FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA. —
Inter Miami midfielder Diego Gómez originally thought his club officials had summoned him for a photo and video shoot to promote the upcoming MLS playoffs.
It turned out that the team had a surprise that moved the Paraguayan to tears.
Gómez on Wednesday was named the top player on MLS’ annual “22 Under 22” list, a ranking of the league’s best young talents.
He learned the news last week, when managers made a video call so that his family in the rural community of Mburicaretá, Paraguay, would be in charge of notifying him.
“Thank you very much for your usual support, I love you very much,” the footballer told his relatives in tears.
The MLS Young Player of the Year award, a separate recognition, will be announced later this quarter, but the fact that Gomez is ranked first on the list of 22 indicates he is the favorite for the additional award.
The youngest player on the list is Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan, who was 14 earlier this season when he debuted for the club. He turned 15 at the end of September.
Through 18 MLS games this season with the team led by Lionel Messi, Gómez, 21, has three goals and seven assists.
Inter Miami has already obtained the Supporters’ Shield, a trophy awarded to the team with the most points in the regular season, and is consequently the first seed for the next playoffs. When Gómez has appeared in league matches, the team has achieved 13 wins and four draws, with only one defeat.
And when he plays for at least 75 minutes, the record is 11 wins, three draws and no setbacks.
“We are very proud of Diego for the tremendous growth he has shown since his arrival at the club, and we are happy to see his efforts pay off with this special recognition,” emphasized Chris Henderson, the team’s sporting director. “He is a game-changing player who makes everyone around him better. His dynamism, along with his effort, has been crucial to the team’s success, and we are excited to see all he will accomplish.
Gómez grew up on his parents’ farm in Paraguay, plowing the fields with oxen and feeding the cows with the sugar cane they grew. He kicked a makeshift ball for hours, and often had to travel long distances on foot or by bicycle to train with a team.
Now, he shares the field with players like Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
“He is an important player for us because of everything he gives us,” said Busquets.
The Argentine coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino also had glowing words for the Paraguayan.
“Diego has contributions to the team that are really very important,” he said. “Above all, he is a player with a lot of physical display, he is a footballer who is linked to the team’s offense, but I think he should be the player who recovers the most balls for us.”
Inter Miami led all teams by having five players on the 22 under 22 list, with three Argentines, Federico Redondo, (5th), Benjamín Cremaschi (at 19, the first teenager on the list) and Tomás Avilés (12th), and with the Honduran David Ruiz (21st).
Voting for the list was conducted by a panel of coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS Season Pass talent and select media.
