It’s perhaps easy to dismiss Thierry Henry’s time in the United States as nothing but a swansong following a glittering career at the summit of European football, but that would be a mistake. Henry ended up spending four and a half years with the New York Red Bulls and over that time he helped the side win their first trophy in 17 years. 

That landmark day came back in October 2013 when the New York Red Bulls won the Supporters' Shield after a 5-2 win against Chicago Fire. Henry’s contribution was vast as the Frenchman scored one and assisted twice during the stunning romp to the regular-season title. In essence, if that fixture is a condensed version of Henry’s time in the States, he was by no means there to make up the numbers after he signed for New York in May 2010. 

Over the course of those four and a half seasons in the Big Apple, Henry racked up 135 appearances whilst scoring 52 goals and assisting a further 42 times. Tellingly, the only clubs he spent more time at during his career were Arsenal and Monaco. In fact, Henry’s time in the US was so successful that his name has been included in the finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame's 2021 Class. The 43-year-old’s efforts are included under the criteria of ‘illustrious playing careers that involved significant MLS contributions.’

Whether Henry will ultimately be included remains to be seen but the very fact that the Hall of Fame’s selection committee is considering his admission speaks volumes given how exclusive this club is. 

The World Cup-winning star didn’t let the grass grow under his feet when he arrived in America and single-handedly took the league into more homes around the world than ever before. One could even argue that Henry’s time in the MLS rivaled David Beckham’s in terms of putting the league on the map.

As it turns out, Beckham has also been drawn up alongside Henry in the 2021 list of potential inductees so perhaps we may find an answer to that question sooner rather than later. 

Looking back, however, you have to admire how Henry, in particular, took to American culture so seamlessly which undoubtedly aided his on-field performances. There are a few memories that stick out but above all, who can forget the warm welcome the Frenchman received in 2017 upon his return to New York?

Henry was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field in front of adoring New York Mets fans. It must be said, decibel levels are rarely that loud at Citi Field after a barren run that last saw the New York team win the World Series in 1986. Unfortunately, their MLB odds on bet365 suggest that trophy hiatus won’t end anytime soon with the Mets at 10/1 for a shot at World Series glory this season. 

But perhaps this is the year for Henry and the Mets in their quest to pull off the impossible. 

Henry has won the biggest soccer trophies everywhere he’s gone, from the World Cup to the English Premier League, the formidable French player has claimed them all but perhaps his crowning glory is still to come. An eternal place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame would cement his legacy as the MLS’s most prolific foreign import. 

Xander Bogaerts didn't just emerge from Aruba; he became the island’s greatest baseball ambassador. Signed in 2009, he ascended rapidly through the system, reaching Boston in 2013 just in time to provide high-leverage hits during the Red Sox's improbable World Series run. By 2014, he was the everyday shortstop, embarking on a decade-long stretch where he combined a smooth right-handed stroke with a steady defensive presence that anchored the Fenway infield.

A four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger in Boston, Bogaerts proved to be one of the most consistent offensive threats at his position. His 2019 campaign stands as his statistical masterpiece: he launched a career-high 33 home runs, drove in 117 runs, and posted an OPS of .939. This performance earned him a fifth-place finish in the MVP voting and an All-MLB First Team selection, a hardware proxy that confirms his status as the premier shortstop in the game during that window.

His run in Boston was rooted in his durability and leadership. Bogaerts was a key cog in the record-breaking 2018 championship team, providing the veteran stability and postseason production (including a .273 average in the World Series) that defined that era. Even as the roster around him shifted, Bogaerts remained one of the faces of the franchise, batting .307 in his final season in Boston (2022) and leading all AL shortstops in fielding percentage.

The "Bogie" era in Boston came to a shocking conclusion following the 2022 season when he departed for the San Diego Padres as a free agent. It was a move that felt unthinkable to a fan base that viewed him as the next lifetime Red Sox icon. He left Fenway with 1,410 hits, 156 home runs, and a stellar .292 career average in a Red Sox uniform. Though he later plied his trade on the West Coast, his two World Series rings and his decade of excellence ensure his place in the Red Sox Hall of Fame is already a certainty.

When the Tampa Bay Rays made their trade to send Chris Archer to Pittsburgh at the 2018 deadline, attention turned to how the new players would develop. Tyler Glasnow contributed with his high-velocity pitches, while outfielder Austin Meadows demonstrated the offensive talent that would make him a key part of the trade. Joining the team’s long-term strategy, the left-handed hitter with a smooth swing offered an immediate boost of powerful, run-driving ability to the middle of the lineup.

That star potential was fully realized during an outstanding breakout season in 2019. Meadows overwhelmed American League pitchers, hitting 33 home runs and posting a strong .291/.364/558 slash line. He led the Rays back to October baseball, earned his first All-Star selection, and finished 14th in AL MVP voting. He exemplifies the modern hitter, blending superb bat-to-ball contact with powerful pull-hitting ability.

He served as a key player during the team's 2020 American League Pennant run. By 2021, Meadows refined his approach to boost his run-producing ability, becoming the anchor of the franchise's highest-scoring lineup. Although his batting average fell to .234 and his on-base percentage was .315, his clutch performance was clear. He hit 27 home runs and set a career high with 106 RBIs, including 19 game-winning RBIs, leading the majors and helping the Rays reach the postseason.

However, recognizing an escalating salary in arbitration and possessing a deep stable of young outfield depth, the front office engineered a classic proactive change of scenery. Just days before Opening Day in 2022, the Rays traded the veteran outfielder to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes and a competitive balance draft pick. Meadows appeared in 326 games, accumulating 308 hits, 65 home runs, and 212 RBIs with a .256/.334/.492 slash line.

Selected by the front office in the third round of the 2015 draft, Brandon Lowe quickly developed into one of the most feared left-handed power threats at his position. Armed with an explosive, high-effort swing that targeted right-handed pitching, "Bamm-Bamm" overcame immense physical roadblocks to anchor multiple pennant chases under the tropical sun.

His initial phase marked an immediate national breakthrough, earning an award. Debuting late in 2018 and remaining rookie-eligible into 2019, he made checking inside fastballs a key personal habit. Lowe adapted his stance to hit a strong .270 with 17 home runs, earning his only American League All-Star selection and placing third in Rookie of the Year voting. This impressive achievement is notable given that severe shin and quad injuries limited him to only 82 games.

He brilliantly demonstrated that his short peak was no lucky break during the pandemic-shortened 2020 schedule. As the driving force behind an energetic lineup that made it all the way to the World Series, Lowe hit 14 home runs with a fantastic .554 slugging percentage. These achievements earned him a spot on the All-MLB Second Team and an eighth-place finish in the AL Most Valuable Player voting.

Once the season resumed according to the standard calendar, his offensive identity achieved its definitive peak. His 2021 regular-season performance served as a comprehensive demonstration of middle-of-the-order power. Lowe systematically dominated junior circuit pitching staffs, resulting in a remarkable career-high of 39 home runs and 99 runs batted in over 149 games, earning him a well-deserved tenth-place finish in the American League MVP voting.

The subsequent trajectory required confronting a highly frustrating physical crossroads. Across the 2022, 2023, and 2024 schedules, a brutal gauntlet of lower-back inflammation, oblique strains, and a fractured kneecap repeatedly sapped his mobility and mechanical leverage, turning his middle-ground reality into a choppy, injury-plagued stretch in which he struggled to maintain high-volume durability.

Faced with external doubts, Lowe delivered a resilient bounce-back during the 2025 campaign. Playing away from Tropicana Field due to storm damage from Hurricane Milton, his body was fully stabilized. He put on a magnificent offensive showcase, mashing a stellar 31 home runs with 70 runs batted in, highlighted by a career-best 20-game hitting streak that tied a franchise record and his fifth career grand slam to move into a tie for the most in Rays history.

As Lowe enters his final guaranteed season of his contract, Rays president Erik Neander made a major winter trade. In December 2025, the Rays traded Lowe, their veteran second baseman, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for top prospects, including Jacob Melton. During his eight seasons with Tampa Bay, he amassed 598 hits and 157 home runs.