The biggest winner in Major League Soccer’s offseason transfer market ended up being the rumor mill.
Whether it was the apparent flirtation between Paris Saint-German star Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF, or the interest that Los Angeles FC had for Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, neither came to fruition and the MLS offseason was devoid of a splashy incoming international move.
But there are still plenty of stars across the league to watch for during the 2023 schedule, which kicked off Saturday. Here are 10 to track over the course of the regular season and into the playoffs, which begin in late October with the MLS Cup title match set for Dec. 9.
Thiago Almada, Atlanta United FC: The 21-year-old midfielder/winger from Argentina will step into a larger role this season after the departure of fan favorite Josef Martinez to Miami. Almada appeared in 29 games last season, when he had six goals and seven assists. If he can quickly develop a relationship with forward Giorgos Giakoumakis, who just arrived from Celtic, Atlanta will surely benefit. Almada scored twice in stoppage time at the end of Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union: The best goalkeeper in the league last year is the most recognizable star for a team that lacks big names but is a clear favorite in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia was moments away from winning its first MLS title in November before LAFC scored late in extra time and won on penalty kicks in the ensuing shootout. Philadelphia was in the final in large part because of Blake’s continued excellence in goal. The 32-year-old from Jamaica led MLS in shutouts with 15 and had a 79.4% save percentage last season, the third time he was honored as the league’s best goalie.