Ranking the 9 Best English Players to Play in the MLS
Major League Soccer – more commonly known as the MLS – is quickly growing in popularity. It might not be one of the biggest leagues in the world, but that could quickly change. The United States of America is starting to fall in love with the sport — and hosting the 2026 World Cup, alongside Mexico and Canada, may accelerate it further.
The progress the nation has made has been helped by several of the greatest players of all time plying their trade there. Due to the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, two of the best players in Barcelona’s history, joining Inter Miami, and other clubs across the vast nation making major signings, attendances have soared.
English players have played their part in this as well. The nature of the Premier League, one of the hardest competitions to win, is frantic; it can burn players out, so naturally, some have opted for a more relaxed life and luxury paycheck across the pond. We have outlined the nine best English players to play in the MLS — and it will only lengthen over the coming years.
Ranking Factors
Overall ability – Those ranked higher were considered some of the best players in the world during their careers.
Level in the MLS – Some players shone in North America, whilst others treated it like a holiday.
Stature – The best players are typically considered to be the most famous and have a high reputation.
Stats – As part of their ability, if they have consistently scored goals or kept clean sheets, they have been ranked higher.
Best English Players to Play in the MLS
Rank
Player
MLS Club
Years Played in the MLS
1.
David Beckham
LA Galaxy
2007-2012
2.
Steven Gerrard
LA Galaxy
2015-2016
3.
Frank Lampard
New York City
2015-2016
4.
Wayne Rooney
DC United
2018-2019
5.
Ashley Cole
LA Galaxy
2016-2018
6.
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls
2013-2019
7.
Jermain Defoe
Toronto FC
2014
8.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls
2015-2016
9.
Kieran Gibbs
Inter Miami
2021-2023
9Kieran Gibbs

With the white beaches and famous nightlife, it’s now a popular place to play football, and Gibbs epitomised that during his two-year spell at the club. He averaged two progressive passes a match during 2022, whilst in 2023, his contract expired and he opted to join the club’s broadcasting team.
Gibbs’ Inter Miami 2022 Stats
Matches
15
Progressive Carries Per 90
0.73
Progressive Passes Per 90
2
8Shaun Wright-Phillips

Shaun Wright-Phillips is most famously remembered for his superb record for Manchester City at the start of the 2000s. Some may even argue he is one of the Citizens’ legends, yet his spell at New York Red Bulls was nowhere near as effective. In June 2015, the forward began training with them to regain fitness after his contract expired at Queens Park Rangers.
The then-33-year-old impressed, joining the club permanently alongside his half-brother, Bradley. However, despite the unique relationship with his sibling, he failed to shine, registering just three goal contributions in 25 matches. The England forward truly failed to roll back the years.
Wright-Phillips’ New York Red Bulls Stats
Matches
25
Goals
1
Shots
18
Shot accuracy %
26.65
Assists
2
7Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe is one of the greatest strikers in Tottenham’s history. Despite his lack of height, he shone in the Premier League — and the same could be said for his short spell in Canada. Toronto play in the MLS despite not being American, and Defoe impressed in the league.
He was in the news before putting pen to paper as well; rapper Drake persuaded him to move, before the former Portsmouth striker was instrumental in taking Toronto to the Eastern Conference Finals, even though they lost the game eventually. Carrying the side on his back was not easy though, so he quickly moved to Sunderland in January 2015.
Defoe’s Toronto Stats
Matches
19
Goals
11
Shots
58
Shot accuracy %
43.1
Assists
2
6Bradley Wright-Phillips

If this list was done purely on success in the MLS, Bradley Wright-Phillips would sit comfortably on top. He spent six years at New York Red Bulls from 2013 to 2019, scoring 126 goals in 240 matches in the process. He’s in the conversation for being the greatest player in the competition’s history as well.
His best season came in 2014 as he scored 27 goals in 32 matches, always making people wonder why he was ‘wasting’ his career in North America. The striker enjoyed life there though — and a short stint at LAFC in 2020 proved just as fruitful, as he scored nine goals in 18 games to win the MLS Comeback of the Year award.
Wright-Phillips’ New York Red Bulls Stats
Matches
240
Goals
126
Shots
581
Shot accuracy %
43.58
Assists
31
5Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is one of the greatest left-backs of all time. After plying his trade for two of the best clubs in the world, Arsenal and Chelsea, the now-43-year-old wanted a comfortable end to his career. By playing for LA Galaxy, he got exactly that on the West Coast of America.
When playing for the club between 2016 and 2018, he provided the side with stability and composure on the left flank, helping them win their fifth MLS Cup. For the 2018 campaign, the former Derby player even had a spell as captain; there were very few players in the world with as much experience as him.
Cole’s MLS Stats
Matches
Pass Accuracy (%)
85.47
Fouls Made
73
4Wayne Rooney

The Everton prodigy netted 12 goals and added seven assists as the Black-and-Red finished fourth in the Eastern Conference to earn a play-off spot in his first season. It wasn’t just the 38 goal contributions in 48 matches that did the talking though. Rooney produced one of the most iconic moments in the competition’s history, as he performed a stunning slide tackle on the halfway line to stop a certain goal, pinged a stunning well-weighted cross into the opposition’s box and it was met by Luciano Acosta to head home. Bedlam in the stands — and that summed up Rooney’s iconic impact.
Rooney’s DC United Stats
Matches
48
Goals
23
Shots
155
Shot accuracy %
37.9
Assists
15
3Frank Lampard

As one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Frank Lampard was always going to feature on this list. He is one of Chelsea’s best-ever players, acting as a goal-scoring midfielder who always dominated matches. The West Ham prodigy opted to end his career in America at the age of 37 as soon as New York City came calling.
In 29 appearances, he scored 15 goals and notched up four assists; alongside David Villa, he helped take the club to their first MLS Cup Playoffs. However, it wasn’t the dream fairytale ending to his career, as injury stopped him from working his magic in the ‘Big Apple’ for the 2016 campaign.
Lampard’s New York City Stats
Matches
29
Goals
15
Shots
60
Shot accuracy %
39.2
Assists
4
2Steven Gerrard

When Steven Gerrard said farewell to Liverpool in 2015, the tears started, but everyone could appreciate that he will always be considered one of the club’s greatest-ever players. Some would have seen it as the perfect ending, apart from the 6-1 defeat to Stoke, to his stunning career, but the former England captain opted to ply his trade in America for a brief spell.
Gerrard made 34 appearances in two seasons for the Galaxy between 2015 and 2016, scoring five goals and helping his side reach the MLS playoffs in back-to-back years. However, when the pressure of the playoffs came calling, LA Galaxy were knocked out. Just like the Premier League, the midfielder never got his hands on the final prize.
1David Beckham






Finally, David Beckham’s spell with LA Galaxy between 2007 and 2012 was not only incredibly successful but also monumental for the future of football in the country. He was the first ‘big-name player’ to move across the pond under the designated player rule, creating a long-lasting fanbase on the West Coast.
During his time there, he reached three MLS Cup finals and won back-to-back titles in his final two years at the club. With 62 goal contributions in 124 matches, he was unsurprisingly named MLS Player of the Year in 2008 and 2012, whilst his successful spell inspired others to move to America. A legend in every sense.
Beckham’s LA Galaxy Stats
Matches
124
Goals
20
Shots
140
Shot accuracy %
24.6
Assists
42