The 2020 MLS season was full of emotions; we lived certain things that changed the plans for everybody around the world and Major League Soccer wasn’t the exception. However, as time went by, the league found the right way to put together a season that ended up being terrific.
The Columbus Crew lifted the trophy a couple of weeks ago and now they’re the team to beat in the league. Moreover, we met some players that started demonstrating they are ready to do big things in this competition and overseas.
Having great young players is fundamental for any competition in the world and MLS is not the exception. We witnessed some players that showed their incredible talents week after week and now it’s time to discover who really shone for their teams in a very complex 2020 MLS season.
MLS reveals the best young players of the 2020 season
MLS shared a video of the best young players in the league, putting some interesting names there. Players from 16 are already making noise in the competition and the future looks very bright for them.
Brian Rodriguez - LAFC
Brian Rodriguez was very good for his side, Los Angeles FC. Even though they had two monsters in Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela, Rodriguez could find a place on the team and demonstrated his talent whenever he had the opportunity.
Cole Bassett - Colorado Rapids
Cole Bassett is one of the best young players in the league and this season he confirmed that. Colorado Rapids really found a gem with this guy and they’re ready to cash in on him while he keeps drawing attention with his performances.
Christian Torres - LAFC
This fella is just 16 years old and is already one of the best young players in the league. LAFC have the talent to find young players and Torres is another proof of that. This kid is expected to do big things and his team will surely help his development.
Caden Clark - New York Red Bulls
Clark didn’t play much for the Red Bulls but he did make an impression every time he stepped on the court. This guy has become a sensation in New York and the future is extremely bright for him.
Brenden Aaronson - Philadelphia Union
Brenden Aaronson is one of the players with the highest projection on this list. This season he played for the Philadelphia Union but at the turn of the year will go overseas to play with RB Leipzig, one of the most interesting and promising teams in Europe.
Daryl Dike - Orlando City
Dike was expected to be great before he entered the league. Orlando City picked him with the 5th overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and the young player didn’t disappoint. Orlando had a terrific season and this man contributed with goals.
Efrain Alvarez - LA Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy had a terrible season but one of the good things they showed was Efrain Alvarez, one of the best playmakers in the game right now. Part of a roster full of stars and marquee signings, Alvarez proved his value with good performances, although he couldn’t do much to help his side.
Gianluca Bosio - Sporting KC
Bosio, an Italian-American wonderkid, has been followed by scouts around the world for some time now. He’s only 18 years old and is already showing flashes of his quality on the pitch. This year he helped Sporting KC reach the top 3 of the Western Conference.
Ayo Akinola - Toronto FC
Akinola’s rise to stardom has been great. The striker has been a good addition to Toronto FC and his talents have taken him to represent USMNT recently. He’s part of the future of the national team as well as one of the players with the biggest projections in MLS.
Frankie Amaya - FC Cincinnati
Frankie Amaya is one of the most talented midfielders in the league right now and he doesn’t seem to be stopping his improvement in the near future. Amaya has also earned a call for USMNT and he’s part of the future of the team along with some other players on this list.
Griffin Yow - D.C. United
Griffin Yow instantly made an impact when he landed in MLS. Back in September, he announced his arrival to the league with an equalizer in the last minutes of a game between his D.C. United and Toronto FC. This kid hasn’t had the same attention as others on this list, but he has the talent and quality to be good in MLS.
Jesus Ferreira - FC Dallas
Jesus Ferreira has been a great player for FC Dallas for quite some time now. Every chance he’s gotten to show his talent, he has taken advantage of and that doesn’t seem to be changing in the future. He’s improved his level season after season and FC Dallas can’t be happier about it.
Cade Cowell - San Jose Earthquakes
This guy plays for a team with not so much attention around the States, but Cade Cowell has surely turned a lot of heads to him in recent times. The 17-year-old forward is seen as one of the most promising prospects in American soccer and even Barcelona have been linked with a move to the Quakes academy product.
Ricardo Pepi - FC Dallas
Ricardo Pepi is another good player from FC Dallas and the player is getting big praise for his performance with the Texas team. Even Italian giants Juventus have been linked with the striker, who finished a very good season with his side. Weston McKennie is already in Turin, so he could help a fellow American adapt to Italy.
Matias Pellegrini - Inter Miami
Inter Miami didn’t think twice to sign Argentine youngster Matias Pellegrini after the 20-year-old showed interesting things with Argentine side Estudiantes La Plata. This guy has a big projection and Inter can be very helpful for him and his development in the league.
Julian Araujo - LA Galaxy
Contrary to most players on this list, Julian Araujo is not a striker or attacking midfielder. This young man, in fact, is the one trying to stop the rest of the players on the list. A very talented defender, Araujo became a good thing for LA Galaxy while the rest of the team was just trying to find a good form without any success.
