He may have never played in MLS, but Pele was the pioneer of star players arriving in North America when he joined the NASL side the New York Cosmos in 1975. Without him, we may never have seen David Beckham, Thierry Henry or Kaka come to MLS.07
Following Pele’s passing, MLS Commissioner Don Garber paid tribute to the man on MLSSoccer, saying, “Pelé’s decision to bring his artistry to the United States with the New York Cosmos in the 1970s was a transformative moment for the sport in this country. As Pelé captivated fans throughout the U.S. and Canada, it demonstrated the power of the game and the limitless possibilities for the sport.”
Pele’s time with the Cosmos
Pele’s arrival in New York was a transfer that shocked the world. He was 35 and had come out of retirement to join the Cosmos, so was past his best. However, he still scored 37 goals in 64 appearances for the club.
It was the perfect way for him to finish his career, as he won the 1977 Soccer Bowl. The Cosmos beat the Seattle Sounders in the final 3-1. Two of their goals were scored by Giorgio Chinaglia, who went on to become the league’s all-time top scorer.
Pele and Chinaglia did not always get on, this is well documented in the documentary Once in a Lifetime. The film depicts the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle of the team and the eventual demise of the league.
Who could be the next Pele for North American soccer?
Of course, Pele’s achievements are unlikely ever to be matched. Fans argue about who is the greatest but it is difficult to compare eras – although the great Brazilian’s World Cup triumphs are yet to be matched.
Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the trophy in Qatar but even in his career, people have argued that Cristiano Ronaldo is the better player of this generation.
Ronaldo has recently joined Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, and his arrival in the Saudi Pro League will be like Pele’s in the NASL. He is the first global star to arrive in this league. But MLS fans will be disappointed that he did not come to North America.
Taylor Twellman revealed that Sporting Kansas City came the closest to signing him. It would have been amazing to see Ronaldo play for the Wizards, but with the Portuguese now 37, it is unlikely that we will see him in MLS.
Messi on the other hand is two years younger than Ronaldo, and has been linked with Inter Miami. However, he is expected to extend his stay with PSG. The Argentine has shown this season that he can still perform at the highest level, so at the moment it could be a bit too early for him to come to MLS.
Fans of the Herons can still have hope that may one day see Messi play in their pink kit. North American soccer has attracted many stars and this is all thanks to Pele. He set the trend, and many have and will continue on from his legacy.
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