Major League Soccer released its annual player world map, and the numbers don't lie: MLS is, by a good margin, the most internationally diverse major league in the US and Canada.
MLS boasts players born in 61 different countries. Here's how that compares to the other four leagues.
<b>League (year)</b> |
<b>Total # of Players</b> |
<p><b>Players Born Abroad</b><br><b>(% born outside USA & Canada)</b></p> |
<p><b>Countries Represented</b><br><b>(incl. USA & Canada)</b></p> |
<p>MLS (2013)</p> |
<p>530</p> |
<p>213 (40.1%)</p> |
<b>61</b> |
<p>NBA (2012-13)</p> |
<p>438</p> |
<p>84 (19.2%)</p> |
<b>44</b> |
<p>NHL (2012-13)</p> |
<p>753</p> |
<p>183 (24.3%)</p> |
<b>19</b> |
<p>MLB (2012)</p> |
<p>1,057</p> |
<p>272 (25.7%)</p> |
<b>16</b> |
<p>NFL (2012)</p> |
<p>2,041</p> |
<p>55 (2.7%)</p> |
<b>16</b> |