Ever since David Beckham’s blockbuster 2007 transfer to the LA Galaxy, MLS fans have maintained a complicated relationship with the archetypal aging international superstar coming to play out his final years stateside.
Each one – be it Henry, Pirlo, Rooney, Ibrahimović, Messi, etc. – brings the league attention, excitement, and global relevance, at the expense of proliferating a “retirement league” jab that irks many an MLS supporter.
Austin FC, however, has yet to swim in that pool. Seriously, who is the biggest-name player to ever don the Verde and Black? Gyasi Zardes? Matt Besler? Obviously, big names don’t directly translate to big success (hi, Toronto FC), but still, that’s a little embarrassing.
So, in honor of the final week of the league’s secondary transfer window, which has seen legends Son Heung-min and Thomas Müller take (what’s left of) their talents to LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively, we decided to put together a wish list of players we’d love to see finish out their illustrious careers in Austin.
Honorable Mention: Harry Kane
England’s No. 9, at 32, is still arguably the best pure striker on the planet. He would be a dream signing for pretty much any club in existence, which makes him just a bit too far-fetched for this list.
Honorable Mention: Luka Modrić
Messi and Ronaldo aside, you won’t find a more accomplished active player than Modrić. And at 39, he still has something to offer his new club, AC Milan. But by the time the former Ballon d’Or winner wraps up in Italy, it’ll likely be too late for a meaningful move to MLS.
5) Bernardo Silva
Chronically overlooked among the world’s top on-ball creators, Silva stretches our definition of “aging” at 31. But he gives old vibes, so he’s here. The versatile Manchester City man, along with others on our list, is familiar with former City assistant coach and current Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell. Maybe Borrell shares our visions of Silva conducting Austin’s offense of the future.
4) Paul Pogba
Granted, this has disaster written all over it. Pogba is hoping to resurrect his once-electric career this season with Monaco after playing just 12 games over the past three years. Injuries, a doping ban, and an extortion plot pushed the charismatic World Cup winner to the brink of irrelevancy. But if there’s any magic left in those 32-year-old feet, watching him try to recapture it in Austin would be must-see stuff.
3) Kevin De Bruyne
We reported in May that De Bruyne’s camp did in fact connect with Austin FC – presumably among a number of MLS teams – to gauge interest before ultimately leaving Man City for Napoli this summer. But who’s to say the 34-year-old Belgian maestro won’t look stateside again in a season or two? If he does, Austin should show interest.
2) Antoine Griezmann
It seems inevitable that Griezmann, a well-documented Americanophile, will close out his career in MLS. The problem? It seems he has his eye on a big-market team. Reports heavily linked the La Liga legend to LAFC for a potential summer move, but Griezmann ultimately opted to stick around with Atlético Madrid while LAFC pivoted to Son. Maybe that makes Griezmann superfluous to the Black and Gold? If so, perhaps there’s a chance Austin can make a pitch.
1) Mohamed Salah
One of the Premier League’s greatest-ever players, Salah is still a fixture at the front for Liverpool. The thing is, there’s simply nothing left for the Egyptian icon to win at Anfield. This one fringes on such wishful thinking we almost didn’t include Salah at all. But man, if there was ever a player not named Messi that would instantly take over MLS, it’s Salah. And if Austin FC could ever swing such a signing, Q2 Stadium might just spontaneously combust.
Austin FC next plays FC Dallas on Saturday, Aug. 16, 7:30pm at home.
This article appears in August 15 • 2025.
