About 3½ years ago, MLS commissioner Don Garber said 25 words that, uh, well ... here's what he told reporters before the start of the 2022 season:

"We don't need to bring in a big-name player at the end of their career because they decided they want to retire in MLS."

In just this summer alone, 33-year-old Son Heung-Min joined LAFC from Tottenham, 31-year-old Rodrigo De Paul joined Inter Miami from Atletico Madrid and 35-year-old Thomas Müller joined the Vancouver Whitecaps from Bayern Munich.

Lionel Messi , of course, is currently the best player in MLS -- and he's 38. At Inter Miami, the current betting favorites for MLS Cup, he's flanked by 38-year-old Luis Suárez , 36-year-old Jordi Alba , and 37-year-old Sergio Busquets .

Since Garber's quote, the likes of Garet

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