What happened: Beat reporter Tom Bogert highlighted that Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min and James Rodriguez will all feature at the World Cup while attached to MLS clubs. Bogert framed it as a milestone worth appreciating, while noting he had once expected the league to be exporting more homegrown rising talent by now.
Why it matters: Having three globally recognized names go to the World Cup from MLS rosters underscores the league's growing pull as a destination for elite players. It also raises a developmental question Bogert flags directly: whether MLS is producing enough young, regular contributors of its own rather than leaning on established international stars.
By the numbers: Per accompanying context, MLS has 44 players called up across World Cup squads — cited as the 7th-most of any league in the world, growth from 2022 that is partly attributed to the tournament's expanded field.
What to watch: Watch how many of those 44 call-ups are developed-in-MLS players versus marquee imports, and whether Messi and the other stars feature prominently once the tournament begins.