Agudelo’s Debut, Career A Reminder Of Unrealistic USMNT Expectations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – MARCH 26: Juan Agudelo #9 of the USA reacts after scoring a tying goal in the second half against Argentina in a Soccer friendly on March 26, 2011 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)

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The American soccer community is so desperate for a men’s player to become an immediate star and impact player that it makes a big deal when a teenager grabs the spotlight for the very first time.

History is littered with many teenagers who did not always live up to the hype.

The first player that comes to mind is Freddy Adu, who signed with Major League Soccer and D.C. United as a 14-year-old prodigy in 2003. At the time, he was the youngest player in league history and hyped to high heaven by the league at the time.

Hailed by many as a younger version of Pele, Adu never lived up to those highfalutin expectations and wound up playing for 15 teams, home and abroad, before hanging up his cleats for good in 2021 at the age of 32. For the record, it should be noted that Adu made 17 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team while scoring twice. He also played for the USA at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

There have been many other teenagers in the U.S. soccer universe that have been embraced when they took their first professional steps over the past two decades.

We celebrate them as flavor of the week. Some flame out, others overcome injuries, some are with the wrong team or coaches, while others make a professional career out of their talent.

We put them on a pedestal and expect goals galore and miracles.

Not every player can become a star or superstar.

Agudelo’s incredible USMNT debut

Which brings us to San Antonio FC forward Juan Agudelo, who announced his retirement from soccer after a 16-year career at the age of 33 on Oct. 25, when the USL Championship season concludes.

Agudelo broke into the USMNT in 2010 with a flourish and a half. After playing only twice for the New York Red Bulls during the regular season/playoffs, the 17-year-old was named to the team for an international friendly in South Africa. He replaced Robbie Rogers in the 61st minute before making history in the 85th minute.

He fed Mix Diskerud, who played the ball back to the young forward, who drove the ball in off the underside of the crossbar with his right foot from seven yards in the 85th minute to boost the U.S to a 1-0 triumph. He became the 46th player in USMNT history to score in his debut.

“I’m speechless, I don’t know what to say,” said Agudelo, whose No. 17 uniform matched his age. “So many people are here, watching me, and I scored the goal. It’s an amazing feeling.

“I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to process it tonight. It’s definitely the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life, and I’m glad we got the win.”

Here is a video of the goal.

“We think that there is something there, and we’re excited to work with him,” U.S. head coach Bob Bradley said of Agudelo. “We also talk with him in a camp like this, so he understands what it’s like going forward. Because like all young pros, learning and doing things the right way is important, and they can’t get ahead of themselves. It’s a good start, and certainly an exciting night for him.”

At the time, Agudelo was 17 years, 359 days old, before he was eclipsed by Christian Pulisic (17 years, 259 days old) who tallied in a 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia on May 28, 2016.

Wait! There’s more.

In only his third international match, Agudelo connected his second international goal, the equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Argentina and Lionel Messi (then 23) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on March 26, 2011. Only 14 minutes after he replaced Jermaine Jones at half time, Agudelo found the net. Landon Donovan launched a 40-yard free kick into the penalty area that Carlos Bocanegra headed on net. Goalkeeper Mariano Andujar saved the shot at the left far post. Agudelo, however, was in the right place at the right time and put home the rebound from point-blank range.

A goal against Messi and company

A native of Manizales, Columbia who moved to Barnegat, New Jersey when he was child, Agudelo had scored more internationals goals (two) than professionally (one). But then again, he had played more games for the USMNT than for the Red Bulls (one), at the time.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I was really happy. I put my finger up, trying to say like, ‘Hey, I think I just scored. Guys, hold on, hold on. I’m trying to process it.’ I was really happy.”

While the South Africa goal was a breakthrough for Agudelo, this score was more special.

“Just because Argentina is probably one of the best teams in the world,” he told the San Jose Mercury News in 2008. “They have the best player in the world. Just for him to recognize me and now that I scored against him, it was pretty amazing.”

Messi, who tallied for Argentina, did not recognize Agudelo.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m good friends with Thierry Henry,’ ” Agudelo was quoted by the Associated Press. “I just wanted to introduce myself: Juan Agudelo.”

Remember the Alamodome

It should be noted that Agudelo scored his third and international goal in one of those famous “dos a cero” (2-0) victories against Mexico at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on April 15, 2015.

He told FrontRowSoccer.com that his experience “was a lot of fun.”

“It’s crazy to just put on that jersey and to be running around and hearing a whole nation on your back, wearing a beautiful jersey.”
Not surprisingly, big things were expected of Agudelo. But life doesn’t always work out that way in soccer.

A knee injury during Olympic qualifying quashed his dreams of helping the U.S. Under-23 team qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics. He didn’t get enough playing time with the Red Bulls under head coach Hans Backe, who had a reputation of using veterans over younger players. He asked for a trade and got it, as Agudelo was sent to Chivas USA in 2012, considered by many to be American soccer’s version of Devils Island back then.

“It was really frustrating,” Agudelo told his writer in 2015. “Other players, a special player like Thierry Henry telling me that I should be playing and things like that. That stuck to my head. In order for me to improve, [I had] to go somewhere to play, and unfortunately, I had to do what was the best for my career … although I held New York deeply in my heart.”

Agudelo went on to perform for New England (2013, 2015-19), Inter Miami FC (2020) and Minnesota United (2021) in Major League Soccer and also played for Birmingham in the USL Championship (2022-23).

“It’s a little unfair,” said Agudelo’s New England Revolution coach, Jay Heaps said about the expectations thrown on the shoulders of young players, told this writer in 2015. “But Juan had success with the national team. Juan was signed young with the New York Red Bulls Academy, so he obviously had some expectations placed on him. It’s important as a player to be able to separate yourself from that.

“The thing we try to ingrain in our guys is to really focus on the things that they can control. I think any time you get mixed up in what expectations are of what people wanting you to be, you’re going to get lost.”

Agudelo joined San Antonio, another Championship team, in 2024, and has scored nine goals in 49 appearances.

Entering San Antonio FC’s weekend action, the Colombia native has accrued 70 goals over 359 professional matches.

Like it or not, American soccer fans and even the media have fallen in love with promising attacking teenage players, while bringing along ridiculous expectations.

I get it. Many want to see them succeed at the highest level.

The amazing Sullivan brothers

The latest flavor of the week?

That seems to be the Sullivan brothers, midfielders Quinn and Cavan, who play for the Philadelphia Union.

Quinn, who made his MLS debut as a 17-year-old during the 2021 season, suffered a torn ACL in the team’s 6-0 victory over D.C. United on Sept. 20 and is out for the MLS Cup Playoffs. He recorded two goals and nine assists.

Cavan, who broke Adu’s record as the youngest player to compete in MLS at the age of 14 years and 293 days in the Union’s 5-1 win over the New England Revolution on July 17, 2024. He hasn’t had made much of an impact just yet. He has started one game and played 224 minutes over 14 games, the last two campaigns. He is on the U.S. roster for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in November.

The brothers have promising futures, but their stories remain to be written.

Success is relative

Success can be measured in so many different ways, whether it is being drafted by a professional team, making his or her debut, becoming a regular, being named to an all-star team, playing for a national team and performing or standing out in a World Cup.

Like it or not, teenagers face unrealistic expectations by a public who think they can perform like players in the EA simulation games, who play without emotions, outside influences or injuries or knocks.

Life doesn’t always work out that way.

Some retiring thoughts

When he announced his retirement last week, Agudelo stated:

“Futbol gave me everything I have today, including a beautiful family, amazing friends, unforgettable memories and lessons that shaped me as a man,” Agudelo said in a statement. “As I look at photos of my career, I think of the real moments that remind me of so many emotions: adversity, battles, sacrifices, tears, joy, passion, love, immaturity, and growth. I gave futbol my all for 15 beautiful years, and in return, it gave me more than I could ever ask for. I am forever grateful.”

Praise from his coach

San Antonio FC head coach Carlos Llamosa said in a club press release: “I want to congratulate Juan on an amazing and successful career. He accomplished incredible things in his time in the major leagues here in United States and overseas in Europe, as well as with our national team. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

On Saturday night, Nov. 1, Agudelo and San Antonio FC visit New Mexico United in a USL Championship Western Conference quarterfinals. If the Texas side wins, it will meet the winner of Sacramento Republic FC-Orange County SC quarterfinal next week. If the team loses, it will mark Agudelo’s final professional contest.

Juan Agudelo might not have lived up to our hopes and expectations, but he certainly has lived up to his.

Michael Lewis last week was selected by the United Soccer Coaches as the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award. Lewis, who will be honored at the organization’s convention in January, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @soccerwriter.