This is typical MLS anti Mexico bias. Why just citizens? Why not green carded residents? Or how about those that came over as minors and have no criminal histories? How about Canadians? Anyways here's my answer : 1) David Beckham 2) Thierry Henry 3) Rafael Marquez 4) Pavel Pardo 5) Landon Donovan 6) Robbie Keane 7) Freddy Adu 8) Torsten Frings 9) Juan Pablo Angel 10) Juan Agudelo After that it's a muddled group of players that have gotten capped by USMNT or other countries with significant populations in the US. Guys like Wondolowski, Ching, Feilhaber, Boniek Garcia, Pappa etc ...
Here's my list 1. Alexi Lalas 2. Alexi Lalas 3. Alexi Lalas 4. Alexi Lalas 5. Eric Wynalda 6. Alexi Lalas 7. Eric Wynalda 8. Alexi Lalas 9. Eric Wynalda 10. David Beckham Edit: I way have misunderstood the question.
Yeah, once you get past the "big three" of Beckham, Adu, and Donovan (in that order), I don't think your average non-hardcore fan would recognize anyone having ever played in MLS.
Well the question isn't about the average fan or the majority of fans. It's simply who are the most known players. Virtually every player in MLS is known by at least one American citizen so they're all on the list somewhere
It has to be: David Beckham Landon Donovan Freddy Adu I think names like Dwayne De Rosario and Thierry Henry will draw a "I think I've heard of that guy before" reaction from your typical American sports fan. But other than those top 3 or the odd names here & there, people have no idea who Chris Wondolowski or Kenny Cooper is.
If you went up to the average American on the street and asked him/her to name 10 soccer players(not just in MLS) it would probably go 1. David Beckham 2. Pele 3.Mia Hamm 4. That Ronaldo guy I heard about on TMZ once? 5-10. ? So, I am not sure about the point of this thread.
I think you can add Messi and Donovan to that list as well. Beyond that good luck having them name 4 more players without help lol.
Well that opens up the door to Steve Nash, Rafael Nadal, Sylvester Stallone, Jon Stewart and God knows who else
I don't think the typical American sports fan knows who De Rosario is.. The only MLS players the typical american sports fan know is probably Beckham and Donovan.