Monday 29 February 2016 16:27, UK
There are a host of star names playing in the MLS this season.
Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are all back for a second year - and there are some exciting new faces in the league, too.
Here are 10 of the biggest names taking part in the 2016 MLS season, which kicks off on March 6:
Steven Gerrard - LA Galaxy
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has admitted this could be his last season as a player - but the 35-year-old will be determined to improve on his first taste of MLS.
The former England midfielder struggled to adapt to the humidity and travel that goes with being an MLS player in 2015, managing just just two goals and three assists in the second half of last season. However, he will be supported in midfield by new LA Galaxy signing Nigel de Jong, who should give Gerrard greater creative freedom.
What he says: "Although last year was disappointing, we have to use it as a positive. That's gone, and we can't change it. Everyone has to get back on the train and pull it in the right direction to get it successful. It would be a special ending to my career if I decide to call it a day, but it's not just for me, it's for everyone from the fans to the staff. I want to finish this long year with some success."
Didier Drogba - Montreal Impact
Despite off-season rumours of Didier Drogba making a return to Chelsea, the former Ivory Coast international is back and ready to play again for Montreal.
The former Chelsea star made an instant impact after his July 2015 move to the MLS. He bagged a hat-trick on his full debut against Chicago Fire and netted 11 goals in 11 appearances to help Montreal to third place in the Eastern conference.
Despite his sensational start, Drogba could not help Montreal beyond the conference semi-finals, where they lost 4-3 on aggregate to eventual finalists Columbus Crew. This year, progressing further into the play-offs will be the ambition.
What he says: On Twitter, after speculation surrounding his future - "On my way to Qatar to do some preparation for pre-season @impactmontreal"
Frank Lampard - New York City FC
Lampard's time in New York got off to a rocky start, with fans less than impressed with his decision to stay with sister club Manchester City until the end of the 2014/15 Premier League season.
The former Chelsea star scored three goals and a registered one assist in 10 appearances when he finally began playing in MLS in August.
With a full pre-season under his belt this year, and with new boss Patrick Vieira in charge, great things are expected of the 37-year-old as he aims to roll back the years.
What he says: On Patrick Vieira: "For us, I think he's going to up our level. I hope he will and I think the players are going to respect him. When he speaks, they will listen."
Robbie Keane - LA Galaxy
Keane has played in MLS since 2011 and has consistently been one of the best performers in the league, having scored 73 goals in 108 regular season appearances.
Last season, despite a groin problem he picked up in April, which left him sidelined for nearly two months, Keane ranked third in the scoring charts with 20 goals and provided seven assists.
The 35-year-old is undoubtedly the talisman of the team, and will be expected to bear the scoring burden yet again. A support cast consisting of Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard could help him keep up his impressive MLS goal ratio.
What he says: "We know we have the players in the team that can score goals - that's never been a problem. Last year, the problem was defensively as a group we weren't good enough, and we have to correct that. [We] believe that and, hopefully, maybe with a few more players that come into the fold, we'll be a lot stronger this year."
Andrea Pirlo - New York City FC
Pirlo joined NYCFC shortly after losing to Barcelona in the 2014/15 Champions League final. Pirlo made his MLS debut on July 26, and for the remainder of the season he contributed five assists from a deep midfield position.
Sections of the American soccer media questioned whether the 36-year-old could have offered more last season and if he was able to keep up with the fast-paced, physical nature of the league.
He will be looking to prove any critics wrong quickly this season in a new-look set-up under Patrick Vieira.
What he says: "The impression is much better than I thought. There are a lot of strong players, physically strong players, and therefore there is a very good basis. I hope there can be a catalyst which brings more great players into the United States."
Sebastian Giovinco - Toronto FC
Giovinco, the 2015 MLS MVP, is expected to light up the league yet again after being the first player in MLS history to lead the league in goals and assists over a single season.
The Italian international's 22 goals and 16 assists in his inaugural MLS season is sure to strike fear among defences now that he's fully integrated for a second year.
After spending last season up front with Jozy Altidore in a 4-4-2, coach Greg Vanney looks set to put the 'Atomic Ant' on the left wing, so he could be a further creative force in the league from a wide position.
What he says: "Hopefully [the opposition] won't have any special treatment for me. They know the way I play, that's normal. It's up to [me] to make statements. [My] goal is to perform better than last year, so in the end, it doesn't really matter if they know."
Kaka - Orlando City
Kaka quickly developed into the role of club captain for expansion side Orlando, and now he'll be looking to improve further on an immensely successful 2015.
The former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder forged a highly effective partnership with young Canadian striker Cyle Larin as the two scored 26 of Orlando's 46 goals combined last year. This season the two will hope to repeat similar numbers if not more to help try and take Orlando to their first ever play-off competition.
If Kaka stays injury free at the age of 33, it could prove tough to stop the creative Brazilian from having a highly productive year.
What he says: "I can say that it's easier now [compared to last season] because when you arrive and you don't know even your team-mates, it's hard for everybody. Now we already know each other, so we know the travel, we know the teams we are going to face. It's easier, but we have our responsibility to do better than the last season."
David Villa - New York City
Despite a disappointing first season overall for NYCFC, David Villa's debut season in MLS was a success individually.
The former Spain international, best known for his stints at Valencia, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, ranked fourth in the MLS scoring charts with 18 goals and chipped in with eight assists.
Last season Villa played predominantly as a lone forward. Under new management and possibly a new tactical system, Villa is expected to be New York's main source of goals again.
What he says: "We work a lot to create our identity of play, like Vieira wants. I'm very happy for the first days, for the work of the new coaches, the new players and the players who were here last year. In this moment, it's better than last year."
Giovani Dos Santos - LA Galaxy
Dos Santos was another player who joined MLS at the midway point of the season after transferring from Villarreal in July last year.
Despite his undoubted ability shown throughout his career, there were question marks over whether he would fit in to Bruce Arena's 4-4-2 formation, playing as a second striker to Robbie Keane.
In his first three matches, the Mexican international scored twice and made three assists. For the remaining seven games of the regular season, he added just one more goal and created another two.
But now part of a different-looking Galaxy side to last season, the 26-year-old could be set for a breakthrough MLS season.
What he says: "We're prepared. We've been training really hard. We've had a lot of good players come into the team."
Clint Dempsey - Seattle Sounders
Former Fulham and Tottenham forward Dempsey struggled with injuries for large portions of last season but when he did play he was hugely influential.
The American scored 10 goals and registered 10 assists in 20 appearances and he thrived alongside the former Newcastle, Birmingham and Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins.
Dempsey's 26 goals in 54 appearances since joining in 2012 highlights just how strong a player he is in MLS. But Martins has left for China, so how Dempsey fares without the strike partner he had for two-and-a-half years will make for an intriguing storyline.
What he says: On a switch to a 4-3-3 formation: "It just depends on how you build in the attack and how you get exposed defensively when you are attacking. You could sit here and talk all day about it. It's something that we need to work on and train, the movements of everybody, the partnerships and how we're going to play."
Who do you think will be the best player in MLS this season? Leave a comment or tweet us @SkyFootball…
