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Since the formation of the MLS in 1996, a host of Europeans have made their way to North America to ply their trade in the MLS. A few of the biggest players like David Beckham, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and Steven Gerrard all signed for MLS teams from top European sides that the end of their career.
Although it was the capture of the American Landon Donovan in the early 2000s, widely regarded as the signing that brought the MLS to life. With the arrival of some of the best footballers in the world, the league has changed into a competitive league and is gaining massive prominence.
Here we take a look at the top 5 active European footballers in the MLS.
#5 Nemanja Nikoli?
Serbian-born Hungarian international Nemanja Nikoli? made his big break for Kaposvar in 2008 before moving to Videoton is the Hungarian League where he rose to prominence. He finished his campaign as top scorer and proved to be a key player for the club. After five years at Videoton, he moved to Legia Warsaw for a season, before he moved to Chicago Fire in 2017.
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The striker will be managed by Veljko Paunovi?, who oversaw Serbia's victory at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup at Chicago Fire. An impressive first season in the MLS saw the Hungarian net in 24 goals in 34 outings.
A Hungarian capped player since 2013, the 29-year-old is a tricky customer to deal with and will be in one of the contenders in line for the Landon Donovan MVP award.
#4 Shkëlzen Gashi
The Swiss-born Albanian international Shkelze Gashi is a 29-year-old attacking player plying his trade for the Colorado Rapids. He began his career in Zurich with Zurich and Grasshopper before he made a move to Aarau in 2012 before moving back to Grasshopper for a couple more seasons.
In 2014 the creative player got his big break as Basel signed the Albanian international and impressed scoring 25 goals in 41 appearances. In 2016 the MLS and Colorado Rapids came hunting for the player and he opted to sign with the franchise to enhance his career.
Most notably remembered for a screamer of a left-footed shot from almost 35 metres in the Rapids' Western Conference semi-final against the LA Galaxy, Gashi produced one of the goals of the 2016 MLS season. In his third year for the club, the Albanian is loving life in the States plying in the MLS.
#3 Ashley Cole
Former England, Arsenal and Chelsea defender, Ashley Cole is one of the finest players the country has ever produced. A player who began his career in 1999, under Arsene Wenger for Arsenal, currently plays in the MLS for LA Galaxy.
Having made over a 100 caps for England, Cole is a veteran full-back and a multiple time Premier League winner and European winner at club level. One of the best modern full-backs, Cole is most notably known for his rapid pace, passion and aggression on the football field.
His move to Chelsea surprised the footballing world in 2005 but the Englishman carried on to remain one of the best the country has seen play in that position at Wembley. After a short stint in Italy with Roma, Cole moved to LA in 2016 and continues to enjoy life and his football in California.
#2 Sebastian Giovinco
Sebastian Giovinco took MLS by storm in 2015, as he led Toronto FC and ripped apart MLS defences, to guide his team into the playoffs for the first time in the franchises' history. He finished the season with the Golden Boot to his name for the 22 goals he netted.
The Italian also bagged the MLS Newcomer of the Year and MLS MVP awards in his debut season in the league. Signed by Toronto FC from Juventus, the 30-year-old swapped the Serie A after spending nine seasons in the Italian top-flight.
Giovinco began his career at Juventus in 2006, had two loan spells with Empoli and Parma before making the Juventus first team in 2013. After the departure of Antonio Conte in 2014, the Italian struggled to make first-team appearances under Max Allegri and decided to leave a year later. Since his arrival in the MLS, the forward has netted a staggering 55 goals in 81 appearances for Toronto.
#1 David Villa
Spanish and New York City FC striker, 35-year-old, David Villa is still going strong and keen to represent his club and country. The Spanish all-time record holder for most number of goals, Villa succeeded Giovinco as MLS MVP in 2016 after scoring 23 goals in 33 regular-season outings in his third MLS season.
Still going strong, Villa was recently picked in the Spanish national squad and remains an outside chance to get called up for next year's World Cup squad. The striker joined the American club from Athletico Madrid in 2014 and has sent three seasons in New York, with short loan stint at Melbourne FC in-between.
The Spaniard has netted a superb 63 goals in 99 appearances for the MLS franchise, while the striker is two short of reaching 100 caps for his national side. A veteran striker and a multiple time La Liga winning player, Villa has also won the 2010 WC and the Euro 2008 trophy with Spain.
