Original challenge concept · FM27 setup not yet tested. Goals and house rules below are our suggestions, not the club’s real-world targets.
THE REASON TO CARE
LA Galaxy: the mls star challenge
LA Galaxy’s signing announcement contracted Reus through the end of the 2026 MLS season. Inter Miami has announced Messi’s extension through 2028. This is a time-sensitive star challenge: use an available start date with Reus still at Galaxy, or negotiate a normal extension if possible. A later FM27 start may require adapting the story rather than assuming he is still there.
Your opening moves
- Check the save date and Reus’ contract before starting. Decide whether you can build the story around him or need a successor plan.
- Learn the roster and budget rules implemented in the game before recruiting. Build a legal, balanced team around the star rather than collecting names.
- Protect your creator’s fitness and recruit runners who make his passing useful. Build an alternative route to chances for matches he cannot start.
Give the save its own rules.
- No editor contract extension or forced transfer to make the premise work.
- Keep every signing within the roster and registration rules shown in your save.
- Treat a direct meeting with Miami as a bonus objective only if the schedule or a knockout draw provides it.
A career worth following
- First: reach the playoffs with Reus playing a meaningful role if he is available.
- Next: finish further than Miami in the MLS Cup playoffs.
- Finish: win MLS Cup, then build a team that can stay competitive after the star leaves.
The trap to avoid
The story has a short runway. Confirm the starting date before committing to a career whose central player may already have left.
Check before you start
Confirm the club’s division, player availability, finances, competition rules, and database version. Keep an untouched opening save. If your database differs from the premise, adapt the challenge and record the change rather than quietly editing the game world.
The real-world inspiration
Sources reviewed 27 October 2026. These support the football context; the challenge rules, goals, and difficulty label are Touchline’s editorial choices.
Read SI’s announced FM27 features ↗