LA Galaxy's signing of David Beckham in 2007 revolutionized Major League Soccer, helping draw more eyeballs to North American football than ever before.
The English superstar paved the way for a generation of high-profile players to join MLS but none have quite matched "Goldenballs'" star pulling power.
Until now.
Javier Hernandez, known across the world as Chicharito, has the potential to make an even bigger impact than Beckham, not only for the Galaxy, but for the league as a whole.
The club reportedly paid $10 million for his services -- a huge transfer fee by MLS standards -- and will make him the highest paid player in the league on an annual salary reported to be in the region of $6 million.
But the payoff of signing Hernandez could be far greater than any fee or wages LA Galaxy spend on the Mexican superstar.
The 31-year-old is Mexico's all-time leading goalscorer and arguably the nation's greatest ever player, adored and idolized like few before him.
"Chicharito is an outstanding player," Mexican Football Federation president Yon de Luisa told CNN.
"He's the Mexican national team's leading scorer historically and I am sure he is going to have an outstanding participation here in LA.
"He's going to develop a magnificent rivalry against Carlos Vela, who is his friend, and they will be playing head-to-head in this civil war in LA," added De Luisa, referring to Hernandez's Mexican international teammate who plays for rival Los Angeles FC.
"I really think it's going to be a good thing for the city, for MLS and for us as well to have Chicharito closer to the national team."
Javier Hernandez is Mexico's all-time leading goalscorer and one of its greatest ever players.
image credit: getty
