Luis Edu
Since its foundation in 1996, MLS has had the presence of great soccer legends who ended up becoming the worst foreigners in U.S. soccer due to their poor performance.
We look back at the five foreigners who were unable to close their careers in the best way, when they signed contracts to be part of the growth of Major League Soccer.
Nelson Haedo Valdez
Nelson Haedo Valdez arrived in the United States after building a successful international soccer career that included 36 goals between Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund. However, he was barely able to score once for the Seattle Sounders after 31 appearances.
Despite the overall poor performance, Valdez endeared himself to Seattle fans by scoring a key goal that helped the team lift the championship cup in the 2016 MLS Cup.
Nery Castillo
Nery Castillo began his career with projections that placed him as a future historic figure of the Mexican national team, but his irregular performance on the field and controversial statements gradually left him with a secondary role.
The Mexican arrived in MLS in 2010 to seek a second career push with the Chicago Fire. However, things did not go well with him, and he barely ended up playing 8 games.
Castillo will always be remembered for his sensational goal against Brazil in the Confederations Cup. Other than that, very little to highlight in his career.
Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthäus is one of the best defenders in the history of soccer, but at the age of 38 he failed to make a good impression in MLS with the New York Metrostars.
The German’s arrival in the United States came shortly after he lost the 1999 Champions League final to David Beckham and Paul Scholes’ Manchester United. In other words, in theory he still had a good level, but that didn’t translate on the field.
The 1990 Italy World Cup champion defender made just 16 appearances in Major League Soccer. Enough merits to be considered one of the worst foreigners.
Giovani dos Santos
Giovani dos Santos is one of a group of Mexican stars who have underperformed in MLS.
The former FC Barcelona player arrived at the Los Angeles Galaxy with the hope of regaining his status as a star for his country’s national team. However, his level was well below expectations, and he was unable to help the Californian team win a title.
After 77 appearances in U.S. soccer, Dos Santos left MLS with a total of 26 goals.
Denílson
Brazilian players always generate strong expectations in any soccer league, especially when they are World Cup winners, as happened with Denílson in 2007.
The Brazilian joined FC Dallas and scored just 1 goal from a penalty kick in 8 appearances before being left out of the squad for the US Open Cup final.
Despite being one of the most talented players that Brazilian football has produced in the last three decades, Denilson, at 30 years of age, was able to show very little in his short stay in the United States.
These are five cases that stand out in a long list of international stars who have spent more time in the MLS, a tournament that has recently raised its level and that implies that reinforcements have to arrive in optimal conditions to be able to stand out.
In recent times, Yeferson Soteldo became a new member of the group of the worst foreigners in MLS, after his short and disappointing stint with Toronto FC.
