Count Thierry Henry among MLS believers

[Elano]

Critics of Major League Soccer can deride the standard of play all they want, but they will not prevent the arrival of more international superstars over the next few years.

While he probably won't turn up in MLS for at least three years, French striker Thierry Henry has given the league a huge lift by revealing he plans to end his career in New York.

Henry's comments in the New York Times reflect the increased interest in MLS around the worldwide soccer community. They're a barometer of how more leading players are considering following David Beckham across the Atlantic.

Henry, 30, is under contract at Barcelona until 2011 and feelings can obviously change. But read his words and make up your own mind.

"I always say that one day I can play over there," Henry said. "I would love to. It's still early.

"Don't get me wrong, I just love the U.S. I don't know why. I love the way you live. I love American sports. For me, it's a dream to go to training and then see a game of football, basketball, whatever game. For me, New York is the best city in the world."

The pedigree of Henry is beyond question or reproach. In seven years with Arsenal, he became one of the most influential players in English Premiership history, finishing as the runner-up for the 2003 and 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He is still regarded as one of the world's best strikers, and in Europe, he is an icon few can claim to parallel.

When I compiled a list of international stars Major League Soccer should look to sign, plenty of readers questioned the decision to include Henry at No. 6. The common complaint: "Why would a worldwide superstar such as Henry want to come and play in North America?"

But those who love to bash MLS overlook a key factor – lifestyle. Sure, the standard of play is not yet close to the levels of the leading European leagues, but the fact remains that plenty of people want to come here.

For the thousands of Europeans who flock to New York City on vacation each year, it feels like the center of the universe. For a man like Henry, who cannot escape the spotlight wherever he treads in his own continent, the anonymity he is afforded when he visits the Big Apple is refreshing and enticing.

And take note MLS bashers: Players, coaches and people in the international soccer world no longer look upon the American game with tilted-nose scorn. There is a general level of fascination with how much progress soccer can make here. There's an acceptance that serious growth is inevitable.

Now, I fully expect another stream of emails criticizing MLS with claims that Henry will only come to the U.S. for a final payday, or that he'll be looking for an easier ride in a lower-level league in the twilight of his career. Such statements are insulting to one of the finest players on the planet.

The man is a competitor and that personality trait is a constant theme running through his life. It will still be in place when he makes his likely move to New York.

[KURUPTION-81]

I have watched a bit of MLS since beckham went there and although the standard isn't amazing you do see some great goals.

[K.Dub]

Wow

[Lunatic]

i really really hope so...

[7even]

Niggas coming off an ugly divorce, he needs to look out for the paper... his wife took a lot.

[Canuck]

he should go to toronto, only team that has a nice atmosphere at their games

[K.Dub]

he should go to toronto, only team that has a nice atmosphere at their games

Lol, He'll go either to LA or NY I guess.

[Canuck]

^^
i agree but toronto is the only team that has fans that are actually into the game, and has a pro football atmosphere, new york plays in an NFL stadium, with like 10 000 ppl in like a 60 000+ stadium and all the football lines still painted including the endzone

[Lunatic]

i been to a grip of toronto fc games, and it is the shit

i do think because of our atmosphere sooner or later will get ourselves 1 of these aging superstars playing here

sucks to lose marvell wynne to aston villa

[Canuck]

^^^
yeah hopefully sooner rather than later, but everyteam in the mls needs a real stadium, vancouver whitecaps are stupid too, they don't wanna go to the mls rather stay in the usl, i think they could do pretty good fan support wise if they get some better players and shit.

[Lunatic]

^^^
yeah hopefully sooner rather than later, but everyteam in the mls needs a real stadium, vancouver whitecaps are stupid too, they don't wanna go to the mls rather stay in the usl, i think they could do pretty good fan support wise if they get some better players and shit.

yea
yea seems like a lot of mls teams don't take their franchise seriously with some of these stadiums they play in
vancouver is dumb then if that is true (don't wanna go to mls)
i would guess they'd do pretty good, not as good as TFC, but decent for sure

[Canuck]

the city is messed they barely gave whitecaps permission to build a new stadium, that will be almost completely funded by the team themselves because its going to be close to gastown the old historic part of vancouver

[Lunatic]

the city is messed they barely gave whitecaps permission to build a new stadium, that will be almost completely funded by the team themselves because its going to be close to gastown the old historic part of vancouver

LOL wow

[K.Dub]

I thought there were only US teams in MLS. Am I wrong ?

[Canuck]

they just added in a Canadian team Toronto FC