Why are so many Mexican players making the move from Liga MX to MLS?

This offseason, Major League Soccer has seen an influx of Mexican players, especially from Liga MX. Their reasons mark a change in attitudes towards MLS.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff of the 2020 Major League Soccer season, Rodolfo Pizarro made headlines across North America. At 26, Pizarro was one of Liga MX’s top stars and a rising figure on the Mexican national team. But he recently decided to move on from Monterrey, the reigning Liga MX champions. Instead, he will play for Inter Miami CF in their inaugural MLS season.

Pizarro is just one of at least ten players who made the move from Liga MX to MLS this offseason. Players like Alan Pulido, Edison Flores, Lucas Cavallini, and Lucas Zelarayan will play their soccer with a league that for a long time has been season as lower quality than Liga MX. So, what changed?

One major change has been the prominent current and former players involved with the American league. According to Pulido, “The league in itself has grown a great amount. There have been names that have joined the league like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. This motivates players because you want to be on the stage with those types of names.”

“Not only do Liga MX players choose MLS, but also players around the world,” Zelarayan said. “MLS is a league that is growing a lot. There are other players that are also doing things right that are having success here and they make this league attractive.”

Legendary Mexican striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez is one of those players came to MLS from Europe, returning to North America after a decade away. Instead of returning to Liga MX where he got his start, he opted to sign with an MLS-side over offers from Liga MX.

Chicharito’s name alone will raise the profile of the league in Mexico, but playing alongside fellow Mexican international Jonathan Dos Santos with the L.A. Galaxy, and playing in direct rivalry with sensational Mexican striker Carlos Vela, is sure to draw even more eyes to MLS.

Another factor drawing players to the U.S. is the opportunity to move on to Europe. In particular, Paraguayan international Miguel Almiron’s move from Atlanta United in MLS to Newcastle United in England’s Premier League showed many players that European teams are interested in MLS talent.

“I know there are Mexican players that definitely think about that in terms of European teams watching them,” Pulido said. “So when you add all those things together, that’s why Mexican players are being drawn to the league.”

But European teams aren’t the only people watching. Obviously, the coach of the Mexican national team will be paying attention to what goes on in Liga MX. But prior to accepting the managerial job with El Tri, Tata Martino was the manager of Atlanta United. Players who want to break into the national team picture (or who want to stay there) know that their manager is watching MLS. That’s a factor for players like Pulido.

“The fact that he looks at the league, that’s very important,” Pulido said. “Part of the reason why I chose to come to MLS is because of that, because I want to return to the Mexican national team.”

For Pizarro, Martino was an influential voice in his decision to move to Inter Miami. “I first spoke with (San Jose manager) Matias Almeyda and then with Tata Martino about joining MLS,” Pizarro said. “Tata said the league was at the same level as Liga MX.”

But it isn’t just about who is watching MLS. It’s also about who is coaching here. Inter Miami CF manager Diego Alonso had previously coached Pizarro in Liga MX. Alonso’s presence gave Pizarro confidence that this team was looking to do great things.

“Diego Alonso was an important factor in my decision to come to Miami,” he said. “He taught me that winning — at whatever the cost — is most important. Wherever he is, he will compete and aspire to win a championship.”

Overall, MLS has slowly but surely raised it’s profile in the world of international soccer. National teams and European teams are watching. International stars are spending time here, whether that’s as a player, a coach, or a manager. And players and coaches are moving between Liga MX and MLS, raising the profile for players who might have previously been hesitant to trust MLS with the future of their careers.

MLS is no longer the awkward newcomer in North America. And the influx of players moving from Liga MX to MLS proves it. And according to Pizarro, this is just the beginning.

“Many more Mexicans will come to MLS,” he added. “As time goes by, more Mexican [players] want to come here. It’s a fact… It’s not about comparing Liga MX to MLS. We’re not enemies. It’s not about figuring out which is better and which one is worse. We have to enjoy them both.”