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 /
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Mar 18, 2017; Frisco, TX, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal (19) in action against the New England Revolution during the game at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas defeats New England Revolution 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Frisco, TX, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal (19) in action against the New England Revolution during the game at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas defeats New England Revolution 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

FC Dallas: Paxton Pomykal

The previous three teams gave us a very easy job in picking their best U-20 player, given that there’s only been one on each. FCD have six (six!) to go along with four 21-year-olds and two 22-year-olds. They’re pretty much the perfect model for MLS teams in terms of developing, signing and playing their young guys.

16-year-old Jesus Ferreira scored a goal in his MLS debut against Real Salt Lake. 15-year-old (yes, he’s 15) Brian Reynolds was signed last November. 17-year-old GA draft pick Adonijah Reid is in the mix. 19-yea- old Reggie Cannon is getting consistent time at right-back this season. 20-year-old attacker Coy Craft — who seems like an elder statesman compared to his younger teammates —  made his MLS debut at 17.

Paxton Pomykal, at 17, could very well be the best of them. He already has two MLS appearances as an attacking midfielder, plus an opportunity in the CONCACAF Champions League and in the U.S. Open Cup. If not for an untimely injury, he could have been playing in the U-20 World Cup for the U.S.

He’s just another example of Dallas’s ability to bring young players up from the local Dallas area and make them into solid pros. They’ve done it with Kellyn Acosta and Victor Ulloa and Jesse Gonzalez and Fabian Castillo and many more, and now the next generation is starting to come to the forefront, led by Pomykal. Oscar Pareja will continue to play them, and FCD will continue to be a model MLS franchise.

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