MLS

Major League Soccer still waiting on this big three

The season is only just underway, but several high-profile arrivals have yet to make the impact their clubs expected.

The MLS season is still young, but three of its new stars have yet to show up. James Rodríguez, Timo Werner and Germán Berterame remain in debt to their clubs after being signed for this campaign.

Perhaps the most worrying case is the Colombian’s. He has played just 39 minutes across Minnesota United’s first six games of the season. That is why Colombia’s national team is growing concerned about the form of its star with just over two months to go before the World Cup.

The last goal scored by Colombia’s No. 10 came on Nov. 18, 2025, when he netted one of the goals in a 3-0 win over Australia.

Berterame recorded his first assist of the season on Saturday, but he is still waiting for his first goal in Javier Mascherano’s team colors.

The former Monterrey striker last scored on Jan. 25, 2026, in Mexico’s win over Bolivia, but he has not found the net at club level since Dec. 3, 2025, in the first leg of the semifinal against Toluca, back when he was still with Monterrey.

Werner, meanwhile, has two assists since arriving at the San Jose Earthquakes, but he was left out of the squad for his team’s 3-0 win over San Diego FC. The German forward has not scored since Oct. 30, 2024.

Sargent keeps his World Cup hopes alive

The player still clinging to a chance of making Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the 2026 World Cup is Josh Sargent, who stood out on Saturday with a goal and an assist in Toronto FC’s win over the Colorado Rapids.

“It was a big relief. It had been a while since I scored and I was frustrated after missing one in the first half,” he said after Saturday’s game.

The truth is that the season is still young, but Messi scored in his first MLS game; Son needed three games to get his first goal in the North American league; Thomas Müller took two; and Luis Suárez needed three to break through.

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