As per Goal: "Currently, Inter Miami has all three of its Designated Player spots filled with Gregore, Rodolfo Pizarro and Leonardo Campana taking up those spots. However, with the arrival of Lionel Messi, it is likely that Gregore, who is the lowest earner of the current three Designated Players for the Herons, will be taken off the designation and shifted to a regular spot on the roster.
These accommodations should make it easy for Miami to nail down their signing of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner while adhering to the regulations of MLS.
The Designated Player rule, also known as the Beckham Rule, is a mechanism in the MLS that allows teams to sign up to three players that would be considered outside their salary cap. This rule was adopted ahead of the 2007 MLS season to enable teams to compete for star players in the international football market.
Key points about the Designated Player rule:
The Designated Player rule is one of two mechanisms by which MLS teams may exceed their salary cap, the other being allocation money.
MLS has implemented initiatives like Designated Players and allocation money, exempt from the cap, to enhance player quality while staying within budget. In 2023, each DP player counted as $612,500 against the cap, except for those joining after the Secondary Transfer Window, who had a budget charge of $306,250.
The Designated Player rule allows clubs to acquire up to three players whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge, with the club bearing financial responsibility for the amount of compensation above each player’s Salary Budget Charge.
Designated Players may be new players signed to MLS via the Allocation Ranking List or the Discovery Process, or they may be re-signed existing players on a club’s roster.
The Designated Player rule was introduced in anticipation of LA Galaxy’s signing of former Real Madrid and England star David Beckham in 2007. Beckham was the first high-profile and internationally recognised player to sign for an MLS side, and the Designated Player Rule has since been unofficially dubbed the ‘Beckham Rule’.
The LA Galaxy have famously made big use of the Designated Player rule, with past signings including Steven Gerrard, ex-Tottenham forward Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, who is considered one of the best MLS players of all time, and many others.
Currently, teams are allowed to have two Designated Players, but can pay a fee of $250,000 to the league for a third DP spot. The fee is spread amongst the other teams in the league.
The Designated Player rule has helped bring some of the world’s best players to MLS, such as Kaka, David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and many others.
The Designated Player rule has had a significant impact on the competitiveness of the MLS.
The DP rule has enabled MLS teams to compete for star players in the international football market. This has helped raise the level of play in the league and has made it more competitive.
The rule has allowed teams to sign high-profile players who can make an immediate impact on the field. This has helped increase the competitiveness of the league and has made it more exciting for fans to watch.
The DP rule has helped attract more top talent to the league, which has made it more competitive. Players like David Villa, Wayne Rooney, and even Gareth Bale have come to MLS to try their hand at playing in the league.
The rule has helped increase the level of play in the league by allowing teams to sign players who would not have been able to play in MLS otherwise. This has helped make the league more competitive and has raised the profile of the league internationally
Some studies have suggested that the DP rule has had a positive impact on the competitiveness of the league. For example, one study found that teams with designated players were more likely to make the playoffs and win championships than teams without designated players.
The DP rule has also helped increase the level of investment in the league. Teams are willing to spend more money on high-profile players, which has helped raise the profile of the league and attract more fans
Overall, the DP rule has had a positive impact on the competitiveness of the MLS. It has helped raise the level of play in the league, attract more top talent, and increase investment in the league.
The Designated Player rule has allowed MLS teams to sign some of the biggest names in world football, and many of these signings have been successful.
Some of the most successful Designated Player signings in MLS history:
David Beckham: Beckham’s arrival in MLS in 2007 helped transform the league and led to the introduction of the Designated Player rule. Although he only played for the LA Galaxy for five seasons, he helped lead the team to two MLS Cup victories and was a major factor in raising the profile of the league.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Ibrahimovic played for the LA Galaxy for two seasons, scoring 53 goals in 58 appearances for the club. He was named to the MLS Best XI in both seasons and helped lead the team to the playoffs in 2018.
Robbie Keane: Keane made an immediate impact after joining the LA Galaxy in 2011, helping the team win the MLS Cup in his first year in MLS. He followed that accomplishment with a 16-goal, nine-assist year and a second-straight MLS Cup in 2012.
Wayne Rooney: Rooney played for D.C. United for two seasons, scoring 25 goals in 52 appearances for the club. He helped lead the team to the playoffs in both seasons and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2018.
Thierry Henry: Henry was a star player for the New York Red Bulls, scoring 51 goals in 122 appearances for the club. He helped lead the team to the Supporters’ Shield in 2013 and was named to the MLS Best XI twice.
Sebastian Giovinco: Giovinco was a prolific scorer for Toronto FC, scoring 83 goals in 142 appearances for the club. He helped lead Toronto to the MLS Cup in 2017 and was named the league’s MVP that same year.
Nicolas Lodeiro: Lodeiro has been a key player for the Seattle Sounders since joining the team in 2016. He has helped lead the team to four MLS Cup appearances, winning two of them, and has been named to the MLS Best XI three times.
Miguel Almiron: Almiron was a key player for Atlanta United during the team’s first two seasons in MLS. He helped lead the team to the MLS Cup in 2018 and was named to the MLS Best XI that same year. He was later sold to Newcastle United for a club-record fee.
Carlos Vela: Vela has been a star player for Los Angeles FC since joining the team in 2018. He was named the league’s MVP in 2019 after scoring a record-breaking 34 goals in 31 appearances.
Josef Martinez: Martinez has been a prolific scorer for Atlanta United since joining the team in 2017. He helped lead the team to the MLS Cup in his first season and was named the league’s MVP that same year. He has scored 77 goals in 84 appearances for the club.
Designated Player signings that turned out to be a disappointment
While there have been many successful Designated Player signings in MLS history, there have also been some that turned out to be disappointments due to a lack of effort or commitment. Injuries and other factors also play a role in a player’s lack of success in MLS.
Some examples of the worst Designated Player signings in MLS history were:
Frank Lampard: Lampard joined New York City FC in 2015 but struggled with injuries and only played 29 games for the club over two seasons. He was criticized for his lack of commitment to the team and was ultimately released in 2017.
Denilson: Denilson joined FC Dallas in 2007 but only played 7 games for the club before being released. He was criticized for his lack of effort and commitment to the team.
Rafa Marquez: Marquez joined the New York Red Bulls in 2010 but struggled with injuries and disciplinary issues during his time with the club. He was eventually traded to Club Leon in 2013.
Ruud Gullit: Gullit was named head coach of the LA Galaxy in 2007 and also served as a player for the team. However, he only played one game for the club and was criticized for his lack of commitment to the team. He was eventually fired as head coach after just six months on the job.
Nery Castillo: Castillo joined the Chicago Fire in 2010 but only played 8 games for the club before being released. He was criticized for his lack of effort and commitment to the team.
Frank Rost: Rost joined the New York Red Bulls in 2011 but only played 7 games for the club before retiring. He was criticized for his lack of fitness and commitment to the team.
