Zlatan Ibrahimovic thinks that Major League Soccer (MLS) must continue investing in emerging talents and European stars to keep advancing.
Ibrahimovic, who is 42, noted that MLS’s growth has been gradual due to numerous regulations. During his stint in North America, he made a significant impact with 52 goals and 17 assists in just 56 regular-season matches for the LA Galaxy. Now retired and working as an advisor for Serie A club AC Milan, Ibrahimovic shared his views on ESPN’s First Take.
“It’s moving in the right direction, but the progress is slow because, when I was there, and it still is, there are too many rules that hinder faster growth,” he commented on the league’s development. “It’s a gradual process. However, in terms of the game itself, the quality and the players are improving, and with the World Cup coming to the U.S. in 2026, it will be a significant boost for both the country and MLS.”
Ibrahimovic feels that MLS should keep investing in emerging young players and European stars to continue its development.
He stated, “When high-profile players come over and demonstrate their skill, it highlights the higher level of play in Europe, though MLS is improving. The league needs to be developed from the ground up; it’s not just about the big stars coming in to play. They are not the future—they are the present.”
This isn’t the first time Ibrahimovic has criticized MLS and the North American soccer landscape. There have been several public exchanges between him and the league over the past five years.
During his first MLS season, Ibrahimovic was notably suspended for a game after skipping the 2018 MLS All-Star game due to exhaustion. The following year, he criticized the league’s unique playoff system.
“I think the system is terrible,” Ibrahimovic remarked in an interview. “It reflects a mentality issue. For me, mentality is about consistency every day. How you train is how you play. Every game’s result should matter. But here, you can finish seventh, make the playoffs, and then win. It’s hard to maintain a top-level mentality 24/7 in such a system.”
After Ibrahimovic left MLS in 2019 to return to Serie A, Commissioner Don Garber suggested that Ibrahimovic’s move was a response to his criticisms of the league.
“Interestingly, when Zlatan (Ibrahimović) left Major League Soccer, no one said he went to retire in Italy,” Garber said. “I found that insulting. If Zlatan had joined us at the same age (37) that he went back to Milan, it would have been considered a retirement move. He worked hard in MLS and is still working hard in Serie A. I don’t understand why our league is seen differently, but that’s the situation.”
