Has there ever been a current MLS player on a World Cup winner?

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by FanOfFutbol, Jun 11, 2018.

  1. FanOfFutbol

    FanOfFutbol Member+

    The Mickey Mouse Club or The breakfast Club
    May 4, 2002
    Limbo
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    The title pretty much states my question.

    I know there have been many many MLS players that played for their country in the World Cup while they were on MLS rosters but I cannot remember any MLS players that were on a World Cup winning team while they were in the MLS.
     
  2. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I doubt it.

    2014 - Germany, nope. Four EPL, two Serie A, the rest in the Bundesliga
    2010 - Spain, nope. Three EPL, the rest La Liga
    2006 - Germany, nope. Two guys in the EPL, the rest in the Bundesliga
    2002 - Brazil, nope. Mostly in Brazil but a few in Italy, Spain, France, and Germany
    1998 - France, nope. Mostly playing in France and Italy. 3 EPL, 1 Spain, and 1 Germany.
     
  3. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Has MLS ever had a player reach the Semifinals? Obviously the Quarterfinals in 2002 was the best the USMNT did since MLS started.
     
  4. An Unpaved Road

    An Unpaved Road Member+

    Mar 22, 2006
    Club:
    --other--
    Last time Julio Cesar went on loan to TFC to get playing time leading up to the World Cup. Not sure if that "really counts" though even though his loan didn't expire until after the World Cup.
     
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  5. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  6. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #6 EvanJ, Dec 11, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2018
    Post 2,196 of https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/random-world-cup-facts.212289/page-88 says 10 World Cup winners have played in MLS at some point, but none were in MLS before they won the World Cup:

    Branco (won in 1994, MetroStars 1997)
    Denilson (won in 2002, FC Dallas 2007)
    Djorkaeff (won in 1998, Red Bulls 2005-2006)
    Henry (won in 1998, Red Bulls 2010-2014)
    Kaka (won in 2002, Orlando City 2014-2017)
    Kleberson (won in 2002, Philadelphia 2013)
    Nesta (won in 2006, Montreal 2012-2013, only World Cup winner to play for a Canadian MLS club)
    Pirlo (won in 2006, NYCFC 2015-2017)
    Schweinstieger (won in 2014, Chicago 2017-now)
    Villa (won in 2010, NYCFC 2014-2018)

    The Red Bulls/MetroStars with 3 and NYCFC with 2 are the only clubs with more than 1. Djorkaeff and Henry are the only World Cup winning teammates to play for the same MLS club (not at the same time). Pirlo and Villa are the only World Cup winners to be MLS teammates. I didn't see Branco on the MetroStars 1997 statistics page, and I discovered that his name is Claudio Vaz Leal. He played in 11 MLS games.
     
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