Fire's Mexican star has been big hit with MLS fans

David Beckham this and David Beckham that.

The Englishman has been the talk of Major League Soccer since his arrival stateside last month, and now that his ankle is actually healthy enough for him to log productive minutes, the hype will only grow.

But what about the league's other major acquisition this year? You know, MLS' second-highest paid player, the one who might finally help the league capture the interest of this country's vast Latin American soccer audience.

In his short stint with the Chicago Fire, Cuauhtemoc Blanco has already proven himself to be a major commodity, both on the field and in the stands. The flamboyant Mexican international is slowly introducing MLS to a broader audience a la Beckham, and tonight Real Salt Lake gets to find out what all the fuss is about.

"He's proven to be a very good player in a very good league, and done very well internationally," said RSL midfielder Carey Talley. "He's definitely one of our main focuses. He definitely opens up the game for them and allows them to do what they do."

Blanco's popularity is unmatched among Mexican fans. The 34-year-old midfielder has played in two World Cups, but his legions of supporters stem from his days playing for Club America, one of the top three clubs in Mexico.

Like Beckham, Blanco joined his new team after the MLS all-star break because of other commitments. He was an immediate success, recording an assist and helping the Fire halt their six-game winless streak with a 3-0 win over Toronto in his debut.

"He's got a very high passing ability," said Real coach Jason Kreis. "It seems to me he can make very sharp passes when he's got a defender on him very tightly."

Neither Chicago nor RSL has played since Aug. 4, so both sides should be well rested for tonight's 7 o'clock kickoff at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Confidence is at an all-time high for RSL after its upset win over Houston two weeks ago.

"Everybody's looking forward to (today), especially with some of their high-profile players coming in," said Talley. "A few of us are licking our chops a little bit."

Chicago, which also signed Costa Rican international Paulo Wanchope three weeks ago, isn't the only club making a splash internationally.

This past week, Real signed the three Argentines who've been training with the club the past three weeks. Paperwork delays, however, mean that Javier Morales won't be available for selection in tonight's game.