It’s time for the Freddy Adu comparisons to end, because Alphonso Davies, the Canada men’s national soccer team’s newest star, is the real deal.
Here Comes Alphonso Davies
After becoming a Canadian citizen and receiving his first senior call-up on June 6 and making his international debut as a 53rd minute substitute in Canada’s 2-1 win over Curaçao on June 13, when the 16-year-old was cap-tied on Friday against French Guiana in Canada’s 4-2 win to open the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC wunderkind scored a brace for his first two international goals.
And there we have it, Alphonso Davies' first goal with #CanMNT. 👊 pic.twitter.com/kxgsb0BJ4K
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) July 8, 2017
Although Dejan Jakovic of the New York Cosmos ended Canada’s long goalless drought at the Gold Cup, with their last goal in the competition coming on June 14, 2011, it was Davies who was the man of the match, as he became the youngest goal-scorer in Canadian men’s national team history, the youngest goal-scorer in Gold Cup history, and the first player born in the 21st century to score in a tournament of this calibre.
To those saying Davies needs to play more with #VWFC, he's appeared in 13 of 17 @MLS games, all four in the #CCL, and both in the #canChamp.
— Farhan Devji (@farhandevji) July 8, 2017
With his first goal in the 60th minute to put Canada up 3-0, it looked as if there was no stopping the red and white, but two quick goals from French Guiana in the 69th and 70th minutes put doubt into the mind of Canadian supporters.
Although new head coach, Octavio Zambrano, was forced into changing his keeper and it looked as if things were getting chaotic for Canada, Davies showed composure far beyond his age, as his second goal in the 85th minute ensured that the Canadians would be taking the full three points.
COMPOSURE. @AlphonsoDavies bags his second of the night. #CanMNT pic.twitter.com/BSr9ckmuVZ
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) July 8, 2017
The young star won praise from his teammates for both club and country. While Scott Arfield, who scored Canada’s second goal, called Davies “the most exciting kid that I’ve ever played with or seen with my own eyes,” fellow Canadian and Whitecap, David Edgar, who missed the Gold Cup through injury, took to Twitter to commend the 16-year-old.
Good head on his shoulders. Can see it in the smile in his face. Now let's just let him be 16 and enjoy his football and play with freedom🙌🏻 https://t.co/Uj0DeZmXhx
— David Edgar (@davidedgar141) July 8, 2017
Davies was one of three Vancouver Whitecaps FC players to feature in the game with Marcel de Jong playing the entire game at left-back for Canada and wearing the captain’s armband from the 68th minute on, while Russell Teibert came on in the 66th minute as a midfield substitution for Patrice Bernier.
Next up for Davies and Canada is a tough game against Costa Rica on July 11 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
