Who are the Current Portuguese Players in the MLS? | OneFootball

The MLS is one of the fastest-growing soccer competitions in the world, with many legendary European stars opting to play the final years of their career stateside.

This trend only looks set to continue over the coming years following the popularity that has been enjoyed following the arrival of Lionel Messi and the commercial success of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Soccer popularity is likely to continue to excel over the next 12 months, as the FIFA World Cup will be staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer. But, who are some of the top Portuguese players that already call the MLS home?

Leonardo Barreiro

Chicago is one of the most popular sporting cities in the United States, meaning that it isn’t a surprise that bettors are regularly looking to claim Illinois sportsbook bonuses.

Leonardo Barreiro is one of the Portuguese players that calls the state his home after signing for the Chicago Fire in the winter of 2025. The 20-year-old defender came through the youth ranks at Sporting CP, featuring for the U15 and U21 teams up until 2025.

However, he never made an appearance for the senior team, and only featured for Sporting B on 27 occasions prior to his departure. Barreiro has quickly made himself at home in the MLS, playing nine times and scoring once for the Fire.

Pedro Amador

Pedro Amador will be a familiar name for long time viewers of the Portuguese top-flight, having played in the domestic competition between 2020 and 2024.

He made his senior breakthrough during a one-season spell with Braga. However, he would achieve further success elsewhere in Portugal after moving to Moreirense in 2020. But, he would miss almost the entirety of the 2020-21 season due to a serious knee injury.

Amador would play 79 games for the team before departing the club in 2024 after agreeing a deal with Atlanta United in the MLS. Since joining the team, the left-back has played 22 games and is yet to score.

David Costa

One of the newest Portuguese faces in the MLS comes in the form of David Costa, who signed for the Portland Timbers in February after a $6 million fee was agreed with Lens.

Costa came through the youth ranks at Lens, before featuring over 100 times for the first team between 2020 and 2025.

His ability has also been by the national team, representing Portugal at U18, U19, and U21 levels. Costa’s stay in France ended after five seasons, scoring a ten goals in 123 matches across all competitions.

Diogo Gonçalves

Diogo Gonçalves is one of the most experienced Portuguese players that calls the MLS home in this modern day. The winger came through the youth ranks with Benfica, before featuring for the first team throughout the 2017-18 campaign.

Gonçalves would struggle to tie down a permanent place in the team, which led to the winger spending time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Famalicão before being sold permanently to FC Copenhagen.

During his time in Denmark, the Portuguese star scored 21 goals in 55 matches, and was part of the team that won the Danish Superliga and Cup in 2022-23. Goncalves ended his stay in Europe in 2024 after moving to Real Salt Lake.

Luís Martins

Luís Martins has enjoyed a fine footballing career that has taken him across the world. The 33-year-old left back came through the youth ranks at Benfica, before featuring four times for the first team.

However, he would explore fresh challenges over the following five years, enjoying spells with Gil Vicente and Granada. Martins would later have a spell in Mexico with Chaves, scoring once in the 2018-19 season.

His performances during this period caught the attention of MLS clubs, and he spent three seasons with Sporting Kansas City, before joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2022.

Xande Silva

Xande Silva has enjoyed a lengthy career, and he has played in some of the world’s most competitive leagues. The winger made his senior breakthrough with Vitória Guimarães, before West Ham United signed the winger for an undisclosed fee in 2018.

Despite making waves for the youth team, he would make only one senior appearance for the Hammers before being sold to Nottingham Forest in 2021. Game time would once again be hard to come by at the City Ground, as Silva played just eight times before moving to Dijon.

However, the winger appears to have found a home in the MLS, playing 48 times for Atlanta United between 2023 and 2025, scoring seven goals. His stay at Atlanta ended earlier this year after he was signed by St. Louis City. But, he is yet to make his competitive debut for the franchise.