The Major League Soccer is increasing its importance as a professional league by the recent Superstars playing in the league. Footballers of the magnitude of Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez, and David Beckham have spurred interest in the football fans living in the U.S. Bringing talents of the previously mentioned surely bring in more jersey sales and ticket sales, but it also makes the league more competitive and prestigious.
Though importing talents from Europe is important to the development of the national league, it has also raised a serious issue and that is, what is the style of football played in America? Throughout the world national teams are known for their specific style of playing. Italians play defensively, and Brazilians are known to play offensively. It is a matter of national identity that the US lacks.
Like mentioned above, the signing of foreign players is great for the growth of the league, but US football has done a poor job in creating that US football identity and instead it has been borrowing styles from different parts of the world. US football depends on the MLS and the MLS must do more in creating a league with a unique style of playing like other top leagues have. The work must start in their youth divisions and more focus must be put in this part of the US football program. The only way to create local talent proper youth divisions and leagues must be organized by the MLS teams.
