Landon Donovan’s 2014 farewell and the evolution of the DP rule

Landon Donovan ended his professional career after the 2014 MLS Cup. He won his sixth MLS Cup title with the LA Galaxy in his final match. At 32, he held the MLS all-time regular season goal scoring record with 144 goals and 136 assists. His 2014 season followed a difficult period when Jurgen Klinsmann omitted him from the U.S. National Team’s 2014 World Cup roster. He scored two goals against the Philadelphia Union to break the scoring record and earned the 2014 MLS All-Star Game MVP award after scoring against Bayern Munich. He also recorded 57 goals and 58 assists for the U.S. National Team during his 157 appearances, a tally that includes five goals scored over 12 World Cup games. Before his 2014 retirement, he earned the 2009 MLS MVP and the 2008 Golden Boot. He also won the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup MVP. His career included loans to Bayern Munich in 2009 and Everton in 2010 and 2012. He won MLS Cup titles with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 and 2003. He scored the championship-clinching penalty in the 2012 MLS Cup final. He scored three goals in the Western Conference semifinal against Real Salt Lake. I think his journey from San Jose to Los Angeles defined the league’s growth.

The Designated Player era

The Designated Player rule allows clubs to sign up to three players with salaries above the league cap. Donovan occupied one of these spots alongside Robbie Keane and Omar Gonzalez. In 2023, the MLS base salary cap sat at $5.2 million. Teams utilized General Allocation Money and Targeted Allocation Money to manage budgets.

Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, which changed how clubs recruit global stars. His contract includes a $12 million base salary and $20.4 million in guaranteed compensation. Messi also received revenue from the Apple TV partnership and his Adidas agreement, which brings his annual compensation to $60 million, making him the second highest-paid footballer in the world. This total puts him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo. His teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba earn significantly less, with Busquets receiving $1.775 million and Alba receiving $1.2 million. Inter Miami acquired $1.6 million in allocation money in an April trade that sent Bryce Duke and Ari Lassaster to CF Montreal. Messi’s arrival follows the movement of other players like Gregore, Rodolfo Pizarro and Leonardo Campana who previously filled the club’s three DP spots. Messi has earned 15 Player of the Matchday awards so far in 2026. Donovan holds the record with 19 awards. Does Messi catch him before the season ends?

Comparing the stars

Donovan’s career focused on domestic dominance, but the modern model relies on massive commercial partnerships. Messi’s presence in Miami relies on revenue sharing with Apple and Adidas to handle his $60 million wage. Apple maintains a 10-year agreement worth $2.5 billion to broadcast league games. I find the constant referee drama at Inter Miami annoying. Donovan criticized the pattern of Miami players yelling at officials and fighting. He specifically noted the way players complain to referees every single week. Messi also had a tense exchange with Commissioner Don Garber after a victory in the Campeones Cup. In 2024, he scored 12 goals and assisted nine in 12 games, which allowed him to lead Miami to the single-season points record. This performance included scoring four goals in a single match. I find his scoring rate remains high, as you already know, with 12 goals in his first 15 MLS games this season.