensive foundation for Cincy this season.
Luis Suárez (Inter Miami)
Messi has another former teammate and close friend to hang out with in South Florida. Luis Suárez has joined Inter Miami after an extremely fruitful season at Grêmio during which he scored no fewer than 29 goals in all competitions for the Brazilian side. That’s the sort of firepower Inter Miami hope Suárez will bring in MLS.
The gamble Inter Miami have made is whether Suárez will be able to stay fit enough to become a key figure for them this season. The 37-year-old nearly retired last year due to a knee injury and there are concerns about how Suárez will handle playing on the artificial surfaces found in Atlanta, Portland, Seattle, and other MLS venues.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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