This Sunday, August 6, will see Lionel Messi play his first game away from DRV PNK Stadium since he touched down in North America last month. It won’t be a straightforward affair, as **Inter Miami CF** need to travel to face **FC Dallas**, in what will be one of the headline match-ups in the Leagues Cup 2023 round of 16.`
In the lead-up to the game, one US international star in particular will be looking to put an end to what’s been a dream start to the tournament so far for the Argentine, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and company. That man is Jesús Ferreira, the 22-year-old forward born in Santa Marta, Colombia, who chose to turn out for the Stars and Stripes over the Cafeteros of his country of birth.
Jesús is the son of David Ferreira, a legend of Colombian soccer who was part of the team that won the 2001 Copa América title, and also starred in MLS with FC Dallas.
Ferreira joined the Texas team’s youth ranks when his father signed with the club in February of 2009. He was only eight years old back then, at which point he would begin his rise, all the way to becoming an important first-team player.
When he was 15, the FC Dallas management decided to sign him to a youth contract after his standout performances for the U16 team, who won the MLS NEXT championship for their age group in 2015/16.
Ferreira’s breakout performances with FC Dallas
The striker made his professional debut in June 2017, in a 6-2 thrashing of Real Salt Lake in which he would score his first goal in the 89th minute. In 2018, the club decided to send him out on loan to Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the USL for some increased playing time.
Ferreira came back ahead of the 2019 MLS campaign, and year-on-year has become an increasingly important player for FC Dallas
His best spell of form came in the 2022 season, during which he scored 18 goals in 33 appearances, and was named the MLS regular season’s best young player. His performances also earned him a spot in the US national team’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar last year.
He’s also been in decisive form during this Leagues Cup 2023, having scored once and provided two assists in three games so far.
His decision to play for the United States
Ever since his first call-ups to the youth teams, it was clear in Ferreira’s mind that he was going to turn out for his adopted country.
His first senior call-up came in 2020, and at that point he spoke about his choice: “Knowing that the United States had followed me since I was young and wanted me to represent them was one more motivation. I have a little of both. In the blood I am Colombian, but in the heart I am American”.
“[...] I discussed it with my family. In the end, this is what I wanted: to represent the United States at the highest level.“
After appearing at the World Cup in 2022, that year also saw Ferreira play a part in the Nations League campaign, where he scored four goals, before emerging as the Gold Cup top scorer this season with seven strikes.
Given his young age, there’s no doubt that Ferreira will be one of the key hopes for the US national team ahead of the World Cup on home soil in 2026.
