Riqui Puig collapsed in a heap. After 95 minutes of tense, militant soccer, his Los Angeles Galaxy had defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in Main League Soccer’s Western Convention Remaining.
Puig’s cheeky, insouciant, completely excellent help to striker Dejan Joveljic within the 85th minute clinched the win, and the win clinched the Galaxy’s first MLS Cup berth in a decade.
Puig’s teammates celebrated collectively within the middle of the sphere. They motioned for Puig to hitch them, however Puig stayed down, splayed out on the left flank along with his arms over his face. As he obtained up and embraced his coach Greg Vanney, it was clear to see that he was sobbing.
Puig, one in all MLS’s best athletes and largest personalities, had overcome loads to make it to this second. He’d overcome his genetics, which left him simply 5-foot-7 and 123 kilos — sufficiently small for many to consider he’d by no means be a world-class soccer participant. He’d overcome his fraught relationship with Barcelona, the membership that raised him however kicked him to the curb proper as he was able to play. And most significantly, he’d overcome the Galaxy’s confidence-sapping dry spell.
2023, his first full season in Los Angeles, was the workforce’s all-time worst, marred by entrance workplace troubles, fan protests and on-field chaos.
It had been a protracted street to get to the highest; Puig’s emotion was comprehensible. However as his teammates ran to his facet and pulled him towards the middle circle to have fun, Puig’s left leg buckled, and he winced.
He knew one thing his teammates didn’t. half-hour earlier, after a good however sturdy problem from Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan, Puig tore his ACL. He informed nobody, taking part in out the remainder of the match in excruciating ache.
However now, celebrating his Western Convention victory, Puig was coming to phrases with actuality. His damage was critical. There was no probability of him taking part in within the MLS Cup last he’d labored so laborious to earn. He’d overcome loads to get right here, however he wasn’t going to beat this.
Puig is a polarizing determine. He’s tough, impish, brash and he’s often called a grasp manipulator, each for his excellent game-setting passes and for the best way he baits and infuriates opposition defenders.
MLS followers assume he’s an excessive amount of: too loud, too opinionated, too sneaky. They’re not mistaken. However the fact is that Puig’s larger-than-life character is simply a part of the story.
MLS followers don’t roll their eyes at Puig as a result of he’s an excessive amount of. They do it as a result of he’s too proficient. As a result of he waltzes by means of their groups even when he’s hiding an ACL tear and functionally taking part in on one leg. When push involves shove, everybody in MLS can grudgingly admit that the league is healthier with Puig in it. Soccer wants its showmen — doubly so once they’ve obtained the talents to again it up. Puig has these expertise to spare.
Nobody in American soccer finds the ball like Puig does. He managed a whopping 3240 ball touches over the course of the 2024 season. His nearest competitor, Houston’s Brazilian midfielder Artur, made 471 fewer; for context, Artur would want six additional video games’ price of pitch-perfect play to make up the distinction.
However Puig doesn’t simply contact the ball: he distributes it higher than anybody else, too. He leads the league in passes, go accuracy and free kicks. Nobody in MLS can contact him.
His loss could possibly be a killer blow for the Galaxy, who swung from agency MLS Cup favorites to wince-inducing underdogs with the announcement of his ACL tear. However whereas the Galaxy can’t change Puig within the large sport, there’s hope that it’ll use his absence as a galvanizing drive.
Puig obtained the Galaxy to the ultimate; the Galaxy can return the favor by getting Puig the trophy.
ACL tears are critical enterprise in soccer; some gamers that suffer them by no means get better, and plenty of who do by no means play fairly as nicely once more. MLS’ 29-year historical past is affected by would’ve-could’ve-should’ve ACL victims whose careers had been lower brief, from Calen Carr in 2012 to Ian Fray earlier this yr. It could be a merciless twist to see Puig amongst that cursed firm.
To listen to Puig inform it, although, he’s sure he’ll be one of many fortunate ones.
“Right now begins a brand new problem,” he wrote on Instagram after his analysis. “I can be off the pitch for a number of months, however I’m already wanting in direction of and motivated to return stronger than ever and able to proceed making historical past on this membership.”
After every little thing Puig overcame to convey his beloved Galaxy to the ultimate, it’d be silly to wager towards him.
The Galaxy will tackle the New York Pink Bulls within the MLS Cup Remaining on Saturday. A victory will see Los Angeles earn its sixth league title and cement its standing as MLS’ winningest franchise.
Puig received’t be on the sphere to orchestrate the workforce’s efforts, however he’ll be on the sidelines. Cheering, cursing, being an excessive amount of, as at all times. However with a protracted, fraught restoration forward of him, even probably the most cynical MLS followers would not need Puig to be something much less.
