24 Under 24: #1 Fabián Castillo, FC Dallas

Fabián Castillo | Winger | FC Dallas | Age: 23

Last Year in 24 Under 24:#3

2015 Stats: Matches played: 26 - Goals: 9 - Assists: 7

From Cali to Texas to the Colombian national team, Fabián Castillo has blazed his path onwards and upwards. The winger came to MLS as an 18-year-old raw talent, terrorizing teams with his speed and 1-v-1 trickery. Over the last two years, however, he has blossomed into something more – a fearsome offensive threat good enough to push his way into the Colombian national team's world-class attack and to carry FC Dallas for weeks at a time.

Castillo is still at his best in the open field, but he's been able to do more work setting up teammates from possession and hit seams even when his team is on the front foot. Right now, there's not a more exciting player in MLS.

What the technical staffers say: "Obviously, ultra-talented athletically, but over the last couple of years, he’s proven that our league is elite and the challenges within it are elite, because you don't develop the way he's developed if you're not facing top competition every week. The competition level is the ultimate teacher, and he's kept rising to meet it."

“I think he’s a great example of a guy that when he first came into the league, he was all speed and no soccer. … I think over the years, the soccer’s gotten better. I think his decision-making on when to run and take off have improved, and his finishing moments have improved."

What Opta Sports says: Fabián Castillo is one goal back from his career high in MLS goals (10 in 2014) and on Friday picked up his seventh assist of the season to beat his previous best (6 in 2013).