Major League Soccer’s progress continues as the US league secures tenth place in the latest Opta Power ranking listing of the world’s statistically strongest leagues.
Karina PoncePaul Reidypaulreidy67Update: Apr 3rd, 2024 02:41 EDT
EMILEE CHINNAFP
Europe’s ‘Top 5′ strongest and/or most powerful leagues generally see little in terms of fluctuation with the Premier League leading the way with the likes of LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A battling it out for a place on the podium with France’s Ligue 1 generally occupying fifth position.
It’s generally when one leaves this top five that more movement is seen between other contenders with the latest Opta Power Ranking top ten featuring two leagues outside Europe as Brazil’s Serie A holds ninth position ahead of MLS making its debut in the top ten as it leaps from its previous 29th standing in August 2023.
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 💪Curious to know which men’s football leagues are statistically the strongest in the world? We've got an update on the strongest leagues based on the Opta Power Rankings…
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) March 27, 2024
MLS has seen steady growth over the past decade and the introduction of the innovative Apple broadcast deal and the like of recent big name signings such as Luis Suárez. Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Hugo Lloris, Lorenzo Insigne and of course, Lionel Messi has seen the league blossom.
The Opta rankings are based on collective performance at the club level and MLS team’s strong showing at the 2023 Leagues Cup, which is contested by MLS and Liga MX teams, last summer will have greatly impacted on the listing with Inter Miami proclaimed champions in the competition while six of the eight quarter-finalists were from MLS.
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Inter Miami CF celebrates after winning the 2023 Leagues Cup final against Nashville SC MARK HUMPHREYEFE
Liga MX on the fringe
Away from UEFA based leagues, trailing the Brasileirao and MLS are Liga MX, the Argentine Primera División and the Saudi Pro League although the SPL can boast the highest non-European side in the overall club ranking as Riyadh powerhouse Al Hilal soar up to 44th place on the individual club ranking and sit between Fulham and Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium.
As we start to see a shift on the pitch in the CONCACAF region with the USMNT starting to eclipse Mexico for on-field domination, this is also now happening at institutional level with the impressive growth seen by MLS as it leaps 19 places in the latest Opta survey.
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Gregg Berhalter speaks to the media during the United States Men’s National Team Roster Reveal PartyMike StobeAFP
