The former MLS stars shining elsewhere at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | OneFootball

While MLS teams have yet to break through, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is proving fertile ground for players with roots in the league. Here's how some of them are performing.

Sebastian Driussi

Driussi enjoyed a sensational first full season with Austin FC in 2022, in which he helped The Verdes vastly exceed expectations by finishing second in the Western Conference regular season table and reaching the West final. And with his 22-goal season, he finished second in MLS MVP voting to Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar. But Driussi couldn't maintain that production while the team as a whole regressed in its two subsequent campaigns under Josh Wolff.

With new faces at technical director and manager, Austin sold Driussi to River Plate in January, and he's become a focal point for the Argentine giants, who feature several other former MLS players, including former Atlanta charges Pity Martinez and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. And on Tuesday, Driussi scored what proved to be the winning goal in River's 3-1 win over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.

Luiz Araujo

The Brazilian attacking midfielder spent portions of three seasons at Atlanta United after being a solid contributor to Lille's 2020-2021 Ligue 1 championship side. But he never quite delivered on the expectations for the Five Stripes during what was admittedly a disjointed era all around.

Atlanta eventually found a buyer in Flamengo in May of 2023, and since then Araujo's production has stayed more or less the same as it was in MLS and in Ligue 1, which is a bit odd given the three leagues are on somewhat different tiers. But on Monday night in Philadelphia, he scored a hugely important second goal in a 2-0 win over Esperance de Tunis, sealing the first win by a team from the Americas in the 2025 tournament.

Facundo Torres

Facundo Torres began his pro career at Peñarol, breaking into the first team in August 2020 and quickly making an impact with 10 goals in his debut season.  He moved to MLS in January 2022 as Orlando City’s record signing, becoming club captain and its all-time leading scorer with 47 goals and 25 assists in 123 appearances, including a U.S. Open Cup win in 2022.

In December 2024, Torres transferred to Palmeiras for a club‑record fee, signing through 2029. He debuted in January 2025 and scored his first Série A goal in April. He was an unused substitute during Palmeiras' first Club World Cup match, a promising 0-0 draw.

Weston McKennie

Weston McKennie began his journey at the FC Dallas academy, where his athleticism and versatility quickly stood out. Rather than signing a homegrown deal, he took a bold step by joining Schalke 04 in Germany in 2016. His dynamic performances earned him a move to Juventus, where he has become a reliable midfield presence known for his work rate and tactical intelligence. In Europe, he has developed into a well-rounded player, regularly featuring in Serie A and European competitions. For the U.S. men’s national team, McKennie remains a vital leader, contributing key goals and experience in midfield.

McKennie and Juventus are still awaiting their first match. It comes Wednesday against Al-Ain in Washington, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

Juventus v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 | Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages

Tim Weah

Let us not forget World Player of the Year George Weah’s son, Tim Weah. Weah began his career in MLS’s development system, joining the New York Red Bulls academy in 2013 before moving to Paris Saint-Germain's youth setup in 2014. He made his professional debut with PSG in 2018, winning Ligue 1 twice and the Trophée des Champions. He has since played at Celtic, Lille (where he won another Ligue 1 title), and now Juventus.

Weah has settled into a versatile role as winger and occasional right‑back, scoring key goals (including in a 2‑0 win against Milan) and lifting the Coppa Italia. Internationally, he’s earned 44 caps for the U.S., netting seven goals, and remains an essential contributor to the national side. Weah has scored five goals and two assists in a 30-game contribution in the recently concluded Serie and is looking to light up the stage on home soil in the CWC.