The new Major League Soccer season kicked off this week as Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to victory on opening night.
The World Cup winner played an important role as Tata Martino’s side started the 2024 season with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake.
Miami are the heavy favorites for this year’s MLS Cup after adding Luis Suarez to a squad that also included Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
But there are plenty of teams planning to spoil the party in South Florida as they begin the 2024 season.
Here, DailyMail.com offers six more reasons why the return of MLS is so exciting.
The entirety of MLS will be tasked with stopping Messi-Mania as one of America’s best takeovers
HUGO LLORIS STARTS JOURNEY WITH LAFC
Arguably the world’s best ever goalkeeper joined LAFC from Tottenham this off-season after 12 years at Spurs.
He immediately becomes Major League Soccer’s most recognizable player in the world not playing for Inter Miami.
The now 37-year-old Lloris only signed a one-year contract with LAFC, but has options to extend to a second season and beyond.
Lloris’ reputation is matched by few in MLS: he is a World Cup winner, has appeared in a Champions League final and has captained the French national team for a decade.
Understandably, Messi may take center stage when it comes to MLS’s stars, but Lloris is a hugely exciting addition in his own right. Lloris and LAFC start against Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
Hugo Lloris signed with LAFC a few months ago and is arguably the biggest star in MLS not in Miami
WILL THE RED STARS FINALLY FIND THEIR WINGS?
For an original MLS franchise that has never missed a competitive season, the Red Bulls’ trophy case is bare.
Three Supporter’s Shields and two MLS Cup appearances have led to zero championships for New York since 1996.
Now Sandro Schwarz takes the reins at Red Bull Arena, having never coached or played professionally in America. And Emil Forsberg comes to MLS after his tenure at RB Leipzig.
Schwarz is a former protege of outgoing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp at German side Mainz. They played together before Klopp became the team’s coach and Schwarz made 80 appearances under the man who would lead Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool to success.
“Sandro was my teammate for many years,” Klopp told German publication Kicker in 2018.
‘When I took over the club until we were promoted back to the Bundesliga, he was a very important player in my team. Sandro was always a fighter, a leader, someone who really lived for Mainz.’
If he can emulate his former manager’s success, it would mean good things for the Red Bulls, who open the season Sunday in Nashville.
German Sandro Schwarz has taken over as head coach of New York Red Bulls
PHIL NEVILLE LANDS WITH PORTLAND WOODEN
Neville was sacked from Inter Miami in June by his old United teammate and now boss David Beckham, who finished last in the Eastern Conference. Weeks later, Messi joined Inter Miami.
Now the former Manchester United star is leading the Portland Timbers with a chance at redemption
Neville could have coached a star-studded squad with Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez. Instead, he needs to get the best out of Eryk Williamson, Diego Chara and Co.
Neville is a household name in football, but he has had limited success as a manager.
His time with the Timbers feels like a huge opportunity to improve his position. If things don’t go well in Portland, it could be Neville’s last coaching opportunity in MLS.
Neville’s season starts at home against Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
Phil Neville, the former manager of the Inter Miami and England women’s team, is now in Portland
ARE COLORADO’S SPEEDS ON THE RISE?
Chris Armas will get another chance to lead an MLS team after failed attempts with the Red Bulls and Toronto FC.
After spells at Manchester United and Leeds United as England’s No. 2, Armas now has the chance to make his mark as the main man again.
Armas struggled in England, with the United squad reportedly calling him ‘Ted Lasso’ after feeling unconvinced by his methods while coaching the team during Ralf-Rangnick’s ill-fated tenure.
Last season he joined fellow countryman Jesse Marsch at Leeds. Marsch was sacked before the 2022–23 season ended, and Leeds were later relegated.
Armas arrives in Colorado with the only road seemingly up. DailyMail.com columnist Tim Howard’s former club finished in last place in the Western Conference last season.
Still, the team has reloaded and appears to be heading in the right direction, with American goalkeeper Zack Steffen and attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic two notable additions now on the roster.
Zack Steffen was one of the final players from the United States’ 2022 World Cup team in Qatar
ST. LOUIS CITY SC STARTS SEASON NO. 2
For the first time since the 2016 season, Major League Soccer will not add an expansion team, but will retain its current roster of 29 franchises.
That won’t be the case until 2025, when San Diego FC joins the group.
The league’s newest team, St. Louis, was No. 1 in the Western Conference a year ago and will look to emulate that success. They start against Real Salt Lake, who go into the match on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Inter Miami in midweek.
St. Louis had a lot of success in its first year as MLS’s newest team and is looking to achieve more
USA STARS EYE COPA AMERICA
There is a great opportunity for American MLS players to prove themselves during the first half of the season before Gregg Berhalter selects his squad for this summer’s Copa America, taking place in the United States for the second time.
While players like Christian Pulisic and Matt Turner are due for call-ups, some who play club football in the States can work their way into camp.
Every player called up for the USMNT January camp will play in the MLS.
In the coming months, we can expect Steffen to enjoy a resurgence, and DeAndre Yedlin to get one last charge with the national team at the age of 30, now that he’s teammates with Messi. The same goes for the other end of the age spectrum, with 18-year-old Miami prospect Benjamin Cremaschi.
FC Dallas’ Jesus Ferreira will look to regain his starting position as striker, with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi also vying for that spot.
Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi could be part of the USMNT for this summer’s Copa America