Robert Lewandowski flew in from Barcelona. Antoine Griezmann just wrapped up a season with Atletico Madrid. MLS is back, and it wants you to know the party is here now.
After a six-week break for the World Cup, the league resumed Thursday with four matches — and a marketing campaign, "Thanks World, We'll Take It From Here," that is either brilliantly timed or slightly optimistic depending on how the U.S. exit from the tournament sits with you. Either way, the product on the pitch genuinely looks different this time.
Lewandowski at 37: Still the Sharpest Signing in the League
Poland's all-time leading scorer — 89 international goals — signed with the Chicago Fire through the 2027-28 season. At Barcelona, he scored 83 goals in 134 appearances and won three La Liga titles. Before that, eight years at Bayern Munich: eight Bundesliga titles and a Champions League. FIFA's best player in 2020 and 2021. The resume doesn't need embellishment.
What's interesting is where the Fire are right now. They won just seven games in 2024, finished dead last in the Eastern Conference. Under coach Gregg Berhalter they more than doubled their wins the following year and are currently sitting third in the conference. That's a team with genuine momentum, not a vanity project handing a shirt to a famous name in decline.
"In front of me is to win some titles," Lewandowski said. Berhalter called it a signing that could "change the culture." His debut against Vancouver was postponed due to wildfire smoke — a frustrating wait for a city that's been patient long enough.
Griezmann Hits the Ground Running in Orlando
Griezmann, 35, agreed terms with Orlando City back in March but only linked up with the squad last week after finishing his obligations at Atletico Madrid — where he is the club's all-time leading scorer with 211 goals across two stints. He signed through 2027-28, with an option for a further year.
His first appearance: a 6-0 friendly over Tampa Bay Rowdies, with a goal and an assist. Low-stakes opposition, sure, but you don't ease in with a 2018 World Cup winner who has 44 goals in 137 caps for France. He looks sharp.
"I already feel at home," he said. Orlando will be hoping that comfort translates quickly — El Tráfico between LAFC and the Galaxy on Friday will grab the headlines, but Griezmann's first competitive appearance is the one to watch this weekend.
What the League Is Betting On
MLS Commissioner Don Garber pointed to 45 World Cup players returning to MLS stadiums after the tournament. The league is banking on converted fans — people who just spent a month glued to World Cup coverage — being ready to buy a ticket to their local team.
Twenty-two of the 30 clubs are running a "First Match On Us" initiative offering free tickets to first-time attendees. That's a real commitment, not just a press release.
Whether the casual fan converts is the question. Lewandowski and Griezmann give the league two genuine draws — players whose names move the needle globally. Their clubs' title odds just got more interesting. Chicago sitting third in the East with Lewandowski in the lineup is a different conversation than Chicago sitting third without him.
The season is back. The stars are here. Now the league has to deliver matches worth staying for.
