Fansided

Every MLS teams’ best player aged 20 or under

By Harrison Hamm

May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 20
Next
Jun 15, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew SC midfielder Cristian Martinez (18) dribbles the ball against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the first half during the Fourth Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew SC midfielder Cristian Martinez (18) dribbles the ball against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the first half during the Fourth Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Columbus Crew SC: Cristian Martinez

Not a whole lot to choose from in Columbus. Martinez is one of three 20 and under players on their roster, along with midfielder Ben Swanson — who’s out for the season, again — and 20-year-old Abuchi Obinwa, who’s playing on loan in Pittsburgh and has yet to make an MLS appearance.

The Panamanian Martinez is the best option here. Martinez was born and raised in Panama City, playing for local side Chorrillo from the age of 15 until 19, when, in 2016, he was loaned to the Crew. Columbus signed him to a permanent contract in the offseason. He made two starts and five total appearances last year, spending time on loan in the USL with the Riverhounds. This year, he’s spent all of his time in the USL, making zero first team appearances so far. FC Cincinnati currently have him on loan.

Martinez is a winger who can take defenders on one-on-one. He has two appearances with the full Panama national team, both in 2016 friendlies, and he was called to their squad last March during World Cup qualification.

Columbus are like D.C. United in that they’ve been able to defend their ability to acquire or develop youth talent due to their one major success in the area. D.C. have seen their first Homegrown signing, star keeper Bill Hamid, blossom into one of the best goalies in the league, while the Crew are able to boast Columbus-native and starting d-mid Wil Trapp, who captained the U.S. U-23s in Olympic qualification last year.

They’ll get credit for Homegrown center-back Alex Crognale (who’s 22), but outside of him and Trapp (who was and is a major success), the Crew have been behind the MLS curve in cultivating their local market. In control of the entire state of Ohio’s Homegrown market, they have been too slow in bringing up young talent. Wil Trapps don’t grow on trees.

Home/MLS