Speed, skill and style are all attributes of the beautiful game that are attractive to fans. Major League Soccer has been trying to find players with these attributes to improve the product on the field and grow the fanbase off it. Since the beginning of the league, teams have been looking for high-value talent with a shoe-string budget. Over the last few years, several teams have been striking gold in Colombia with the capture of young talent.

The influx of Colombian talent is nothing new to MLS. Carlos Valderrama and Juan Pablo Angel have both shown their skill in MLS, but both were well-known commodities before bringing their game to America. Valderrama may have had the most well-recognized hair in soccer history to go along with his all-world talent. Angel spent several years finding the back of the net across the Premier League before bringing his goal scoring touch to MLS. While both men brought a lot to MLS, it may be their brethren from their homeland that brings MLS closer to being a top league.

Seattle’s Fredy Montero burst onto the scene in the Sounders' first season. Since pulling on the green jersey in 2009, Montero has been an offensive force for defenses around the league to worry about. Montero has a combination of speed and foot skill that makes him a threat whenever he touches the ball. His scoring touch has netted him 34 goals in 86 appearances for the Sounders.

While not as young as Montero, David Ferreira joined FC Dallas in 2009 and led FC to the Western Conference title in 2010. He also won MVP honors for the league that same year. Injuries led to him appearing in only six games in 2011, but the difference he makes when on the pitch is evident every time he plays. The diminutive attacker is exciting on the ball and knows how to create chances for himself and teammates.

With the success of Montero and Ferreira, the last few seasons have seen several teams importing talent from Colombia to bolster their ranks. The Portland Timbers are counting on their corps of Columbian players to play John Spencer’s quick-touch scheme through the middle of the pitch. Diego Chara, Jorge Perlaz, and newcomer Hanyer Mosquera look to form a solid core for the Timbers. Exciting young attacker Jose Valencia will have to wait before making his debut due to injury suffered prior to arriving in Portland.

Like Portland, Philadelphia has brought in Roger Torres, Carlos Valdes and the exciting Lionard Pajoy in an effort to push the team over the top in the East. Colorado brought in Jaime Castrillon and Luis Zapata for this season, and as you look across the MLS landscape, Colombian players have found a home on most rosters. To start this season, Colombia has the most foreign players in MLS.

MLS is always looking for ways to improve its product, and the influx of talent from Colombia will improve the MLS game in terms of style and skill as long as the players can adjust to the physical play of the league. With more South American players on MLS rosters playing key roles, the league may finally be able to move on from the more direct style of play from its early years. A more pleasing style is definitely needed to get the league to where it wants to go.

When it eventually gets there, it may owe much of its progress to the Colombian influence. As my friend Santiago has told me, “Futbol is religion in Colombia." Here's hoping some of that rubs off on the American sports landscape.

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