In a continuing trend across Major League Soccer, the League’s diversity – as determined by birthplace – continues to grow in 2019 with an MLS-record 73 countries being represented, the most of any professional soccer league in the world and more than any sports league in North America.
A total of eight countries are represented on Columbus Crew SC's roster, including three countries (excluding the U.S.) with at least two representatives, led by Ghana (4), Argentina (3), and Brazil (2).
This season, MLS features a record number of players from Argentina (30) and Brazil (20), while Columbus’ four Ghanaian players account for over 25 percent of League’s Ghanaian contingent.
| League (Year) | Total # of Players | Players Born Abroad (% born outside U.S./Canada) | Countries Represented | Average Age of All Players (in years) |
| MLS (2019) | 655 | 329 (49.77%) | 73 | 25.33 |
| MLB (2018) | 1379 | 381 (27.6%) | 28 | 28.7 |
| NHL (2017-18) | 985 | 270 (27.4%) | 23 | 27.19 |
| NBA (2017-18) | 540 | 103 (19.0%) | 49 | 26.85 |
| NFL (2018) | 2020 | 52 (2.6%) | 25 | 26.73 |
| Countries Represented by Birthplace | |
| MLS | 73 |
| English Premier League | 67 |
| Ligue 1 | 59 |
| La Liga | 57 |
| Bundesliga | 56 |
| Serie A | 54 |
| Liga MX | 19 |
Additionally, MLS welcomes the youngest class of newcomers in League history, as the 84 newcomers to the League (counting players with previous professional experience signed from international leagues and non-MLS affiliated USL clubs) maintain an average age of 24.98 years old. Overall, Columbus’ average age stands at 26 years old.
