With David Beckham leaving Major League Soccer, the question has been repeatedly asked—who will be the next big player MLS brings over?

While Beckham’s legacy has been thoroughly debated, there is no doubt that he transcends the game—not only here in America, but worldwide.

So, replacing him may be impossible.

The trick is to find players in the last year of their contracts (it is very unlikely MLS would shell out a substantive transfer fee) who are still viable AND can draw in the crowds.

While there are very few, if any, players MLS could attract who are as popular as Beckham has been, here are eight players who can still get it done on the pitch and bring people to the games.

Begin Slideshow

Source: Click Here

Is it a good time to start a new conversation on the players who have had the greatest impact on MLS history?

With another dramatic season concluded, and now facing six long, dark winter weeks before the SuperDraft gives us an excuse to ponder the next, what else would we do? The Christmas shopping can wait a little longer.

Which players have had the greatest impacts on their teams and the league?

This is a discussion of on-field contributions, and limited to MLS fields. If considering which MLS players went on to bigger careers in other leagues, the conversation would be altogether different.

Likewise, if allowing for off-field factors, like which players had the largest impact on league rules and business models, this could be a one-slide slideshow. Given David Beckham's departure from the Galaxy side that captured the 2012 Cup, he’s been talked about enough.

Candidates for the following slides were subjected to a rigorous, analytic point system. While not quite as complex (or geeky) as the college football Bowl Championship Series formula, it came close. Readers won’t be bored with details, but factors weighed included individual honors and team accomplishments, with bonus points awarded for when the two coincided.

The analysis also included a “sanity check” to ensure that, well, nothing looked insane. Nothing did, but that review did lead to one change, as an omitted name screamed for correction. This caused some wringing of hands over who to drop, so as to keep the list limited to five.

With no further ado, here are the five players who have made the most significant impact on MLS history. 

Begin Slideshow

Source: Click Here

MLS transfers have carried a different connotation since David Beckham’s arrival in 2007.

It is now commonplace to have world-class players the likes of Kaká and Luís Fabiano linked to a potential move stateside.

Unless you are a dedicated, die-hard fanatic of the league, the trades of Jamison Olave and Fabian Espindola just won’t do it for you.

As we have seen in previous narratives, it’s the big name that moves the needle in sports.

In MLS, that movement is triggered by the acquisition of a designated player.

Try as you might, the definitive implications of Beckham’s arrival to MLS cannot yet be determined. The perceived success or failure of his tenure will be debated for years to come. 

But the Beckham experiment already succeeded in this regard: Big-name talent is no longer absent from MLS.

Every transfer window presents the opportunity to add another marquee player, but more importantly, another marquee name.

If Beckham taught us anything, it’s that the name of the player is just as important as the talent he bears. 

So from least-likely to most-likely, here are six big-name stars who could become designated players in 2013.

Ronaldinho

Club: Atletico Mineiro

The Ronaldinho-to-MLS rumors have run rampant every transfer window since 2010. 

Last month, AEG president and Los Angeles Galaxy owner Tim Leiweke remained in talks with the two-time (2004-05) FIFA World Player of the Year (via Los Angeles Times).

But those talks have since subsided after Ronaldinho agreed to sign a one-year contract extension with Atletico Mineiro, staying in his native Brazil. 

That said, Ronaldinho is still the prototypical star best suited for the LA Galaxy. 

His dynamic style of play and reputable name resonates with the Latin community Leiweke is desperately targeting. 

A move to MLS is not likely this coming transfer window, but as always with Ronaldinho, expect the rumors to run rampant once more next summer.

Diego Forlán

Club: Internacional

Another player who has repeatedly been linked to a move stateside is Diego Forlán.

The reported interest in Forlán first surfaced in 2011, with the Seattle Sounders being the rumored suitor (via the Seattle Times).

No player shined brighter than Forlán in the 2010 World Cup, but his journey since then has been less than stellar.

After a disappointing year in 2011 with Italian club Inter—in which the team finished sixth in Serie A—Forlán signed a three-year deal with Brazilian club Internacional.

Like Ronaldinho, a transfer to MLS for Forlán is a rumor that refuses to go away.  

His availability for any MLS team this January is very unlikely. But once the summer transfer window rolls around, expect his name to be associated with several teams.

Kaká

Club: Real Madrid

Before winning its fourth MLS Cup title, the reports out of Los Angeles centered on the fervent desire to bring Kaká to the Galaxy (via SI.com).

If there is any player that can match Beckham in both quality of name and style of play, it’s Kaká.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year (2007) is currently with Spanish club Real Madrid and has struggled to find the pitch on a consistent basis since his arrival.

Kaká has stated his desire to one day play in the United States. But with an apartment in New York and his brother (Digão) on the team, a move to the Red Bulls seems more viable.  

Beckham has reportedly done “yeoman’s work” to bring Kaká to LA, but it’s going to take more than that to complete a move of this magnitude. 

As AC Milan found out, Madrid will not give up Kaká “for free.”

Should Leiweke be able to negotiate a blockbuster deal, it would be monumental for the development of MLS.

But it is still not very likely.

Luís Fabiano

Club: São Paolo

Reports out of DC United are that Ben Olsen and company are in South America on a scouting trip (via blackandredunited.com).

The rumored target: Luís Fabiano of São Paolo (the Brazilian media has also reported on DC’s interest). 

After watching United’s anemic offensive effort this past postseason, there is no denying a forward the caliber of Fabiano would serve as an immediate upgrade.

There is only so much Lionard Pajoy DC United fans can tolerate.

Fabiano’s contract runs to 2015, and the mathematics behind a potential transfer make this move less likely than others. 

If any player is worth the almost $10 million transfer fee, it’s Luís Fabiano. But DC will have to negotiate São Paolo down in order to make this move possible.

Frank Lampard

Club: Chelsea

With just one year remaining on his contract, Frank Lampard's transfer to the Galaxy is more than likely. 

At 34 years old, Lampard fits the mold of recent MLS transfers: An aging Premier League star looking to spend the twilight of his career in MLS.

He may not fit the image Leiweke is looking to market, but Leiweke will soon find out that beggars can’t be choosers. 

Lampard, however, is not a beggar. It is reported that the Englishman is a €250,000-a-week target for two Chinese clubs (via the Sun Mail).

Given the history the Galaxy have in signing Premier League talent, it is doubtful Lampard would consider such a move over LA.

The difficulty in being able to sign a player the caliber of Kaká still makes Lampard the favorite to replace Beckham in 2013. 

Juninho Pernambucano

Club: Vasco da Gama 

True, Juninho is not the biggest name in world soccer. But he does boast a reputable resume.

Juninho played nine seasons (2001-2009) with French club Lyon. His 350 appearances and 100 goals make him one of the prominent players in club history.

Yet for all of his accolades, it is Juninho’s free-kick ability that captivates the soccer purists of the world. 

His brilliant strikes have become legendary on YouTube—no longer a small feat in the digital age of sports.

As @FriendlyFaux points out, Juninho is not the hottest commodity in the world of soccer:

What's a Juninho Pernambucano and do I want one? #RBNY #MLS

But he is a commodity. 

Currently with Brazilian club Vasco da Gama, Juninho has been rumored to join the New York Red Bulls this coming offseason (via NBCSports Pro Soccer Talk).

But a move to New York poses a minor issue: The Red Bulls would have to get rid of one of their designated players before Juninho can make his way to Harrison, NJ.

Fingers crossed that it’s Rafa Marquez.

Of all the big-name stars, Juninho is the most likely to be a designated player in 2013.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

The MLS playoffs were absolutely fantastic this year with plot line after plot line in each series.

Both conferences featured some outstanding play in both the conference semifinals and finals, and the MLS Cup final on Saturday was a terrific game as well.

Here are some of the highs and lows from this year’s playoff run.

Begin Slideshow

Source: Click Here

David Beckham concluded his career as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy with a second straight MLS Cup victory, and thus wraps up a successful first act from the iconic Becks. 

Of course we won't know for a few years if Beckham inspired a generation of youth to pursue soccer instead of football or basketball, but we do know he drew plenty of attention to a league often dwarfed by the NFL, NBA, MLB and even the NHL. This was Beckham following Saturday's 3-1 championship win over the Houston Dynamo (via The Washington Post):

I just hope I've brought a bit of interest to the game in America. If that's the single thing I've done, then great.

Beckham certainly accomplished what he set out to do nearly six years ago. He's sparked interest in the MLS and has given the league some legitimacy, considering that he was the most recognizable international superstar at the time of his 2007 decision to join the Galaxy.

But he's not done yet. 

According to a report by The Associated Press via ESPN, Beckham "will play elsewhere in the new year before eventually returning to MLS as a team owner."

Although it remains to be seen what sort of impact Beckham will have as an owner in America, it's at least sure to maintain the current buzz surrounding the MLS. 

Unlike American football and baseball, the beautiful game will continue to keep the rest of the world's attention, and therefore will always have a place in America. Sure, it's not ingrained in our culture the way other sports are, but that doesn't make it unpopular or mean that people aren't playing, watching or supporting it in the States. 

This was Beckham discussing his future following L.A.'s victory over Houston (via Daily Mail's James Nye): 

It is a special day for us to win it here at our home, in front of our home fans. It is a sad day as well. This is a special place for me and will continue to be a special place. I have no idea where I will go next. I do know that I am happy to have been part of this club for six years and been successful for the last four years. I will continue with my commitment to this league. I might not be playing here anymore, but my commitment to growing this sport and this league will continue.

Clearly Beckham has made it his mission to better the MLS and bring it to the forefront of the American public. He's done well so far, and his two championships in Los Angeles prove his impact as a player. 

In the end, you can assess David Beckham's five years in America in two ways. You can look at ratings and profit and say that Beckham failed to make the MLS as successful as the NFL, MLB and NBA.

Or you can agree that Beckham's five-year career in Los Angeles was just the first phase, which just so happened to bring outside interest to the league and the sport in America. 

Baby steps.

Follow bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter. 

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

David Beckham was the main attraction. Landon Donovan scored the winner. Robbie Keane put the champagne on ice.

None of them had the impact of Omar Gonzalez.

Saturday night's MLS Cup final played out on multiple levels as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1 at the Home Depot Center for their second straight league championship. At once, it represented a rematch, a sendoff, a record-setting evening and a red-carpet premiere for a player who could be one of America's next big talents.

And you thought it was just a soccer game.

For the casual fan, the night served as one last chance to see Beckham—the man, the legend, the underpants—in the flesh. Almost six years after joining the Galaxy, Beckham played his final match for the team, and the hype machine nearly imploded on itself.

For the dedicated fan, it was a chance to enjoy a grudge match, a rematch between the same teams that contested the 2011 final. The Galaxy won again, but only after the Houston Dynamo took a deserved first-half lead and threatened to ruin the previously scheduled SoCal Saturday night.

For the record keepers, it was a busy night on multiple fronts. The Galaxy won a fourth MLS title—tied for the most in league history. Donovan claimed his fifth MLS Cup, joint-best all time, and manager Bruce Arena won his fourth—twice as many as any other coach. Even the Home Depot Center held a record crowd of 30,510 (via the Los Angeles Times).

Finally—and maybe most importantly—for Jurgen Klinsmann, it must have been a moment of clarity.

Gonzalez, the Galaxy's 24-year-old industrial-strength central defender, lit up the match like it was his own Hollywood soundstage, towering over helpless opponents at both ends with his powerful 6'5" frame, scoring the Galaxy's second-half equalizer and deservedly taking home the game's Most Valuable Player award.

Klinsmann, the manager of a United States men's national team in serious need of an identity, might just have found his next Mr. Dependable. And if not, it might be time to start asking serious questions about our Fußball-Meister-in-chief.

Simply put: Gonzalez was the game's best player Saturday night, and it wasn't even close. He coupled a tireless work-rate with an imperious physical presence to devastating effect, and Houston, in all fairness, had a problem from the start.

We should have seen it coming. Gonzalez warned us before the match and throughout the season.

"Omar's comin'..." Gonzalez tweeted Saturday afternoon, quoting the popular character of the same first name from the television series The Wire. Like that Omar, this Omar wreaked havoc on his opponents without the need for surprise and struck fear into their hearts in the process.

Unlike that Omar, everything this Omar does is legal—and it should win him fame and fortune in no time.

Omar's comin'...

For Gonzalez, the message, like his game, came across loud and clear throughout the season and throughout 2012. After tearing an ACL in January while on loan with FC Nürnberg (via SB Nation), Gonzalez returned—astoundingly—in July and inspired a turnaround that eventually led to Saturday night's title-game triumph.

Through 13 games of the 2012 season, the Galaxy held a 3-8-2 record. They finished 16-12-6 and, of course, league champions.

Listening to the chatter around the league, it quickly becomes clear that Gonzalez was the key.

"Probably the turning point in their season was when he got healthy," said Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear (via Reuters). "His timing today (in the MLS Cup) was excellent. He changed the momentum."

For Klinsmann and any fan of the United States national team, Kinnear's words should flip a mental light-switch. Gonzalez—as both Saturday and the 2012 season proved—is a powerful, physical and talented game-changer. The U.S., coming off a series of shaky performances in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying, needs someone exactly like that.

As the final round of qualifying approaches, the U.S. faces a period of soul-searching not unlike what the Galaxy experienced earlier this year. Klinsmann's team did enough to qualify for the final round, but if the Yanks repeat their performances from the semifinal round against regional powers like Mexico, they might not make the next World Cup.

Gonzalez isn't a miracle worker. His presence on the team would not suddenly change everything for the good.

But with yet another commanding performance for the MLS champions Saturday night, he gave Klinsmann plenty to think about. With two caps, Gonzalez has already been brought into the national team's setup. Now it's time to make him a regular and end any thoughts of a defection to El Tri (via ESPN).

With veteran defender and captain Carlos Bocanegra pushing into his mid-30s, the time is ripe for a changing of the guard. Any and all who watched the MLS Cup final Saturday will have a good idea about who should replace him.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

For our Set Piece Video of the Day for this first Sunday in December, we head to the land of Hollywood and happy endings.

It wasn't technically Hollywood, of course, but on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., the Los Angeles Galaxy sent superstar David Beckham off into the sunset with a fairytale ending.

After falling behind to Calen Carr's first-half goal, the Galaxy stormed back with three second-half goals to claim their second straight MLS Cup title. Omar Gonzalez equalized with a powerful header before Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane scored penalties to give the Galaxy a 3-1 Cup-clinching win.

We still think Beckham should have taken the second penalty. It came in stoppage time, after all, and would have served as a perfect send-off for the former England captain.

No matter. The win itself was enough.

Now, as he leaves another club, we're detecting an intriguing pattern.

When he left Manchester United in 2003, Beckham left as a league champion. When he left Real Madrid in 2007, Beckham left as a league champion. Saturday night made it a perfect 3-of-3, and it was hard not to feel good for Beckham. That's why we've posted the highlights from the match as our Set Piece Video of the Day above. Enjoy.

If that's not enough, you can also watch his post-match interview here. And if you don't have time for the full, 12-minute highlights, you can catch the condensed version, with only the goals, right here.

So, now, the question is, what's next for Beckham? By all means, have at it in the comments.

(Video: MLS)

Follow @MikeCummings37

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

The L.A. Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1 to win the 2012 MLS Cup on Saturday afternoon.

On the strength of goals from Omar Gonzalez, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, the Galaxy were able to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit with three unanswered goals in the second half and secure their second straight championship.

Here are four thoughts from L.A.’s win.

Begin Slideshow

Source: Click Here

David Beckham has made a habit of going out on top.

Beckham left Manchester United a Premier League winner in 2003, Real Madrid after conquering La Liga in 2007, and on Saturday night, he said goodbye to LA Galaxy with the MLS Cup triumph his legacy demanded.

It was just one game, but the significance of Beckham winning a second title in MLS will loom large in the way his Galaxy quest is viewed in years to come.

Two years ago, the most expensive import in the league's history was struggling to justify himself as a footballer. He stood accused of failing to deliver on both Galaxy's investment and the enormous hype that came with it.

He could have walked, but Beckham was not going out that way. In 2011, he produced his best season in MLS and was hugely influential as Galaxy drove to the title. A year later he made it two in a row as Galaxy fought back to beat Houston Dynamo 3-1 at the Home Depot Center.

In added time, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena withdrew his biggest star to take in the fulsome appreciation of a crowd that—in part at least—once doubted him. They don't doubt him anymore and neither should we.

The influence of brand Beckham on the commercial appeal of the MLS has never been in question, but with two titles to show for his six seasons at Galaxy, we can now say Beckham has also delivered as a player.

"I'm sad it's the end," Beckham told ESPN afterwards. "It's been a special place for me. It will continue to be a special place for me... I'm happy I've been successful at the club and I'm very thankful for that."

For a while it seemed Beckham might end up regretting his decision to stay one more season in Los Angeles. Dynamo were the better side for the first 45 and deservedly went ahead when Calen Carr ran free, held off his marker and shot—too easily—past Josh Saunders on the stroke of halftime.

Galaxy had wasted two fine chances of their own, both of which owed a debt to passes from Beckham.

The midfielder released Robbie Keane on 13 minutes with a trademark raking ball from right to left, but when Keane set up Landon Donovan for the simplest of finishes, the striker fluffed his lines.

Five minutes later, Mike Magee met a whipped Beckham free-kick close in, but could only direct his crouching header across the face of goal.

Galaxy had failed to convince, but should still have been leading. Whatever was wrong, Arena managed to fix it at the break, and his team emerged far improved for the second halftime—equalizing through Omar Gonzalez's powerful header on the hour-mark.

Soon after, Beckham's disguised free-kick led to an acrobatic shot from Magee and the award of a penalty for handball against Ricardo Clark. Donovan stepped up, and the MLS Cup was as good as won with his calm shot into the bottom corner.

Beckham would have his fairytale ending, and it almost came with a goal when he slid in at the far post late on.

There was still time for Keane to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot in added time, before Arena gave Beckham his moment and a fitting finale for five years of service that have changed the MLS forever.

As Galaxy's No. 23 left the field for the last time, he did so knowing he has taken the club to places that would never have been possible without him, and that he will forever be remembered as the man who brought the revolution.

He'll return soon enough, maybe as their owner. But until then, Beckham—footballer, gentleman, global brand and man of many hairstyles—will be sorely missed.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

Los Angeles Galaxy won its second MLS Cup in a row with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo.

Houston had been playing well coming into the game, but it could not compete against the Galaxy and the California crowd.

Calen Carr started the scoring for Houston with a goal just before the end of the first half in the 44th minute.

He ran past Tommy Meyer and put the ball in the back of the net after an assist from Adam Moffat. 

The Galaxy then got an equalizer from Omar Gonzalez, as the defender put in a header in the 60th minute. 

Landon Donovan then put Los Angeles in front with a penalty kick only five minutes later. 

Although Houston had some chances, it was not able to come out on top. A Robbie Keane penalty kick sealed the win in extra time. 

Despite the fact that these two sides met in last year's MLS Cup, neither team was expected to be in the league's title match. 

Houston ended the MLS regular season as the No. 5 team in the Eastern Conference. At 53 points, the club was 10 points behind Kansas City for the division lead.

Los Angeles was even further back of San Jose for the top spot in the Western Conference.

However, both squads survived the knockout stage and kept going in the MLS Cup playoffs until they reached the final game. 

The Galaxy remain one of the top programs in MLS with great talent and elite star power. That will be a little less after this game with David Beckham leaving town, as the 37-year-old star announced last month that he will move on to another league after five years in the MLS, according to Kevin Palmer of ESPN.

Overall, this was a great finish to a great year for Major League Soccer.

Highlights

Calen Carr scores for Houston in the 44th minute.

Omar Gonzalez evens up the game with a header.

View from the stands of Landon Donovan getting his fifth career MLS Cup goal on a penalty kick.

Grades

Omar Gonzalez, Los Angeles: A+

The elite defender made himself known on the offensive end in the game.

He was able to tie the game on an impressive header, but he was also the reason that a goal was called back later on.

Still, he was solid on defense like he always is and was a big reason for the victory. This ability helped earn him the game's MVP award.

Landon Donovan, Los Angeles: A-

Despite his age, Donovan is still arguably the best that America has to offer in this sport.

He not only easily finished a penalty shot, but he was aggressive throughout the game. Donovan led the team with three shots, and even his offsides forced Houston to make adjustments. 

The Team USA leader deservedly earned this trophy.

Brad Davis, Houston: D

The midfielder did not do too much to help his team in this one. 

Brad Davis was almost non-existent on the offensive end, and he only helped Los Angeles on the defensive side by committing four fouls.

The veteran is usually a big part of the team's success, but he did provide a positive result in this one.

Calen Carr, Houston: B

At times, it seemed like Calen Carr was the only person trying for the Dynamo.

While top scorer Will Bruin was kept silent, Carr put two shots on net and constantly put pressure on the opposing defense. He played well enough for his team to win if he had some support.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here