Will Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé follow Lionel Messi’s path? MLS Commissioner's comments spark conversation

MLS is no longer whispering about its future. It is speaking out loud and dreaming even bigger. On the eve of a new season, commissioner Don Garber made it clear that the league’s ambitions stretch far beyond its current star power.

His eyes are on names that define the modern game, players like Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, both central figures at Real Madrid.The timing felt deliberate. A new season opens with a marquee clash between Inter Miami and LAFC at the LA Coliseum, where more than 70,000 fans are expected. Lionel Messi remains the league’s biggest magnet, while Son Heung-min begins his first full MLS season after leaving Tottenham Hotspur. The occasion reflects how much has changed and how much more MLS believes is possible.

MLS ambition grows as Don Garber targets Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé

MLS has spent years building credibility, but Garber now speaks from a position of strength. In an interview with CNN Sports, he did not hide his hopes. “Would I love to see Vini here?” Garber asked. “Would I love to see Mbappé here? I think that some of the great players in the world want to play in the US, and that’s the game changer.”It was not long ago that such talk would have felt unrealistic. When David Beckham left LA Galaxy in 2007, his arrival carried both glamour and risk.

But nothing compares to the ripple effect Messi created in 2023. Garber himself admitted the move once seemed impossible.“I don’t think anybody thought we’d ever sign Leo,” he said. “I don’t think Miami thought they could sign him, I don’t think Beckham (who is now co-owner of Miami) thought that they could sign him.“They were optimistic and super, super passionate about the idea, but here he is: scoring goals, leading Argentina in World Cup qualifying, playing in the Club World Cup in front of an audience.“(He’s) a good, humble guy, loves his kids, enjoys Miami, you know, he’s the right kind of guy to show the rest of the world what Major League Soccer is.”Garber believes that transfer changed how elite players see MLS. The old sales pitch is gone. The league is no longer begging stars to help build something new. It is offering something already alive, visible, and growing fast.He pointed to a season filled with global relevance, especially with a World Cup on the horizon and dozens of MLS players expected to feature.

More importantly, his focus has shifted toward competing with established giants like the Premier League, Serie A, and Bundesliga.His confidence is unmistakable. “I think the next (star to come over) will be one of the top players in the world. Very confident of that actually.”Those words landed with intent. MLS is no longer waiting for legends at the end of their careers. It is watching the present, and imagining a future where the world’s best arrive not as a farewell, but as a choice.