A group of Inter Miami’s own has been nominated to Major League Soccer’s The 25 Greatest presented by AT&T, a platform that will determine and honor the 25 brightest stars in league history. Co-owner and President of Soccer Operations David Beckham, Senior Academy Director and Fort Lauderdale CF Manager Jason Kreis, Academy coach Javier Morales and Inter Miami captain Luis Robles were among the 134 players nominated.
A special panel of more than 200 MLS experts from across North America will select the 25 players who achieved the most on the field, drove the narrative off the field, and lay the foundation for MLS’s next 25 years. The voting panel is comprised of four groups: MLS Greats & Emeritus (former players, coaches, staff), current MLS Club staff, Media Members and Broadcast Partners (local and national). MLS invited panelists based on years of experience within MLS, geographic balance, and game expertise.
David Beckham
Beckham joined the LA Galaxy in 2007, went on to 115 total MLS appearances including postseason, and registered 18 goals and 48 assists. He helped lead the Galaxy to two MLS Cups (2011, 2012) and two Supporters’ Shields (2010, 2011), was named an MLS All-Star three times (2008, 2011, 2012), named to the MLS Best XI once (2011) and named 2011 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. Beckham played an important role in helping the league expand its growth in his years with the Galaxy and now by bringing fútbol back to South Florida with Inter Miami.
Jason Kreis
Kreis has established a storied career in MLS both as a player and a coach. He impressed as a rookie, leading the Dallas Burn and scoring the first goal in team history, a feat he would later replicate in Real Salt Lake’s first season, becoming the first player to score the first-ever goal for two franchises. Kreis would go on to win 1999 MLS MVP, becoming the first American-born player to win the award. He held the record of MLS all-time top scorer from 2004 to 2007, currently sits eighth in league history and was the first player to score 100 MLS goals. Kreis holds several franchise records for both Dallas and Salt Lake, retiring as the Dallas leader in games played, goals and assists. He was also the first official player in Real Salt Lake team history. As a coach, he made history in 2009 with Salt Lake, becoming the youngest head coach in MLS history (34) to win MLS Cup. Kreis has also helmed New York City FC (2013-2015) and Orlando City SC (2016-2018) as head coach during the early stages of their time in MLS.
Javier Morales
Morales – nicknamed El Maestro – joined Real Salt Lake in August 2007. The attacking midfielder made his debut in a match against the Kansas City Wizards, shining right from the start with an assist 40 seconds into the proceedings; this set the record for fastest first assist in MLS history. He eventually became the franchise’s all-time leader in assists with 81 to his name. Morales also retired as one of a select group of MLS players to register at least 50 goals and 50 assists in the league, at the time only the 17th player to do so. The midfielder guided Salt Lake to the 2009 MLS Cup title, was named an MLS All-Star twice, MLS Best XI once and RSL team MVP three times. Morales had his number 11 retired by Salt Lake not long after he retired.
Luis Robles
Inter Miami’s captain and goalkeeper Luis Robles has put together a storied career in MLS thus far. With the New York Red Bulls, he won the Supporters’ Shield in 2013, 2015 and 2018, and was also named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2015. Robles holds the record for most consecutive MLS regular season starts, being named to the Red Bulls starting eleven 183 times in a row from 2012 to 2018. In 2018, Robles kept a club-record and career-high 14 clean sheets.
