FRISCO - Major League Soccer fans get to decide who will take on UEFA Champions League Winners Real Madrid in the MLS All-Star game.
Why should FC Dallas’ Ecuadorian international Carlos Gruezo get your vote? Here’s five reasons why.
1. World Cup Veteran
Gruezo was one of the youngest players at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He made Ecuador’s World Cup squad when he was just 19-years-old. He was the second-youngest player to start a match in Brazil.
2. Dimes
Despite a defensive role in Oscar Pareja’s midfield, Gruezo has provided a few assists in his time at FC Dallas. With two assists in as many years for FC Dallas, you never know when the pacey Ecuadorian might get forward and provide the crucial pass. He can even score, picking up a goal in CONCACAF Champions League group play in late 2016. Maybe he can do the same against Los Blancos?
3. Bundesliga Expirence
Prior to his move to MLS, Gruezo was playing his club soccer in one of the top leagues in the world. Gruezo spent two years at VfB Stuttgart in the German first-division in which he appeared 18 times. He became the first Ecuadorian to score in the Bundesliga when he netted in a Stuttgart 4-1 victory over Freiburg. Top league experience makes Gruezo a perfect candidate to start against the La Liga giants.
4. Crucial Member
Whether he is paired with U.S. international Kellyn Acosta or homegrown Victor Ulloa in the middle of FC Dallas’ midfield, Gruezo is a key cog in the middle of the park for FC Dallas. He has also been smart in his defense. Gruezo has just 13 yellow cards in 41 MLS appearances. But he did have to learn about MLS. Gruezo picked up five yellow cards over a five-match span in his early days of MLS. He quickly learned what he had to do to survive MLS play.
5. Young
While Gruezo has a résumé that most players have to work a full career to achieve, he has accomplished everything he has by the age of 22. The future is bright for the Ecuadorian, and you can let him strut his stuff against Real Madrid.
The MLS All-Star game is set for Soldier Field in Chicago on August 2 at 8 p.m.
