Breakout Youth Player in MLS / USL 2025

Owen Wolff would be the lock were he born 2 days later.

 

Was there one?

 

Breakouts? Alex Freeman is the big one as he took the starting RB job and was arguably the best RB this year in MLS (competition is Andy Najar) and he or Obed Vargas are gonna win young player of the year.

Owen Wolff has taken a step that I don't think anybody really expected to in becoming Austin's best player.

Luca Bambino and Tate Johnson became locked in starters for 2 of the best teams in the west.

I'd consider Beau Leroux as a breakout at San Jose.

I'd also say players like Darren Yappi, Frankie Westfield (could argue is a breakout but he rotates at RB depending on opponent), Andrew Rick, Brooklyn Raines, Sergio Oregal, Johnny Shore, and Jacob Bartlett are trending in right direction.

You also have Chris Brady and Peyton Miller trending in the right direction with Miller likely moving to Europe this winter.

 

Somehow forgot about Freeman. He would be the breakout.

 

Love Freeman but he's a few months too old for this thread.

It's Ben Cremaschi. He didn't play as much this year in MLS but otherwise he won the U20 WC Golden Boot, was played twice by Poch and was loaned to Parma where he's recently debuted. He is currently the youngest player to get a start on the USMNT. The thing is, he's not a true "breakout" in MLS. He's been getting a lot of minutes for a few years now.

Otherwise, Raines, Bombino or Peyton Miller have had breakout years. Bombino probably gets the nod because he is in the best team and still in the playoffs. I personally prefer Raines. He has a big future.

 

It's an interesting case study to me on how opportunities affect our perception of players. Bombino is a starter for a good MLS team, and from the limited amount I've seen has looked pretty good in the MLS this season. Then he goes off to the U20 WC, and plays almost no minutes in meaningful games, stuck behind Nolan Norris, who has gotten only rotation minutes for Dallas this season. Not that we should read too much into any of that, but... it is interesting.

 

Though did just win MLS young player of the year

First MLS All-Star Appearance ✅
First @USMNT call-up ✅
MLS Young Player of the Year ✅

A true breakout season for Alex Freeman! 👏 pic.twitter.com/6kuy3twGwC

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 30, 2025

 

He wouldn't be eligible according to our older award definition of a "youth player" as he's no longer eligible for youth teams. His youth eligibility ended with the 2024 Olympic cycle.

........................but hell, he did have a breakout. So whatever, semantics.

The nature of his breakout can be measured by the fact that he wasn't selected for the 2024 Olympic team. If I remember correctly we only took one natural right back to that event, and it was Harriel. If we had a second one it would have Bryan Reynolds, but he wasn't released by Westerlo.

The only capped USMNTer eligible for the 2028 Olympics is Cremaschi. [Bajraktarevic would have been if he'd stayed in the pool.] Kochen and Banks have callups but are as yet uncapped.

 

Good for him!

Did yall know his dad was an NFL player? It’s true! He even won a Super Bowl!

 

I think the threshold for the MLS award is you have to be under 22.

 

U17s begin the World Cup with a win over Burkina Faso. Goal by Cavan Sullivan of the Union, who came on as a sub. A right place, right time kind of goal. Already in a good position to advance.

All three points to begin the #U17WC! ✨ pic.twitter.com/FCf6mOTzQn

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) November 5, 2025

Sensational touch. Superb finish.

Cavan Sullivan gives us the late lead! #U17WCpic.twitter.com/BM0cFsQM9m

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) November 5, 2025

 

By the way, here was the starting XI for the match.

Aidan Stokes, NYRB
Gio Villa, RSL
Chris Cupps, Chicago Fire
Pedro Guimaraes, Orange County
Ramiz Hamouda, Birmingham Legion
Jude Terry, LAFC
Nimfasha Berchimas, Charlotte
Maxi Carrizo, NYCFC
Cooper Sanchez, Atlanta United
Julian Hall, NYRB
Mathis Albert, Dortmund

 

Congrats to NYRBII for winning the MLS Next Pro title last night!

Coach of NYRBII? Michael Bradley.

There hasn't been anything more predictable in US Soccer over the last decade than Michael Bradley becoming a successful manager. I was watching a press conference with him in the run-up to this match, and he literally has every single mannerism of a coach down. It's like he's been training for it his whole life.

 

We have a U21 camp in this window. This is the first preparation camp for the 2028 Olympic cycle. Pretty strong roster for this camp. They'll play Denmark U21 on Nov. 13th and Serbia U21 on Nov. 18th. No mention, as far as I can tell, of who the coach will be.

 

Nice to see an early start.

 

US U17s win their last group game 1-0 over the Czech Republic.
Win their group on 9 points and advance to the knockouts.

Haiti, HOnduras, Panama, El Salvador, and Costa Rica all eliminated. LOL. Mexico isn't officially eliminated, but hanging on to a slim hope.

It sure is looking like the US and Canada are the only advancers.

MATHIS ALBERT WITH AUTHORITY 😤pic.twitter.com/h7wPabiiTT

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) November 11, 2025

 

By the way.............................I said above that Mexico was hanging on to slim hopes.

They got their dream scenario! Made it thru as the last 3rd-place team after Saudi Arabia conceded two late goals against Mali.

So US, Mexico, and Canada all through.

 

The US make it through comfortably but now face Morocco. It doesn't look like this Morocco is as good as other Morocco teams but you know how it is after getting bounced so many times in the last couple of years. At least we're not Mexico who once again face a strong Argentina side.

 

I actually kind of giggled seeing we seem to be playing our new nemesis even if this U17 version doesn't seem to be at the level of he others and then seeing Mexico draw their all time tournament nemesis.

 

Jude Terry of LAFC opens the scoring for the U17s against Morocco. Nice play from Cavan Sullivan down the left. 1-0 at the half.

THE OPENER FOR THE @USYNT 🇺🇸

JUDE TERRY FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET FIRST 🔥 pic.twitter.com/y1Ft6i5Eza

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 14, 2025

 

jesus that work from Cavan on the flank......

We got a good one on our hands ladies and gents.

 

HE was MOTM in our first three games.

The boys are hanging on right now deep into the 2nd half.

................Mexico actually went thru over Argentina!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On penalties.

 

Aaaaaaand we lose to Morocco , as is custom and tradition

but Cavan is a boy that is a man amongst boys

 

That wasn't a strong Morocco team.

 

We should have beat them. Missed a penalty to make it 2-0 and then gave up a goal in the 88th minute. I think that Morocco goal was tired legs. We had three days rest and Morocco had 5.