From making his first begin for Orlando Metropolis SC in March of 2025 to capping off a powerful season by profitable MLS Younger Participant of the 12 months, it has been a whirlwind 2025 for Alex Freeman. The Orlando Metropolis proper again grew to become a mainstay in Oscar Pareja’s staff with six targets and three assists whereas embracing the position of a contemporary fullback. Whereas Orlando could have been knocked out of the MLS Cup playoffs within the wildcard spherical by the Chicago Hearth, the protection will probably be in good fingers shifting ahead with Freeman, who’s making a reputation for the household outdoors of the NFL.
Whereas his father, Antonio Freeman, was a large receiver for the Inexperienced Bay Packers and a Tremendous Bowl XXXI champion, the youthful Freeman fell in love with the ball at his ft as an alternative of in his fingers.
“I grew up enjoying numerous sports activities, and I believe that I appreciated all of them, however when it was time to decide on one, the apparent alternative was soccer as a result of that is what I really feel like I used to be finest at,” Freeman stated. “Not solely that, however it’s additionally what I really like extra, what I’ve ardour for. I selected that one sport and was like I’ve to concentrate on it and provides my 100% on and off the sector for it.”
Little did Freeman know not solely the place that will lead but additionally the sacrifices that will be required to make it to the place he’s immediately. Whereas Freeman was born in Baltimore, he grew up in Fort Lauderdale enjoying for Weston FC, a youth membership that is now in USL 2. With alumni corresponding to Alejandro Bedoya, Aidan Morris, Noah Allen, Benjamin Cremaschi, and Ian Fray. Freman was in fairly good firm there, however when a chance arose to affix the Orlando Metropolis academy, he needed to bounce at it regardless of being solely 16 and needing to go away dwelling to take that chance throughout COVID.
“On the finish of the day, I had a dream that I needed to pursue, and though it was shifting away from my household on the age of 16, it was one thing that I needed to do, and I strived to do and I labored exhausting to have the ability to get that chance,” Freeman stated. “I do not assume I might look again and say I could not take it. I believe taking it was the most effective factor that might occur, and having the ability to have a household that is so supportive of it’s wonderful as nicely.”
Now, solely 5 years after becoming a member of the Orlando academy, Freeman has the soccer world at his ft at solely 21. He has secured 11 caps for the US males’s nationwide staff whereas additionally changing into probably the most essential gamers on the pitch for Orlando in a second which helps him adapt as a participant. He has to play a special model underneath Mauricio Pochettino than how he performs underneath Pareja, however placing each collectively helps him enhance as a participant.
Whereas Freeman was in comparison with Alphonso Davies rising up due to his dimension, he seems to gamers like Achraf Hakimi and Jurrien Timber to mannequin his sport after, as he strives embrace versatility in his sport, because the position of a fullback has modified over time. Being defensively sound remains to be appreciated, however having the ability to get ahead whereas doing that may open alternatives for the younger fullback.
With the nationwide staff, Freeman had a studying second throughout his debut, dealing with Turkiye in June of 2025, the place his defensive task was Kenan Yildiz of Juventus.
“It was my first U.S. sport, my first begin, and I lookup and I’ve to go towards the man who has performed for Juventus and has been a key participant. So I really feel like going into that sort of sport, it was a second the place I am like, dang, I actually must be at my finest,” Freeman stated. That first move I bought overwhelmed behind, and after that I used to be like, ‘Oh my god, it’ll be an extended sport,’ me attempting to get comfy and discover confidence in myself in that sort of sport.
“That sort of situation simply offers you extra confidence as a participant and as an individual. It makes you understand that you realize you are at that stage, which you can tackle these guys and compete with them as nicely, so I believe that makes you are feeling that the sky is the restrict and that you are able to do a lot.”
With a studying course of like that, it is easy to see how Freeman has grown a lot in such a brief time period and why he could possibly be within the World Cup squad simply over a 12 months after making his full debut for Orlando. Trying again at gamers who’ve lately received the award in Diego Luna, Thiago Almada, Jesus Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi, and Diego Rossi, that is once more good firm for Freeman to affix.
He is additionally the primary defender to win the award since Austin Berry in 2012, when it was nonetheless the MLS Rookie of the 12 months award. When one thing has turn into so forward-centric, it is fairly an honor for a defender to make a breakthrough in the way in which that Freeman has. There’s extra to come back as Freeman’s whirlwind 12 months will not be winding down anytime quickly.
