Los Angeles is not only home to a new MLS club -- it's also the new home of one of the sport's brightest stars.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic could make his American debut with the LA Galaxy on Saturday against expansion Los Angeles FC at StubHub Center.
The 36-year-old striker has starred with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Milan, and most recently Manchester United. Overall, he's scored nearly 500 goals for club and country.
Now, he's ready to be the next face of MLS in LA.
"Coming to play in the United States, it is only fitting for me to join the most successful team in Major League Soccer, the LA Galaxy," Ibrahimovic said in a statement after signing March 23. "I am excited to join a club with a winning legacy that has embodied soccer in Los Angeles for over 20 years."
The Galaxy (1-1-1) need Ibrahimovic's scoring ability. The club is coming off last Saturday's scoreless draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and has only three goals in three matches so far.
"Adding one of the finest goal scorers in this sport's history to our roster will tremendously help our club in the hunt for a sixth MLS Cup," Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said.
While LAFC (2-0-0) is based in nearby Carson, Calif., it's the road team for this contest. The first-year club is on a season-opening six-game swing while finishing touches are made to Banc of California Stadium.
LAFC is trying to join the 2009 Seattle Sounders as the only other MLS team to debut with three consecutive wins. After topping Seattle 1-0 in its first contest March 4, LAFC cruised to a 5-1 victory over Real Salt Lake six days later.
Diego Rossi scored in the opener before exploding for two goals and three assists against RSL. It marked the first time in a decade that a player in MLS collected five points in one match.
"His background and experience at (Uruguayan club) Penarol has given him a solid foundation," LAFC coach Bob Bradley recently told the Los Angeles Times. "Penarol is a club where you have to work every day. You learn from good examples."
This contest features two of the league's most successful coaches in Schmid and Bradley.
Schmid is the all-time leader with 231 wins with LA, Seattle and the Columbus Crew. Bradley ranks second among active coaches with 126 wins with the Chicago Fire, the MetroStars, Chivas USA and LAFC.
