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Ryan O’Hanlon
You may not have noticed it, but this season has been a big one for Major League Soccer (MLS).
That sentiment applies to everything that’s transpired in the league this year. With numerous matches exclusively streaming on Apple TV and locked behind the MLS Season Pass subscription, viewer engagement for America’s soccer league has declined during its last full season ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
We can’t verify actual viewership figures because massive streaming platforms guard their data fiercely, just like a government secret. When insiders leak details, skepticism remains as they lack incentive to share the complete truth. For instance, MLS commissioner Don Garber mentioned that viewership is reportedly up “almost 50% compared to last year,” despite a dip in league-wide attendance from the previous season. Only one of those statements is supported by facts.
This is surprising, given that the league landed what it aimed for: Lionel Messi just completed a record-breaking season in MLS history.
In summary, Messi netted more non-penalty goals and achieved higher expected assists than any player before him. He also propelled Inter Miami to the MLS Cup final, leading the team to three consecutive victories with a staggering aggregate score of 13-1. In the final, he’ll face Thomas Müller and the Vancouver Whitecaps, who defeated the successful expansion team San Diego FC in the Western Conference finals, overcoming Son Heung-Min and LAFC in the semis.
Expansions are succeeding, superstars are excelling in playoffs, and Messi is set for key action with one match left.
However, despite these achievements, it takes a remarkable level of mismanagement for Messi’s inaugural MLS Cup experience to become mere background noise — a faint whisper in comparison to the 2026 World Cup draw and the hectic American and European sports schedules this weekend.
It also opens the door for narratives to be shaped by those not following the league closely, who may only witness veterans like Messi and Müller outshining the competition or hear Gareth Bale lamenting the absence of promotion and relegation. “It’s a paid vacation for retirees!“
This is unfortunate, as the game behind complex paywalls and poor management is genuinely improving, with substantial progress each year regarding player movement and gameplay quality.
– MLS Cup preview: Predicting Miami vs. Vancouver winner
– Pulisic’s standout season: Why the USMNT star is hitting his stride
– Projected USMNT lineup at the World Cup
Reflecting on MLS in 2012
Let’s revisit 2012, when Chivas USA was still active, captained by ESPN’s Alejandro Moreno, and the league had just 19 teams, with over half qualifying for the playoffs.
That year’s Comeback Player of the Year was Seattle’s Eddie Johnson, who returned from a dismal five-year stint in Europe, during which he netted a mere four goals in 31 league outings. Stars like Robbie Keane, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, and Landon Donovan were in the league, but none claimed the MVP title; that honor went to Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes. The three forwards in the league’s top XI from 2012 reflect a specific period in MLS history: Keane, Henry, and Wondo.
During the playoffs, there was a match between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls that finished 1-1 after both teams scored own goals. The Galaxy, despite finishing fourth in the regular season, clinched their second consecutive MLS Cup by fully preparing for the postseason, with Keane contributing six playoff goals. That season also marked Beckham’s departure from the league, as he went on to play 10 Ligue 1 matches for Paris Saint-Germain before retiring.
When I reflect on this era in MLS, “good soccer” doesn’t quite capture my memories, and the statistics reinforce that sentiment:
In 2012, MLS had lower possession changes than any of the Big Five European leagues. The ball was in play less frequently here as well. The league lacked the excitement of transitions and simply had less soccer happening compared to its counterparts.
Additionally, MLS teams engaged in fewer take-ons and pressed less aggressively than most of the major European leagues, as indicated by PPDA (passes per defensive action):
While MLS is now beginning to resemble the Premier League and Ligue 1 more, it’s essential to recall that 2012 was considered a modern low for English soccer. Although Chelsea won the 2012 Champions League, it was one of the most improbable victories in history. That period saw Barcelona and Real Madrid along with Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich defining the landscape of European football.
The highest level of play at that time was characterized by a blend of both countries’ styles: intense athleticism paired with technical precision. In 2012, MLS offered none of these elements.
The Current State of MLS
Overall, MLS has improved significantly year-on-year since 2012. The number of turnovers in the attacking third increased steadily for nearly a decade before experiencing a slight decline in recent seasons. Nevertheless, we’re still ahead of where we were 13 years ago:
While this uptick in turnovers might suggest poorer gameplay — more turnovers equate to sloppier passing — this is counteracted by the league’s growing pass completion rates.
Teams are winning possession in attacking positions and achieving higher pass completion rates, indicating a risk-taking approach defensively and the ability to retain possession against aggressive defending. This creates a balanced stylistic dynamic, essential for viewers looking for an engaging league.
This evolution coincides with a shift in the profile of players joining the league. In 2020, average transfer signings cost €4 million and players were over 25 years old. By 2025, the average cost decreased to €2.4 million, and the average age dropped to 24. Notably, teams generated €161 million from incoming transfer fees in 2025.
Though there are still notable aging stars in the league, MLS has begun to establish itself as a player development hub, attracting younger talent before they transition to European clubs. Consequently, when we revisit earlier statistics, MLS has shed its reputation as a slow league where possession stagnates and the ball rarely remains in play. That designation now belongs to Italy:
In 2012, another telling aspect was how teams aligned for matches. Back then, the prevalent formation across MLS was the standard 4-4-2, based on Stats Perform data. In contrast, the 4-2-3-1 formed more than twice as frequently in the Big Five leagues during the 2011-12 season.
This season, the most used formation in MLS is now the 4-2-3-1, which has more than doubled in usage compared to the second-most popular formation, 4-3-3. The 4-4-2 has fallen to third in popularity. Interestingly, the 4-2-3-1 remains the most favored formation across the Big Five leagues in 2024-25.
Despite improvements mirroring those in European leagues, MLS teams still lag in quality compared to top-tier European competitions. However, there is no denying that, as a whole, MLS teams have made significant strides since 2012.
This season, the Whitecaps rank in the 90th percentile or better across various metrics, including shots, expected goals, pull backs, opposition box touches, and advanced final-third possession. In terms of ball control and scoring threats, few teams in MLS history have reached such heights.
As for Inter Miami? With Messi and his former teammates from Barcelona, they exhibit a unique style. While they pass less frequently forward than any MLS team since 2012, their tendency to attempt through balls ranks among the top in the league’s history. They scored an impressive 98 goals this season — 12 more than the next best effort since MLS’s inception.
This Sunday’s MLS Cup final presents an intriguing matchup, pitting the two top players from the 2014 World Cup against each other and highlighting a fascinating contrast between two exciting teams in 2025.
The league has successfully combined star power with genuinely compelling soccer, dispelling the notion that it had to choose between seasoned players and a dynamic game. It has managed to embrace both aspects, yet the response from the broader audience seems muted.