MLS Players Shine for Club and Country

Thiago Almada - Argentina - Atlanta United - Midfielder

It has to be Thiago Almada this year.  The young sensation from Atlanta is taking the MLS by storm proving he once again deserved the call up to Argentina.  Almada was apart of the World Cup winning side from Argentina at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, cementing himself as the first active MLS player to lift the trophy.  Argentina's midfield is stacked with talent with the likes of Lionel Messi (PSG), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético de Madrid), Leandro Paredes (Juventus), and Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal).  For many 21 year old footballers, being on this roster is a massive accomplishment, and for good reason.  But Thiago Almada had his sights higher.

In last Thursday's friendly against Panama, Almada got his shot and was subbed into the game at half time.  It was a scoreless draw at this point.  Then came the Lionel Messi free kick in the 78th minute.  Messi looked to hit the ball well but it hit the crossbar, leaving the ball in the box for the Argentina forwards to pounce.  Paredes and Almada both beat the Panama defenders to the ball and Almada scored his first senior international goal.  Almada ended the game with 1 goal, 1 key pass and a 90% pass accuracy.  The sky really seems like the limit for the young MLS Star.

Karol Świderski - Poland - Charlotte FC - Forward

Karol Świderski featured in two matches for Poland in the UEFA European Qualifiers.  Świderski was brough on as a sub at half time against Czechia.  Poland were down 2-0 when he came on the pitch after half time but Świderski still put in a solid performance, dishing out 2 key passes and wining the majority of his duels.  After this performance, Świderski got the start against Albania.  Leading the line along side FC Barcelona striker, Robert Lewandowski, is not a bad place to be as a footballer.  How about scoring the teams only goal along side Robert Lewandowski.

Very similar to Almada's goal, Karol Świderski scored just after a free kick.  The original free kick was defended out of the box but the second attempt came off the post.  There sat an eager Świderski who beat the defenders to the ball and tucked it in under the goalie.  With the touch and instinct of the goal, you would be right to think it was Lewandowski, but no.  It was in fact Charlotte FC's main man.  Scoring goals in a European Qualifier alongside some of the worlds best, Karol Świderski everybody.

Jonathan Osorio - Canada - Toronto FC - Midfielder

When you think of Canada's National Team, you think of Alphonso Davies, one of the best left backs in the world, or Jonathan David, who's in the golden boot race in France with the likes of Kylian Mbappé, or Stephen Eustáquio, who bosses the midfield for Porto.  Canada has a good thing going right now and a big part of that is there MLS contingency.  Richie Laryea, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ayo Akinola, and Jonathan Osorio all got the call off this Toronto FC team.  Laryea had a good showing with two assists and linking up with Larin and David up front regularly but the midfielder, Jonathan Osorio, was the one who sealed the deal for Canada against Honduras.  

In Canada's first game on home soil since the World Cup, they had the chance for a "win and your in" to the CONCACAF Nation League's semi finals.  They took home advantage and ran with it.  Canada controlled the game from start to finish as Cyle Larin scored two early goals.  In the late minutes of the game, Jonathan Osorio had a great give and go with Ayo Akinola to break through the Honduran back line and score the teams fourth of the game.  Osorio also played a full 90 in the game against Curaçao where the Canadians won 2-0.

Josef Martínez - Venezuela - Inter Miami - Forward

Josef Martínez and scoring goals go hand in hand.  The former Landon Donavon MVP got the call for Venezuela recently where they played two friendlies against 2022 World Cup attendant Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.  Martínez started the game against Saudi Arabia along side forward Salomón Rondón.  The two had an incredible fast break link up where Martínez fed a through ball to Rondón, and then Rondón put a ball over the defender to a driving Martínez who put the ball in the back of the net.  Inter Miami could use Martínez scoring these kind of goals every matchday, maybe this break will be his catalyst.

Victor Pálsson - Iceland - DC United - Defense

Iceland opened up their European Qualifying campaign with a 3-0 loss to Bosnia & Herzegovina where Pálsson had an okay game winning duels and moving the ball.  Pálsson really stood out in Iceland's 7-0 walk over of Liechtenstein.  The whole team will look good in a game like that but Pálsson had 2 tackles, 2 shots on target, won almost all his duels and had a 93.6 pass accuracy with 90 touches.  Not a bad day for the DC United Defender.