Aaronson's First Professional Goal

On This Day in 2019, Dubbed the Medford Messi, the 18-year-old Scored on His Philadelphia Debut

When Brenden Aaronson stepped onto the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 17, 2019, he was living out a dream years in the making. The 18-year-old Medford, New Jersey native, who had joined the Philadelphia Union Academy at age 11, was about to make his professional debut against the defending MLS champions Atlanta United. Few could have predicted the storybook moment that would follow.

The path to this debut had been carefully crafted. After initially committing to Indiana University, Aaronson chose instead to sign a Homegrown Player deal with the Union in September 2018. Manager Jim Curtin had seen enough in training to trust the teenager with a crucial role, especially after Marco Fabian's suspension created an opening in the starting lineup.

"I'm not scared to start him," Curtin had declared before the match. "He has shown that he can handle pressure, can handle tight spaces, can handle all the things that you ask of a top MLS player. Age is just a number, and Brenden is a guy who has certainly pushed and impressed the coaching staff."

From the opening whistle, Aaronson showed why his manager had such faith. Within the first minute, he forced a corner kick, displaying the relentless work rate that would become his trademark. In the 21st minute, he nearly opened his account, coming inches away from connecting with an Alejandro Bedoya cross that left Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan sporting a black eye.

But it was in the 47th minute that Aaronson truly announced his arrival. Collecting the ball outside the box, he unleashed a right-footed shot that took a fortunate deflection off defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez's leg and found its way past Guzan. The Union had their first goal from open play of the season, and Aaronson had his first professional goal.

Though Atlanta eventually equalized through Ezequiel Barco to secure a 1-1 draw, the night belonged to the Union's newest star. His performance went beyond just the goal. Aaronson's movement and vision were fully displayed when he threaded a through ball to Fafa Picault. This nearly resulted in another goal, showcasing the playmaking ability that had excited the Union's coaching staff.

The debut would prove to be no fluke. Aaronson became a fixture in Philadelphia's lineup, appearing in 24 of the team's next 27 games as the Union climbed to third place in the Eastern Conference. His consistent performances caught the attention of U.S. Under-23 National Team coach Jason Kreis, who called him into camp by May. Though he finished second in the MLS Rookie of the Year voting to Colorado's Andre Shinyashiki, Aaronson's impact on the Union was undeniable.

For Aaronson, the goal in Atlanta was just the beginning. By the end of the season, he had accumulated three goals and two assists in 28 appearances, with 25 starts. More importantly, he had established himself as one of the brightest young talents in American soccer. This set the stage for his international senior debut in 2020 and what would eventually become a multi-million dollar transfer to Red Bull Salzburg in 2021.

That March evening in Atlanta marked more than just a teenage midfielder's first professional goal – it represented the Union's academy vision coming to fruition, proving that the path from academy to first team could produce not just players but stars.