Was Zlatan's fairy-tale showing the best star debut in MLS history?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's fairy-tale debut may have captured headlines from around the world - while also securing three points in the LA Galaxy's 4-3 comeback win over new "El Trafico" derby rival Los Angeles FC - but was it the best debut for a star signing in Major League Soccer history?

Few star debuts followed the script quite like the 36-year-old Swedish striker's, who came off the bench and scored a 40-yard screamer just five minutes into his MLS career, before scoring the game-winner at the death.

Who else could challenge Zlatan's legendary start? Let's take a look:

Bastian Schweinsteiger

The Chicago Fire struggled in turmoil for two seasons before the club finally put the pieces together and signed many a new face, including its crown jewel, Bastian Schweinsteiger. Though his debut was prefaced with the impossible task of getting Chicago to qualify for the World Cup, the former Bayern Munich midfield enforcer still made his presence felt right away, scoring the opening goal in a 2-2 draw with the Montreal Impact. While it wasn't as jaw-dropping as Zlatan's, Schweinsteiger's start also heralded in renewed hopes for the team's supporters, a promise the German continues to deliver on today.

Kaka

In 2015, MLS welcomed two new franchises into the league, with Orlando City and New York City FC kicking off their expansion seasons against one another at the Citrus Bowl. Both sides were led by big-name talents, with David Villa captaining NYCFC against the Lions' Brazilian icon, Kaka. While Villa got an assist on Mix Diskerud's 76th-minute opener, it was former AC Milan and Real Madrid legend Kaka who stole the show, scoring a fortuitous free-kick in the 91st minute - Orlando's first goal in MLS - to steal a point in this 1-1 draw.

Steven Gerrard

LA Galaxy stars have a rich history of strong starts, with Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos, and David Beckham each enjoying memorable debuts during their time with the club. But the most effective debut was Steven Gerrard's. The former Liverpool captain kicked off his Galaxy stay with a goal and an assist, and helped on a third as his side defeated the San Jose Earthquake 5-2 in another local rivalry, the California Clasico. While he eventually grew wary and retired, his first match was vintage stuff.

Didier Drogba

Okay, so this wasn't technically his debut, as the former Chelsea striker first made a short appearance in a 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union. But Didier Drogba didn't let a subdued cameo get in the way of a superb showing on his first MLS start, scoring a perfect hat-trick - one with each foot and a third with his head - to down Chicago in a 4-3 win away from home. He remains the first and only player to score a hat-trick in his first MLS start, and went on to add 19 more to his tally with the Montreal Impact before leaving the team in 2016.

Jermain Defoe

Before Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore swapped goals like trading cards for Toronto FC, the Reds' forward line was manned by former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe. Heralded as a "Bloody Big Deal" from day one in a concerted marketing effort to revitalize the reputation of a perennial league struggler, the Reds' fervent supporters did not have to wait long to see the payoff of Toronto's foreign exploits. Defoe made short work of the Seattle Sounders on his debut by scoring both goals in the space of 24 minutes in a 2-1 win away from home.

While you're here, check out Zlatan's goal again.