Football
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MLS right choice for Galaxy's Giovani dos Santos - 'Matador' Hernandez

LA Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos made the right decision in playing Major League Soccer, said Mexico great Luis "Matador" Hernandez. 

Hernandez, who is Mexico's all-time leading scorer in World Cups and their fourth-highest goalscorer of all time, played for the Galaxy from 2000-2002 and has moved into the role of ambassador for MLS Sueno, a talent-search project.

Dos Santos, whose national team presence has been off and on over the past few years, has been named in coach Juan Carlos Osorio's initial 40-man squad for the Copa America this summer. 

"In Gio's case, I think his arrival at MLS has been positive, because it gives him continuity. Playing regularly is the best way to stay in form and that is something that sometimes he didn't have in Europe," Hernandez told ESPN Deportes.

Hernandez played with El Tri over seven years, scoring 35 goals in 85 appearances. Dos Santos hasn't featured yet for his national team under Osorio and hasn't played a game for Mexico since last summer's Gold Cup. He has played in two World Cups during his decade-long national team career, but the team's coaching carousel has limited his potential. 

The versatile 26-year-old from Monterrey began his pro career with Barcelona before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. He played three seasons on loan (Ipswich, Galatasaray and Racing Santander) before he was signed by Mallorca for a season and then Villarreal. During his two seasons with the Yellow Submarine, he scored 12 goals in 58 La Liga appearances.

"[MLS] is very competitive football," the 47-year-old former striker said. "The league is not as attractive as La Liga, Liga MX, Brazil or Argentina. But not all the players who come to MLS are successful. For many it is a struggle to adapt because it is difficult."

The Veracruz native recalled his own time in Los Angeles, where he played in 40 games and scored 15 goals. During his career, he also played for Liga MX clubs Cruz Azul, Queretaro, Monterrey, Necaxa, America, Veracruz, Chiapas and Lobos BUAP as well as Argentina club Boca Juniors.

"For me it was a great experience because no matter what league in the world you play in, football is fun. But it was a good point in my career. We made it to the final, I scored a goal and I left behind many friends," Hernandez said of the 2001 Copa MLS final, which LA Galaxy lost to San Jose, 2-1.

Hernandez is behind only Carlos Hermosillo, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Jared Borgetti (Mexico's leader with 46) in national team goalscoring. 

He said that MLS recognition continues to grow.

"Because of its solid infrastructure and good level of play, MLS is already above Central America and we have seen that in recent editions of CONCACAF Champions League," Hernandez said. "In Mexico, little by little, fans are starting to watch the [MLS] matches and that will help give the league more visibility and success."

Mexico is in Group C of the Copa America Centenario, alongside Jamaica, Uruguay and Venezuela. The squad opens its campaign against Uruguay in Phoenix on June 5. El Tri must trim the squad to 23 by May 20.

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