ATLANTA — There was a time when Major League Soccer depended on a shortlist of marquee names to generate excitement about a match.
A David Beckham, Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard.
Times are changing. Since its inaugural season in 1996, the league has gained respect around the world and MLS continues to expand its footprint on the global soccer stage. Sure, the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and French Ligue 1 still have the talent, market dominance and history to be considered by many the best in the world, but MLS is trending upward.