With the 20th MLS season finally upon us and perhaps its best group of players ever, there are bound to be a handful of players that are head and shoulders above the rest. Last season, we saw Robbie Keane steal the show in the MLS Cup Final, while Bradley Wright-Phillips became a star with his record-tying 27 goals in the regular season. The 2015-16 campaign will involve two brand new franchises, along with some big names making their debuts, hopefully making for an incredible season. If you’re tuning into MLS for the first time this season, here are just a few names to look out for.

The likes of Keane, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Graham Zusi will be at the hub of a lot of attention, as per usual, and are already established as some of the league's very best.

Honorable mentions: Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy) and Frank Lampard (NYCFC) will not join the league until the summer but will, without a doubt, still make a huge impact on Major League Soccer. Mix Diskerud (NYCFC) and Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew), are the future of the United States' midfield and will play huge roles for their sides as they hope to cement roles in the national team set-up. Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution) and Shaun Maloney (Chicago Fire) also join the list of honorable mentions. 

Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls):

The English striker was quite frankly unstoppable last season, tying the single-season record for goals with 27. Wright-Phillips, son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, was the star of the New York Red Bulls last season which came as a surprise to most as Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill were both part of that side. The big question that is on everyone’s mind is, can he pick up where he left off and win the Golden Boot again? Without Henry and Cahill by his side, there are questions whether Wright-Phillips can shine again but as the Red Bull’s main talisman now, he will definitely attract the attention of MLS fans everywhere.

Kaka (Orlando City):

Kaka. A name every football fan knows, loves and without a doubt, looks forward to hearing as they tune in. As Orlando City are set to kick off their inaugural season, what better man to headline the club than Kaka. The Brazilian superstar set the world alight in his time with AC Milan, Real Madrid and Brazil but now, he is in the United States to showcase his talents. At the age of 32, the baby-faced midfielder can still make the opposition look silly with his dazzling footwork and ability to score goals so every fan of the MLS will be tuning in to Orlando City to catch a glimpse of what Kaka can do in his new home. It should also be noted that he will captain the club as he hopes to prove to the world, he’s still got it.

David Villa (New York City FC):

Former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker David Villa just may be the most exciting player to come into the MLS this season. A proven goal scorer at all levels and one of Spain’s best ever strikers, it’s hard not to expect a lot from Villa. Similar to Kaka, he’ll be joining another franchise facing their inaugural season, New York City FC, and will be looked to for instant success. An early favorite for MLS Golden Boot in his debut season, David Villa will be a sure-fire hit for NYCFC and amongst fans of all clubs.

Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC):

Giovinco, still in the prime of his career, is another player that will turn plenty of heads this season. Joining from Juventus, the 5ft 5in forward is extremely capable of turning Toronto's fortunes around alongside Altidore and Bradley. At just 28, Giovinco's career has stagnated slightly but looks set to be revitalized in MLS, possibly opening the door for a recall to the Italian national team. The signing of Giovinco is one of the biggest of the offseason and is sure to pay off for Toronto.

Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy):

Everyone loves a young talent that gets fans off their feet and Gyasi Zardes does exactly that. Playing alongside Robbie Keane last season, Zardes somewhat burst onto the scene by scoring 16 goals and opened the scoring in the MLS Cup Final, earning himself his debut for the United States. His blonde mohawk makes him difficult to miss and his ability is worth taking a look at so do not be surprised if we see an improvement on his goal tally during this campaign.


Dom Dwyer (Sporting KC):

The Sporting Kansas City striker, along with Graham Zusi, has become a household name among MLS fans since winning the MLS Cup in 2013. With 22 goals to his name last season, Dwyer has risen to stardom in the league and is likely to remain among Major League Soccer's hierarchy. If Sporting KC want to return to the MLS Cup Final, Dwyer will need to play a huge role. The Englishman has seen his stock grow rapidly within 2 seasons and a successful 3rd could even spark a move abroad, if he was interested.