Incredible goals by young talents are frequently accompanied by the phrase “remember the name,” and that’s the case here for 21-year-old FC Groningen winger Cyril Ngonge.
The Belgium youth international’s star has been steadily rising over the last few years, beginning with a successful loan spell with Jong PSV in the Dutch second division to engineer a move to the Eredivisie’s RKC Waalwijk for the 2020-21 campaign.
On Thursday night, the USWNT bossed South Korea around the pitch but couldn’t find a way through to score. The 0-0 draw ended a 22-game home winning streak that dated back to another draw with South Korea in 2019.
The 2021 Golden Boy finalists list was revealed on Friday and USMNT star Gio Reyna’s name is on the list. The Golden Boy is an annual award voted on by 30 different journalists to determine the best under-21 player in Europe.
The Golden Boy was created in 2003 and has been won by notable names like Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. An American has never won the award before.
Reyna is the third American in the last four years to make the cut as a finalist for the honor. Here are the players he will be competing with this year.
Like it or not, the fate of the USMNT is intrinsically linked with Major League Soccer. While there will always be players who jump straight to European football like Christian Pulisic, the U.S. men’s squad will always be comprised mostly of players who at some point in their careers have gone through the MLS ranks. For this reason, the league’s 22 Under 22 list of the best young MLS players is a road map for future USMNT success.
Real Salt Lake Academy's Axel Kei made his professional debut at age 13 on Friday night in Herriman, Utah.
The Ivory Coast-born striker was a second-half substitute for the USL Championship side Real Monarchs, entering in the 61st minute of a 0-0 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
At 13 years, nine months and nine days old, Kei is believed to be the youngest-ever player to make a professional appearance in American team sports.
UEFA Group B in FIFA World Cup qualifying continues to deliver after both Sweden and Greece secured victories on Saturday to put pressure on leader Spain with only three matchdays remaining.
Alphonso Davies is still a few weeks shy of his 21st birthday, but the he’s already a full-grown footballer on the pitch. A star in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich, he’s quickly become the most important player on Canada’s men’s national team. On Thursday, during his first trip to the famed Azteca Stadium, he set a Canadian record, becoming the team’s all-time assists leader in just his 26th cap.
Daryl Dike's header in the 97th minute lifted Orlando City SC to a thrilling 2-1 victory over D.C. United in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders on Saturday night at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
Dike's header from the center of the box beat D.C. United keeper Bill Hamid into the top right corner on an assist from Chris Mueller following a corner kick. It was Dike's seventh goal of the campaign.
The USMNT has another weapon in the making. Joe Scally is only 18 years old and has become a consistent and valuable starter for Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach. On Saturday Scally opened his Bundesliga scoring account against Wolfsburg in stoppage time to secure a 3-1 victory.
Gianluca Busio scored his first ever Serie A goal for Venezia on Friday with a 92nd-minute dagger to deny Cagliari its first win of the season. The Busio goal vs Cagliari wasn’t the prettiest, but hey, they all count the same.
GIANLUCA BUSIO SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON TO EQUALIZE FOR VENEZIA! pic.twitter.com/lBu9P7Wpwc