The Top 25 Youngest MLS Players

Also see: Top 25 Oldest MLS Players Top 25 Oldest MLS Debuts EDIT 4/8/2009: In yesterday's Open Cup qualifier, Tristan Bowen made his Galaxy debut. He became the first academy player to play for an MLS club, and he also barely made the top 25 in the overall category. He enters at #24 and knocks Rodrigo Lopez off the list. I expect I'll need to update this again shortly once he gets into a regular season game. EDIT 3/29/2009: Last night, Danny Cruz became the Houston Dynamo's youngest ever player. Previously the record was held by Stuart Holden. EDIT 3/24/2009: No new debuts, but I did correct an error. I'd previously listed Craig Capano's age as the same for both lists. I've put up a list of the youngest players for each team as well. EDIT 7/20/2008: Abdus Ibrahim has become the 8th youngest player ever at 16.91, knocking Nino Da Silva (18.27) off the list. With that change, the top 25 is now comprised solely of players making their debut in the Top 25 Youngest MLS Players - REGULAR SEASON ONLY Age Team Year 1 Adu, Freddy 14.84 DC 2004 2 Besagno, Nik 16.55 RSL 2005 3 Quaranta, Santino 16.57 DC 2001 4 Gaven, Eddie 16.64 NY 2003 5 Capano, Craig 16.82 CHI 2002 6 Convey, Bobby 16.83 DC 2000 7 Altidore, Jozy 16.84 NY 2006 8 Ibrahim, Fuad 16.91 TOR 2008 9 Sesay, Israel 17.02 LA 2007 10 Johnson, Eddie 17.11 DAL 2001 11 Szetela, Danny 17.17 CLB 2004 12 Gonzalez, Guillermo 17.46 LA 2003 13 Bradley, Michael 17.67 NY 2005 14 Mapp, Justin 17.76 DC 2002 15 Alvarez, Arturo 17.81 SJ 2003 16 Beasley, DaMarcus 17.82 CHI 2000 17 Gala, Gabe 17.92 TOR 2007 18 Flores, Jorge 17.98 CHV 2007 19 Barclay, Devin 18.00 TB 2001 20 Trembly, Seth 18.03 COL 2000 21 Kirk, Quavas 18.14 LA 2006 22 Shea, Brek 18.14 DAL 2008 23 Ward, Tim 18.15 NY 2005 24 Beckerman, Kyle 18.23 MIA 2000 25 Lopez, Rodrigo 18.26 CHV 2005 Certainly, Adu's record is one that probably will never be broken. You can see the history of the youngest player title by clicking the link. Top 25 Youngest MLS Players - ALL COMPETITIONS Age Team Year 1 Adu, Freddy 14.84 DC 2004 2 Quaranta, Santino 16.47 DC 2001 3 Besagno, Nik 16.55 RSL 2005 4 Gaven, Eddie 16.64 NY 2003 5 Capano, Craig 16.69 CHI 2002 6 Altidore, Jozy 16.79 NY 2006 7 Convey, Bobby 16.83 DC 2000 8 Ibrahim, Fuad 16.91 TOR 2008 9 Sesay, Israel 17.02 LA 2007 10 Johnson, Eddie 17.11 DAL 2001 11 Szetela, Danny 17.17 CLB 2004 12 Gonzalez, Guillermo 17.46 LA 2003 13 Bradley, Michael 17.67 NY 2005 14 Alvarez, Arturo 17.71 SJ 2003 15 Mapp, Justin 17.76 DC 2002 16 Beasley, DaMarcus 17.82 CHI 2000 17 Gala, Gabe 17.92 TOR 2007 18 Flores, Jorge 17.98 CHV 2007 19 Barclay, Devin 18.00 TB 2001 20 Trembly, Seth 18.03 COL 2000 21 Kirk, Quavas 18.14 LA 2006 22 Shea, Brek 18.14 DAL 2008 23 Ward, Tim 18.15 NY 2005 24 Bowen, Tristan 18.18 LA 2009 25 Beckerman, Kyle 18.23 MIA 2000 Players in red have a different overall debut age compared to their MLS debut age. Youngest Player for Each Team CHI Capano, Craig CHV Flores, Jorge CLB Szetela, Danny COL Trembly, Seth DAL Johnson, Eddie DC Adu, Freddy HOU Cruz, Danny KC Da Silva, Nino LA Sesay, Israel MIA Beckerman, Kyle NE Manzonelli, Brandon* NY Gaven, Eddie RSL Besagno, Nik SEA Nyassi, Sanna SJ Alvarez, Arturo TB Barclay, Devin TOR Ibrahim, Fuad * Manzonelli is the youngest for all competitions. For regular season action, it's Sainey Nyassi.