FRISCO - It’s no surprise the youngest team in MLS is heavily represented among the annual 24 Under 24 list, with the face of the FC Dallas Homegrown movement coming in near the top of the list.
Kellyn Acosta (No. 2), Carlos Gruezo (No. 14) and Jesse Gonzalez (No. 20) are all back in the mix for a second straight season, with the USMNT breakout star, Acosta, continuing his climb from No. 14 two seasons ago to the second-best spot in 2017.
“It is a proud one for me. It just shows that I put a lot of work into it but a lot of credit goes to my teams mates as well,” Acosta said. “They have been pushing me each and every day to be competitive and obviously without them I wouldn’t have this accolade, so a lot of credit goes to them and the coaching staff for preparing me each and every week and helping me push myself to be better every year.”
The #YearOfKellyn has been well documented, beginning with a brace in the club’s very first competitive match of 2017 in CCL play, continuing with three MLS goals in the first two and a half months of the season, then hisfirst National Team tally in July, starting at Estadio Azteca in a World Cup Qualifier, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup and finally looking to lift another trophy with his hometown club before the year’s end.
Oh yeah, he just turned 22 years old in July.
“This year has definitely been a breakout year for me,” Acosta said. “From doing well in Champions League to being called up in the National Team playing center mid and getting some minutes there and obviously doing well here at FC Dallas [it's been a great year]...at the end of the day I am just trying to help the team.”
Acosta’s standard counterpart in the defensive midfield, Carlos Gruezo, assumes a less profiled role in the team, but has an ever-more crucial job keeping the defensive face in-tact. At 22 years old, the Young DP leads FCD in tackles with 49 through his first 26 games - good for 14th most in all of MLS. He might’ve slipped from No. 8 to No. 14 this year, but his importance to FC Dallas on the field is almost unmatched.
And then there’s Jesse Gonzalez, who has taken reins of the starter’s role in goal in 2017 and after signing a long-term contract extension in June, he’s the man of the future in net in Frisco.
Already with a career-best eight shutouts, 61 saves and eclipsing the 2,000-minute mark for the first time in his pro career.
“I think it is an honor to be in the 24 Under 24. It makes you think you are the future, the future of MLS or the future of soccer,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve grown a lot throughout the years, and hopefully, I keep growing.”
The Homegrown’s season has centered around amid-season switch to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team, earning his first senior team call-up for the knockout round of this summer’s Gold Cup, taking home the title with Dallas teammates Acosta and Matt Hedges.
As one of the youngest starting ‘keepers in MLS, Gonzalez endured a slight dip in production with the rest of the team, but has rebounded in recent weeks with two shutouts and a seven-save performance in three of his last four starts.
With a stable of youngsters waiting in the wings, it’s safe to say the future is bright in Dallas.
