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'I need to leave America or retire' - Christian Pulisic & Weston McKennie highlighted as Shaun Wright-Phillips longs for day USMNT stars can thrive in MLS rather than seek exit to Europe

While domestic soccer in America has come a long way, and is currently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/mls-warned-league-without-kingpin-lionel-messi-ex-new-york-red-bulls-winger-shaun-wright-phillips-longer-fix-plea-don-garber/bltbe1949e7fa233938" target="_blank">enjoying another boom courtesy of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi</a>, there are issues that still need to be addressed.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Retaining home-grown talent is one of those, as USMNT stars of the present and future <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/explained-how-ignoring-family-advice-weston-mckennie-usmnt-juventus-star-american-plan-a-europe/blt04ef4e418e13d5e2" target="_blank">continue to look outside of the United States for opportunities</a> and pay packets that match their ambition.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna and Tim Weah are among the stars to have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-salary-cap-designated-player-rules-mls-keep-next-christian-pulisic-usmnt-stars-european-exodus/bltd9775fc621d89059" target="_blank">headed to Europe at an early age in order to chase their dream</a> - with it determined that such pathways would be blocked off in the States.

DID YOU KNOW?

Former Manchester City and Chelsea star Wright-Phillips, who spent time in America with the New York Red Bulls at the end of his career, told GOAL while speaking via Lottoland, <a href="https://www.lottoland.co.uk/sportsbook/football-betting " target="_blank">Football Betting</a> when asked if a day will come when players of promise remain in MLS: "I really hope so. For the sport there, I really hope so. It’s nice for a country to be able to do that."Pretty much every other country can do that - even the ones that we say don’t have big fan bases, you can still make a career there. It’s only Americans that are struggling with that. You have got Central American players coming up and surviving and playing, but it’s the Americans that are thinking ‘I need to leave America or I need to retire’."

WHAT SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS SAID

Wright-Phillips has previously <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/mls-told-change-rules-shaun-wright-phillips-talented-american-kids-retire-soccer-18-years-old/blt770b791a8fc6d90e" target="_blank">claimed that players are giving up on soccer by the age of 18</a> as they see no career in the game on home soil. There have been calls for further investment, as salary caps and Designated Player rules are relaxed.

TELL ME MORE

Attracting more household names to the States will aid that cause, but Wright-Phillips doubts that anyone - even Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham - can cause the biggest of stirs by <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/david-beckham-tipped-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-together-inter-miami-cr7-mls-bigger-than-ever-transfer-al-nassr/blt580d6f0eaa68dde7" target="_blank">uniting eternal rivals Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the same squad</a>. The ex-England international added: "If anyone can make it possible, it is definitely Becks"But, I think Ronaldo is going to sign a new deal so I’m not sure if he even leaves yet. I did see that [Carlos] Tevez said he is going to get them in a team together for his charity match. For the minute, that is as good as we are going to get!"

COULD CRISTIANO RONALDO UNITE WITH LIONEL MESSI?

Portuguese superstar Ronaldo is still tied to Al-Nassr for now, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-mls-cant-compete-cristiano-ronaldo-saudi-pro-league-ex-england-star-players-deserve-respect-middle-east/blta6ddf25df1569af1" target="_blank">MLS struggling to compete financially with the riches on offer in the Saudi Pro League</a>. Ambitious plans can, however, be drawn up with long-term thinking in mind.

WHAT NEXT FOR MLS?

'I need to leave America or retire' - Christian Pulisic & Weston McKennie highlighted as Shaun Wright-Phillips longs for day USMNT stars can thrive in MLS rather than seek exit to Europe | Goal.com

Shaun Wright-Phillips hopes there will come a day when the likes of Christian Pulisic can stay in MLS, rather than immediately head to Europe.

&apos;I need to leave America or retire&apos; - Christian Pulisic &amp; Weston McKennie highlighted as Shaun Wright-Phillips longs for day USMNT stars can thrive in MLS rather than seek exit to Europe