Hey friends,

49 more days until MLS soccer is back. Until then here’s what we’ve got kicking around today…

• MLS vs Saudi Pro League

• NCAA to USL Pipeline

• 5 Noteworth Offseason Signings

• Pulisic on a Terror

MLS vs Saudi Pro League

Soccer fans love to compare these two leagues. They’re two of the world’s most promising up-and-coming leagues and have competed for some of soccer's best talent in recent years, ahem… Messi.

Let’s compare the two leagues across five categories; attendance, player quality, youth development, Opta ranking, and salaries.

Attendance

In 2023 MLS average attendance was 22,111, the highest in the league’s history while the Saudi League averaged 8,331. There’s no comparison with this category, the MLS averages almost three times as many fans per game. The Saudi League deals with massive disparity between their big market teams and small market teams. Many of their matches are seen by fewer than 1,000 fans with one matchup between AL-Riyadh and Al-Okhdood having just 133 spectators. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr which averages 21,500 skews the league average numbers significantly.

👑 Winner - MLS

Player Quality

While it’s arguable which league has better depth (we think MLS does), it’s tough to argue which league has better star talent. If you were to put the best 11 from each league against each other the Saudi League would likely come out on top.

And boy would this be fun to watch. Maybe a future all-star game idea?

👑 Winner - Saudi Pro League

Youth Development

This one’s a landslide. Can you name a single player who has come through the Saudi League youth landscape and played in the world’s top leagues? We can’t.

The MLS on the other hand is sending teenagers to Europe’s top leagues every year. Brenden & Paxton Aaronson, Weston Mckennie, Ricardo Pepi, Tyler Adams just to name a few. The list of players to graduate from MLS Youth Academies and go on to Europe or star in the MLS is long.

For a league to have long-term promise, there must be a youth system in place to help develop the game’s future stars. The MLS has that, the Saudi League does not.

👑 Winner - MLS

OPTA Ranking

Opta’s power ranking is a global team ranking score that ranks teams from 183 countries and 413 leagues. They use what they call the Elo algorithm to analyze every match and give points to each team. It allows us to easily compare teams from different leagues around the world.

Opta power rankings have the MLS, with an average team score of 73.2, as the 29th-ranked league in the world while the Saudi Pro League, 70.0 average, is the 36th-ranked league in the world. It’s hard to believe there are 28 leagues better than the MLS, we’d argue there aren’t even 15. Either way, this is a good objective analysis in favor of the MLS.

Search where your teams ranked here.

👑 Winner - MLS

Salaries

We can’t compare the two leagues without including salaries. Whether we want to admit it or not, money talks. If you’re offered more money to do your job you’ll likely take it. World-class soccer players are no different.

The MLS can’t and likely will never be able to compete with the Saudi League when it comes to salaries. The top players in the Saudi League went there because they were offered ridiculous sums of money that they wouldn’t get anywhere else, not even in Europe. While there are exceptions, like Messi, most players won’t turn down the Saudi money over designated player contracts in the MLS.

👑 Winner - Saudi Pro League

Overall

The MLS beats the Saudi Pro League in 3 out of 5 categories and while we’re biased, we’re confident the MLS is the better overall league. We’re curious to hear what you think. Respond to this email with which league is better and let us know if you have any unique input!

NCAA to USL Pipeline

There is a new path to the pro’s pipeline that seems to be gaining steam amongst college soccer players. On Friday, the USL’s Phoenix Rising announced they were close to signing Clemson center-back and National Champion, Pape Mar Boye. The 19-year-old was offered a Generations Adidas contract and was projected to be a top 5 pick but chose instead to opt for the USL. Why, you ask?

A good offer and playing time. Most Superdraft picks go straight to MLS NextPro squads to further their development first but there’s just as much if not more potential for playing time in the USL. Not only that but the USL has proven to develop players and send them to Europe. In June, Joshua Wynder of USL side Louisville City transferred to Portuguese giant Benfica for a USL record $1.2M.

If this pipeline continues to be fruitful for top college soccer players, the MLS may have an issue on their hands.

5 Noteworthy Offseason Signings

LAFC Signs GK Hugo Lloris - Hugo Lloris leaves Tottenham for a one-year $350k deal with two years of additional options with LAFC. In 2023, 26 MLS goalkeepers made more than $350k. What a big-time move from LAFC to draw a World Cup-winning GK to lead the backline for only $350k.

NY Red Bulls Sign Emil Forsberg - Swedish legend Emil Forsberg joins NY Red Bulls as a Designated Player. Forsberg makes the move from sister club RB Leipzig. At 32 years of age, Forsberg will look to make an immediate impact as one of the best attacking midfielders in the MLS.

Minnesota United Sign Caden Clark -The Caden Clark saga continues. After a year on loan in the Danish second division, RB Leipzig has sold Clark to Minnesota United, Clark’s hometown team. The US International is set to come home searching for the form he once showed. Clark, still only 20, could end up being an amazing signing for Minnesota.

Inter Miami Sign Luis Suarez - Barcelona legend joins Messi and company in Miami. Suarez, now 36, is not expected to play every game. Like last year at Gremio, Suarez will limit his minutes due to injury issues. However, when he is on the pitch, Suarez should continue his deadly form that led to 28 G/A last year with Gremio.

Atlanta United Sign Josh Cohen - Atlanta United had one of the worst GK rooms in the league last year with a league-worst 60.3% save percentage. Cohen brings an immediate lift coming over from Maccabi Haifa after leading their backline in the Champions League. Cohen should be the #1 at the start of the season.

Pulisic on a Terror

Christian Pulisic is having the season of his life. Pulisic has 3 goals and 3 assists in his last 7 matches. He has been Milan’s best player this season. No player in Serie A has contributed more goals in December than Pulisic. He is also Milan’s top-rated player per FotMob.

Is Pulisic in the best form of his career? We’d argue so.

Statistically speaking, an American has never had this good of a year in Serie A. Pulisic surpassed Weston Mckennie’s Serie A goal record already, scoring 6 this year. After watching Pulisic play across the Bundesliga, English Premier League, and now Serie A, we can 100% say that Serie A commentators win for best goal announcements.

Goal of the Week

Haji Wright is on a tear in the English second division. 8 goals and 5 assists already in this campaign. He’ll be 27 when the World Cup comes around and should be peaking just in time for the USMNT.

Tweet of the Week

Fans who own season tickets are selling their single-game tickets against Inter Miami for more than the price of the entire season ticket. That’s just good business if you ask us.

Quick Hits

• DC United is close to signing Troy Lesesne as head coach (Link)

• Colorado Rapids sign USMNT keeper Zack Steffen from Manchester City (Link)

• CF Monterrey is signing FC Cincinnati and USMNT forward Brendan Vazquez for $8.5M

• Colorado Rapids are signing USMNT midfielder Djordje Mihailovic for a club-record fee (Link)

That’s all, see ya next week 🤘