Orlando City’s Alex Freeman Is Quickly Becoming One of MLS’s Brightest Young Stars

Alex Freeman has quickly found himself as one of the MLS’s youngest stars at the right back position. His impact on Orlando City has turned him into not just a potential star but a rising one.

Freeman has shown great potential this season after stepping up into the first team full-time. His talent has shone in the bright lights for Orlando City as one of the most promising young talents in the MLS.

Freeman is only 20 years old with less than a year of professional soccer under his belt, with what seems to be a limitless amount of potential.

The right back has shown flashes and big moments for his club and country. What fans are wondering is what his skillset is and how high his potential is.

Unique Skillset

Freeman was raised in an athletic house; his father, Antonio Freeman, won a Super Bowl in the late 90s with the Green Bay Packers. Alex may not be the football player Antonio imagined when raising him, but Alex did get the athletic gifts necessary to be a professional athlete.

Freeman has a unique and desired ability to bring the ball up from the back and create attacking chances in the box for his team. We have seen him play inverted as well on the national team; it isn’t his strong suit, as he excels playing on the outside, where he can stretch the field vertically.

Freeman’s crosses have become common for Orlando City fans as he delivers the ball with purpose in the box from distance after creating space from the defenders.

His skill set is similar to Jedi Robinson, who is one of the best players on the USMNT and was one of the best defenders in the Premier League this past season. Freeman stretches the field in a similar way to Robinson.

Freeman may not be at that level yet we have seen him have moments of brilliance that have made him one of, if not the most impressive, rookie in the MLS.

Limitless Ceiling

Freeman could very well be on his way to Europe in a few years if he continues to progress and develop at a consistent rate.

His skill set makes him an interesting prospect for teams in Europe and for the USMNT coaching staff, which has already made him a starter in the Gold Cup. They showed their belief in him when giving him a new rule to master in his position.

Freeman likes to push the ball up the field for his club, but for the USMNT, they need him to sit back and defend more often than not. This hasn’t kept him involved in the game as much as he desired.

His willingness to adjust his style of play has him projected to make the World Cup team next year as the first Fullback off the bench behind two proven defenders.

For his Club, he can be in a top-five league in Europe, playing for a middle-of-the-pack team be a major contributor. Freeman’s career is only at the beginning, we can predict whatever we like, but only time will tell how high he will go.