Of 487 total MLS players registered on March 20, 2011, the 18 clubs collectively roster 184 international players from 57 countries, rendering MLS the most diverse of the top five sports leagues in the United States with 38 percent foreign players. Of the current MLS players born outside the U.S. and Canada, approximately 39 percent are from Central and South America, 25 percent are from Europe, 19 percent are from Africa, and 14 percent are from Caribbean nations.
The numbers are complicated to break down because of the diverse numbers of the Leagues’ total players and respective internationals. MLB has the most internationals (272) but more than twice as many players (1029), amounting to 26%. The NFL, who have the most players (2050), only have 67 internationals, comprising only 3% of the pool.
2011 International Players
League(Year) Total Players Born Outside Countries of Birth*
USA/Canada
MLS (2011): 487 184 (38%) 57
NBA (2010-11): 434 87 (20%) 40
NFL (2010): 2050 67 (3%) 27
NHL (2010-2011): 764 193 (25%) 19
MLB (2010): 1029 272 (26%) 18
* Including USA & Canada
Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau, official statistician for all five leagues
MLS Players by Country Updated March 23, 2011
ARGENTINA (8)
Franco Coria (NE)
Fabian Espíndola (RSL)
Nelson González (RSL)
Miguel López (LA)
Pablo Mastroeni (COL)
Marcos Mondaini (CHV)
Javier Morales (RSL)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)
BELGIUM (1)
Mikael Yourassowsky (TOR)
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA (3)
Baggio Husidic (CHI)
Peri Marosevic (DAL)
Josip Mikulic (CHI)
BRAZIL (15)
Camilo (VAN)
Junior Carreiro (DC)
Julio Cesar (KC)
Fred (DC)
Jackson Gonçalves (DAL)
Juninho (LA)
Bruno Guarda (DAL)
Paulo Jr. (RSL)
Leonardo (LA)
Andre Luiz (SJ)
Stefani Miglioranzi (PHI)
Paulo Nagamura (CHV)
Marcos Paullo (NY)
Maicon Santos (TOR)
Ricardo Villar (DAL)
CAMEROON (3)
Alexandre Morfaw (VAN)
Joseph Nane (COL)
Tony Tchani (NY)
CANADA (23)
Nana Attakora-Gyan (TOR)
Teal Bunbury (KC)
Adrian Cann (TOR)
Oscar Cordon (TOR)
Philippe Davies (VAN)
Terry Dunfield (VAN)
Julian De Guzman (TOR)
Dwayne De Rosario (TOR)
Edson Edward (DAL)
Andre Hainault (HOU)
Doneil Henry (TOR)
Ante Jazic (CHV)
Will Johnson (RSL)
Nicholas Lindsay (TOR)
Keith Makabuya (TOR)
Ashtone Morgan (TOR)
Pat Onstad (DC)
Alain Rochat (VAN)
Matt Stinson (TOR)
Greg Sutton (NY)
Russell Teibert (VAN)
Andy Williams (RSL)
Gianluca Zavarise (TOR)
CHILE (1)
Sebastián Miranda (CLB)
CHINA (1)
Long Tan (VAN)
COLOMBIA (16)
Juan Agudelo (NY)
Juan Pablo Ángel (LA)
Jair Benítez (DAL)
Fabián Castillo (DAL)
Yamith Cuesta (CHI)
David Ferreira (DAL)
Juan Diego González (PHI)
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (SEA)
Faryd Mondragón (PHI)
Miguel Montaño (SEA)
Fredy Montero (SEA)
Jámison Olave (RSL)
Jorge Perlaza (POR)
Roger Torres (PHI)
Milton Rodríguez (DAL)
Carlos Valdés (PHI)
COSTA RICA (7)
Leonardo González (SEA)
Roy Miller (NY)
Kurt Morsink (DC)
Álvaro Saborío (RSL)
Gonzalo Segares (CHI)
Michael Umaña (CHV)
Rodney Wallace (POR)
CROATIA (2)
Dejan Jakovic (DC)
Marko Maric (CHI)
CUBA (2)
Osvaldo Alonso (SEA)
Maykel Galindo (CHV)
CURAÇAO (1)
Javier Martina (TOR)
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF THE CONGO (2)
Danny Mwanga (PHI)
Steve Zakuani (SEA)
DENMARK (2)
Brian Nielsen (NY)
Jimmy Nielsen (KC)
ECUADOR (2)
Víctor Estupiñán (CHV)
Joao Plata (TOR)
ENGLAND (12)
Korede Aiyegbusi (KC)
David Beckham (LA)
Chris Birchall (LA)
Simon Dawkins (SJ)
Caleb Folan (COL)
Andy Iro (CLB)
Eddie Johnson (POR)
Dan Keat (LA)
Craig Rocastle (KC)
John Rooney (NY)
Luke Rodgers (NY)
Ryan Smith (KC)
ESTONIA (1)
Joel Lindpere (NY)
FINLAND (1)
Teemu Tainio (NY)
FRANCE (6)
Ousmane Dabo (NE)
Didier Domi (NE)
Leandre Griffit (CLB)
Eric Hassli (VAN)
Thierry Henry (NY)
Sebastien Le Toux (PHI)
GAMBIA (5)
Mamadou Danso (POR)
Omar Jasseh (SJ)
Kenny Mansally (NE)
Sainey Nyassi (NE)
Sanna Nyassi (COL)
GEORGIA (1)
Giorgi Chirgadze (NY)
GHANA (7)
Kalif Alhassan (POR)
Patrick Nyarko (CHI)
Gershon Koffie (VAN)
Dominic Oduro (CHI)
Seth Owusu (CHV)
Robbie Russell (RSL)
Michael Tetteh (SEA)
GRENADA (1)
Shalrie Joseph (NE)
GUADELOUPE (1)
Stephane Auvray (KC)
GUATEMALA (2)
Marco Pappa (CHI)
Carlos Ruíz (PHI)
HAITI (2)
Jean Alexandre (RSL)
James Marcelin (POR)
HONDURAS (3)
Marvin Chávez (DAL)
Roger Espinoza (KC)
Andy Najar (DC)
ISRAEL (1)
Orr Barouch (CHI)
IVORY COAST (1)
Levi Houapeu (PHI)
JAMAICA (12)
Omar Cummings (COL)
Jeff Cunningham (CLB)
Shaun Francis (CLB)
Ryan Johnson (SJ)
Tyrone Marshall (COL)
Lovel Palmer (HOU)
Dane Richards (NY)
Donovan Ricketts (LA)
Khari Stephenson (SJ)
Jermaine Taylor (HOU)
Shavar Thomas (KC)
O’Brian White (SEA)
JAPAN (1)
Kosuke Kimura (COL)
LIBERIA (1)
Darlington Nagbe (POR)
MEXICO (9)
Sergio Arias (CHV)
Omar Bravo (KC)
Bryan Leyva (DAL)
Ruben Luna (DAL)
Rodrigo López (POR)
Rafael Márquez (NY)
Francisco Mendoza (CHV)
Mariano Trujillo (CHV)
Víctor Ulloa (FCD)
MOROCCO (1)
Mehdi Ballouchy (NY)
NETHERLANDS (2)
Elbekay Bouchiba (TOR)
Nick Soolsma (TOR)
NEW ZEALAND (4)
Michael Boxall (VAN)
Andrew Boyens (CHV)
Simon Elliott (CHV)
Jake Gleeson (POR)
NIGERIA (3)
Michael Augustine (NE)
Emmanuel Ekpo (CLB)
Ugo Ihemelu (DAL)
NORWAY (1)
Jan Gunnar Solli (NY)
PERU (1)
Andrés Mendoza (CLB)
POLAND (1)
Konrad Warzycha (KC)
SCOTLAND (2)
Adam Moffat (POR)
Jamie Smith (COL)
SENEGAL (3)
Bouna Coundoul (NY)
Birahim Diop (KC)
Macoumba Kandji (COL)
SERBIA (7)
Branko Boskovic (DC)
Milos Kocic (TOR)
Marko Perovic (NE)
Bratislav Ristic (CHI)
Dejan Rusmir (CLB)
Milos Stojcev (KC)
Ilija Stolica (NE)
SIERRA LEONE (2)
Michael Lahoud (CHV)
Kei Kamara (KC)
SOUTH AFRICA (2)
Danleigh Borman (NY)
John Thorrington (VAN)
ST. KITTS & NEVIS (1)
Atiba Harris (VAN)
SWEDEN (1)
Erik Friberg (SEA)
SWITZERLAND (2)
Stefan Frei (TOR)
Davide Chiumiento (VAN)
TANZANIA (1)
Nizar Khalfan (VAN)
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (4)
Keon Daniel (PHI)
Julius James (CLB)
Thorne Holder (PHI)
Scott Sealy (SJ)
UGANDA (1)
Brian Umony (POR)
URUGUAY (6)
Rodrigo Brasesco (DC)
Paolo Cardozo (LA)
Diego Cháves (CHI)
Diego Fagundez (NE)
Álvaro Fernández (SEA)
Gastón Puerari (CHI)
VENEZUELA (3)
Bernardo Anor (CLB)
Alejandro Moreno (CHV)
Emilio Rentería (CLB)
WALES (1)
Carl Robinson (NY)
ZIMBABWE (2)
Kheli Dube (NE)
Joseph Ngwenya (DC)
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