CARSON, Calif. – Red-hot LA Galaxy striker Gyasi Zardes was ranked fourth in annual MLSsoccer.com’s annual “24 Under 24,” presented by adidas, rankings on Thursday.
The 23-year-old striker from Hawthorne finished fourth behind FC Dallas midfielder Fabian Castillo, Chivas USA forward Erick “Cubo” Torres, and winner Seattle Sounders FC defender DeAndre Yedlin.
Zardes jumps a total of three spaces from 2014, when he finished seventh in the rankings, and holds the highest placement for a Galaxy player since defender Omar Gonzalez was ranked second in the 2010 edition.
Although to be named to the top five is an accomplishment, Zardes’ placement in the fourth position is certainly up for debate.
The Galaxy Homegrown forward is currently fourth in the league’s goal scoring chart with 15 goals, which leads all American-born players in MLS. Zardes’ goal output has also set a record for the highest single-season total by an MLS Homegrown Player in league history.
Zardes’ goal numbers far outpace the likes of Yedlin (zero goals) and Castillo (nine goals) while Torres comes in at just one goal fewer than the LA striker. However, where Zardes can be argued to have the edge over the Chivas USA forward is in the value of his goals to his team. During his breakout 2014 season, Zardes has scored six game-winning tallies for LA—two more than his total goal tally from last season—while Torres has just four winners on a moribund Rojiblancos side.
Despite being just one goal behind Zardes in the goal charts, Torres has been unable to find the back of the net since July 20. During that time, Zardes became one of the hottest strikers in MLS by notching nine of his 15 goals en route to his fourth place finish on the 24 Under 24 list.
Whereas last season, Zardes was joined by fellow Galaxy Academy product Jose Villarreal (No. 11 on the list), this year he was the only Galaxy player named to the “24 Under 24” shortlist which was produced by MLSsoccer.com staffers and select media. LA were one of three teams—Columbus Crew and Seattle being the others—with just one player on the overall short list.
While this scarcity of Galaxy prospects was evident in 2014, it’s unlikely to be duplicated next year. Steeled by successful campaigns with USL PRO affiliate LA Galaxy II, youth products Bradford Jamieson IV, Raul Mendiola as well as Villarreal are likely to be in the discussion for a place on the 24 Under 24 during the 2015 campaign.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
