The 2026 Major League Soccer season resumes on Thursday with the league poised to steal some of the spotlight between the World Cup semi-finals and third-place game. After a six-week pause for the global tournament, more than half of the regular season remains, and the return brings a host of intriguing storylines. The Guardian spotlighted seven players to watch as they come back from international duty, headlined by the legendary Lionel Messi, South Korean star Son Heung-min, and young American midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
MLS at the World Cup: Through the quarter-finals, MLS ranked sixth in total minutes played by its players, the highest of any league outside Europe’s big five. Twenty-two of the league’s 30 clubs had at least one representative in a tournament squad.
MLS makes its World Cup mark
The league may have been largely absent from the World Cup broadcasts, but its players were not. The strong showing in minutes reflects a growing international presence, and many of those players now return with added experience and global visibility. The Leagues Cup will further test squad depth, but the second half of the season promises a competitive playoff race.
Messi's next chapter
Lionel Messi, now 39, remains the focal point of Inter Miami. After a World Cup campaign where he served as a de facto on-field coach—orchestrating play and exploiting weaknesses as he did against England in the semi-final—Messi returns to MLS with his intelligence and influence only heightened. The question is how much more magic he can produce in a season that still has over half its games left.
Ending the drought
Son Heung-min endured a challenging World Cup, failing to find the net for South Korea. The goal drought has been a talking point, and the forward will be eager to rediscover his scoring touch as he rejoins his MLS club. His pace and finishing are crucial to his team’s push up the table, and a quick return to form is essential.
Berhalter's bright future
Sebastian Berhalter, the young midfielder for Vancouver Whitecaps, gained valuable minutes with the US national team at the World Cup. Now back in MLS, the 23-year-old is poised to take on a larger role and build on the experience. His development will be closely watched as the Whitecaps aim for a playoff spot.